The UK Government, via the Employment Rights Act 2025, has reformed Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) effective as of April 2026 by removing the Lower Earnings Limit. This makes Statutory Sick Pay available to all employees regardless of earnings and removes the three-day waiting period, so SSP is payable from the first full day of sickness absence, with the rate set at the lower of 80% of average weekly earnings or the flat rate (currently £123.25 per week). These changes, enforced b

With more people than ever working under non-standard contracts, it can be hard getting payslips right. Croner are here to help.

Do you know what the term ‘pro rata’ means and how to work out pro-rata pay and holidays for your employees? Croner explain.

Gross misconduct allows UK employers to summarily dismiss an employee without notice or pay, but only after following a fair disciplinary process (investigation, hearing, right to appeal) in line with ACAS guidelines. To minimise unfair dismissal risks, clearly define gross misconduct in contracts/handbooks, document everything thoroughly, and send a precise termination letter stating reasons, termination date, and appeal rights. What is gross misconduct? What is the best app

Don't miss a deadline! Stay on top of your annual payroll duties and prepare for the new tax year ahead with our handy checklist of seven payroll tasks for April. Running payroll every month, whether yourself or outsourced to payroll experts, is a weekly or monthly routine. But every April, when a fresh tax year begins, new employment law changes come into force and there are annual payroll duties to carry out. Payroll experts at the Federation of Small Businesses have put to

‘any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand

Did you know that an unauthorised leave of absence could lead to disciplinary action or a misconduct claim for your employee? So what should you do if you have an employee who has taken an unauthorised leave of absence or an excessive absence from the business? In this article, we will take you through what an unauthorised leave of absence is and some of the common questions we get asked. If you require support in your legal issues and handling unauthorised absences, get in t

If your business has expanded to where you’re thinking about hiring someone, it’s important to do some research about payroll.

When a grievance occurs, a good policy can be the difference between a tribunal and successful resolution.

Perceptions of working routines have changed in recent years, the perception of working routines has changed.

One of the most effective ways of managing sickness absence is by conducting a return to work interview after a period of sickness.

Risk assessments are an essential part of securing the health & safety of your employees.

It doesn’t matter how big or small your business is—you’ll have health & safety requirements.

Get ready for April. Our UK employment law update 2026 covers the new 6-month probation rules, statutory sick pay changes, and the Fair Work Agency. If you felt like 2025 was a year of "wait and see," you weren’t alone. For twelve months, small business owners have been watching the headlines, worried that upcoming Labour employment law changes would effectively end the concept of a probation period. In this 2026 UK employment law update, we clarify exactly what the new rules

Discover the top five HR trends for UK small businesses, from "job-hugging" and retention strategies to AI upskilling and the new Employment Rights Act. As we move through 2026, businesses are facing a unique set of contradictions: recruitment is slower, yet skills shortages persist; hybrid work is settled, yet culture feels fragmented. To navigate this, employers must look at the emerging HR trends shaping the market, moving away from rigid job titles toward employee retenti