Guides for small employers

Plain-English guides to the Employment Rights Act 2025 and Statutory Sick Pay, each with dates, worked examples and links to the law.

• Employment Rights Act 2025: Small Employer Guide

  Every Employment Rights Act 2025 date that matters to a business with under 50 staff, from April 2026 to 2027, with what is law and what is still planned.

• Statutory Sick Pay Changes April 2026

  What changed in Statutory Sick Pay on 6 April 2026 — no waiting days, no earnings limit, the 80% rate — with worked examples and the transitional rules.

• Linked periods of incapacity (SSP) explained

  How SSP linked periods of incapacity work after April 2026 — the 56-day rule, one-day absences, the 28-week cap and the 3-year limit — with worked examples.

• Unfair dismissal qualifying period changes 2027

  From 1 January 2027 the unfair dismissal qualifying period drops from 2 years to 6 months. How it applies to existing staff, 2026 notice and compensation.

• Probation After the Employment Rights Act 2025

  There is no statutory probation period, but unfair dismissal protection starts at 6 months. How long probation should be in 2027 and when to review.

• Day-one employment rights list for 2026/27

  Which employment rights start on an employee's first day in 2026/27, which need service (1 month, 26 weeks, 6 months, 2 years), and what changed in April 2026.

• Updating employment contracts for 2026/27

  Clause-by-clause checklist for small employers updating contracts, written statements and the handbook for the Employment Rights Act 2025 changes in 2026/27.

• Sexual harassment duty for small firms (2026)

  From 30 October 2026 employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, including by customers. A plan for firms under 50 staff.

• Statutory sick pay for zero hours workers (2026)

  How SSP works for zero-hours and casual staff since 6 April 2026 — no earnings limit, 80% of average pay, qualifying days with no fixed pattern — with examples.