Changes to Statutory Sick Pay coming in April 2026

What are the changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)?

Statutory sick pay (SSP) to be available to all eligible workers, with no waiting period and no earnings threshold

The current three-day waiting period for statutory sick pay (SSP) will be removed, so that it is available from day one. The earnings threshold will also be removed so that SSP is available to all workers regardless of their earnings. SSP will be paid at the lower of 80% of workers average weekly earnings or the statutory flat rate of SSP. The maximum duration of SSP (currently 28 weeks per period of sickness) will remain unchanged.

For some lower-paid workers, the 80% calculation may result in SSP being paid below the statutory flat rate.

How might changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) affect your business?

• Increased cost as it will apply to more people and for more time

• May increase the number of short-term absences (as previously people may have been deterred from being absent as it would have been unpaid)

What do you need to do?

• Review your contracts of employment to reflect the changes and ensure compliance

• Review your absence management policies and procedures

• Communicate the changes with employees

• Train your managers on absence management procedures for example making sure that return to work interviews are carried out and logged

• Make sure that all absences are recorded and you can evidence actions that you have taken

• Review payroll systems or payroll providers to ensure SSP can be calculated correctly under the new rules.

What else can you do?

• Embed a proactive absence management policy and procedures that promotes employee health and wellbeing

• Identify causes of absence to ensure that sickness is not disguising other types of absence

• Encourage a culture that promotes engagement, job satisfaction and involvement

If you think that the changes in SSP will present challenges for your business or organisation book a free 20-minute consultation and we can talk through your particular challenges and find out how we could support you.