Day one rights
Statutory Sick Pay – Removal of waiting period
Currently
Statutory Sick Pay is only payable to eligible employees after a period of four or more consecutive days of sickness (the first three days are not paid).
What will change?
The ERA removes this waiting period so eligible employees will become entitled to sick pay from day one of their sickness.
When will this change come into force?
This change took effect on 6 April 2026.
Statutory Sick Pay – Removal of lower earnings level
Currently
Employees who earn less that the lower earnings level are not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay.
What will change?
As confirmed in the March 2025 amendments to the ERA, employees who earn less than the lower earnings limit will be entitled to 80% of their normal weekly earnings or the current level of SSP (whichever is lower). Changes to SSP will apply to Northern Ireland.
When will this change come into force?
This change took effect on 6 April 2026.
Consultation
Consultation for how much employees earning less that the lower earnings limit will be paid whilst on statutory sick pay. Consultation closed 4.12.2024.
Other documentation