UK employment law overhaul takes effect April 6 – SSP reform, day-one rights, and Fair Work Agency

A sweeping package of UK employment law changes takes effect from 6 April 2026, representing the most significant single-day reform in years. Key changes include Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) becoming payable from day one of absence (removing the previous three-day waiting period and lower earnings limit), paternity and parental leave becoming day-one rights, and the National Living Wage rising to £12.71 per hour.

The new Fair Work Agency launches on 7 April, consolidating enforcement powers previously split across multiple bodies. Collective redundancy protective awards have doubled from 90 to 180 days’ pay, and new sexual harassment whistleblowing protections come into force. For remote workers and freelancers, the SSP reform is particularly notable – the removal of the lower earnings limit means more part-time and gig workers will now qualify.

Employers with remote UK-based staff should review their policies immediately. The changes affect payroll, absence management, and onboarding processes. For a full overview of working remotely in the UK, see our UK remote work guide.