UK employment law wave: major changes take effect 6–7 April 2026

The biggest shake-up in UK employment law in years takes effect on 6–7 April 2026. Day-one rights to paternity leave and ordinary parental leave arrive for babies born or due on or after 6 April – removing the previous 26-week qualifying period. Statutory Sick Pay becomes payable from day one with no earnings threshold and no three-day waiting period.

The Fair Work Agency launches on 7 April as a new enforcement body with powers to investigate, penalise, and take legal action against non-compliant employers. Sexual harassment is reclassified as a whistleblowing protected disclosure. The National Minimum Wage rises to GBP 12.71 per hour for adults, GBP 10.85 for 18–20 year olds, and GBP 8.00 for 16–17 year olds.

For remote workers employed by UK companies – whether based in the UK or working cross-border – these changes affect your employment rights directly. Zero-hours contract reforms and day-one unfair dismissal rights have been delayed to January 2027 with a six-month qualifying period.