From April 2026, paternity leave becomes a day one right, meaning small business employers may receive paternity leave requests much earlier in the employment relationship than ever before. These changes, introduced under the Employment Rights Act 2025 , simplify entitlement for employees but place greater responsibility on employers to be clear, organised and consistent from the very start of employment. While the reform is not dramatic, it does change when conversations hap

Statutory Sick Pay is changing from April 2026, and while it is not a compliance nightmare, it will affect how small business employers manage sickness absence from the very first day. Changes introduced under the Employment Rights Act 2025 remove waiting days and expand eligibility for SSP, meaning more employees will qualify and payments will start sooner. For employers, this reinforces the importance of clear sickness absence policies, accurate records and consistent proce

The Employment Rights Act 2025 is now law, and for small business employers it brings a series of important employment law changes starting from April 2026. After months of consultation and speculation, the focus is shifting from what might happen to what businesses actually need to prepare for. While the changes will be phased in over time, early reforms around day one employment rights, Statutory Sick Pay, family leave and enforcement mean now is the right moment for emplo