New rule for anyone calling in sick as DWP gives update in new statement

Big changes for 15 million Brits

In April, big changes have come into play which will impact anyone who calls in sick, it has been revealed.

The Department for Work and Pensions has now given an update to the Commons about the new rules which will affect 15 million workers in the UK.

Anyone feeling ill when they are set to go to work from April onwards will now be impacted by seven crucial measures within the Employment Rights Act which are now law.

A significant new change will impact anybody who takes a day off ill, as people from the start are entitled to sick pay.

According to officials, the reforms will stamp out insecure work, unfair pay and poor working conditions, putting more money in people's pockets and improving living standards.

These include giving sick pay to up to 1.3 million of the lowest earners.

What do the changes from April include?

• Instead of the fourth day, statutory sick pay is paid from the first day of absence, while the lower earnings limit has also been removed.
• Parental leave is more readily available. This includes paternity leave and ordinary parental leave, or unpaid parental leave, which became a day one right, and bereaved partner's paternity leave.
• Disclosure of sexual harassment has become a ‘qualifying disclosure’, and it gives protections from dismissal and detriment.
• For employers who do not consult in collective redundancy situations, fines have doubled to 180 days' pay for each employee affected.
• To gain the right to negotiate with employers over pay and conditions, trade unions can use a simplified statutory recognition process.
• Employers must keep records of annual leave and holiday pay.

Sick pay

The Employment Rights Act 2025 transformed Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) into a “day one” right from 6 April 2026, removing the three-day waiting period and the lower earnings limit.

SSP will be paid from the first day of sickness and be available to all workers regardless of income.

As it stands, SSP:

• Is paid from the 4th day of sickness (with the first 3 “waiting days” being unpaid).
• Pays a fixed weekly rate of £109.40 (as of 2025), regardless of your usual income.
• Requires employees to earn at least £123 a week (meaning employees earning less than this don’t qualify for SSP).

According to the TUC, the assessment confirms the new Act will deliver significant benefits for the country, including improved health, wellbeing and job satisfaction, and reduced workplace disputes, generating increases in economic output and employment.

“The Employment Rights Act will deliver vital common sense reforms for millions of people across the country, including sick pay for all workers from day one, banning exploitative zero hours contracts and protecting workers from harassment”, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said.

“Too often in this debate the facts are ignored, but stronger rights at work are good for workers and employers – driving up labour market participation, improving health, raising productivity and boosting demand.”

“The Employment Rights Act will deliver an estimated £10 billion boost to the economy – gains that far outstrip any costs. Britain will now be brought into line with other countries where workers already have better protections and, crucially, the legislation will give working people the higher living standards and secure incomes that are needed to build a decent life”, he added.

“Good employers will also welcome these changes: the Act protects them from competitors whose business models are built on low-paid, insecure employment.”

Research indicates that new sick pay rights are set to have the greatest impact on both workers and employers.

According to a study commissioned by conciliation service Acas which examined the Employment Rights Act's changes, it was revealed that fresh protections against unfair dismissal were also highlighted as significantly influential.

By employers, new paternity leave rights was ranked as their third most important concern, while the new flexible working provisions were prioritised by workers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said: “This Government is delivering the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. Our Employment Rights Bill is good for workers, good for businesses and good for the economy. It’s a core part of our agenda to make people better off and will make a real difference to people’s lives.”

For more information on the changes, you can read on the government website here.