Recruitment Changes 2026 – Are You Prepared?

With several important employment and recruitment changes coming into effect on 6th April 2026, now is the time to start preparing. Planning ahead will help to avoid last minute disruption.

Some Key Changes:

Statutory Sick Pay
Statutory Sick Pay will increase and become payable from day one of sickness absence regardless of an employee’s earnings.

Day One Family Leave
Certain family-related leave entitlements will become available from the first day of employment.

Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave
New rights will be introduced requiring employers to review family leave policies.

National Minimum Wage Increases
The National Minimum Wage rates are set to rise as follows:
£12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over (increasing from £12.21 per hour);
£10.85 per hour for workers aged 18-20 (increasing from £10 per hour); and
£8.00 per hour for workers aged 16-17 and apprentices under 19 or in the first year of apprenticeship (increasing from £7.55 per hour).

START PREPARING FOR THESE CHANGES NOW:
Review employment contracts and policies
Planning for increased costs
Updating recruitment and job advert content
Preparing managers and internal teams
Strengthening compliance and record-keeping