{"id":15716,"date":"2026-02-18T16:16:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:16:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=15716"},"modified":"2026-03-19T09:47:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T09:47:56","slug":"april-2026-employment-law-changes-six-point-checklist-for-hr","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/april-2026-employment-law-changes-six-point-checklist-for-hr\/","title":{"rendered":"April 2026 employment law changes: Six-point checklist for HR"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b5fc8583 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8e1436f2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"\">by <strong>Stephen Simpson<\/strong>, Principal Editor, Employment Law and Compliance, Brightmine<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">30 March\/4 April: Publish your gender pay gap report<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Organisations have 12 months to publish their gender pay gap figures from the relevant snapshot date &#8211; 31 March for the public sector and 5 April for the private and voluntary sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This means that the gender pay gap reporting deadline is 30 March 2026 for public-sector employers and 4 April 2026 for private-sector and voluntary-sector employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Organisations must publish reports on their website and upload the information to the gender pay gap reporting portal on the GOV.UK website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employers can choose to provide a narrative around any gender pay gap, including providing an explanation for their pay gap and setting out what steps they are taking to reduce the gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1 April: Comply with national minimum wage rises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The rates of the national minimum wage increase on 1 April 2026, including an increase in the national living wage from \u00a312.21 to \u00a312.71 per hour. In addition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">the rate for workers aged at least 18 but under 21 rises from \u00a310.00 to \u00a310.85 per hour;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">the rate for workers aged 16 to 17 rises from \u00a37.55 to \u00a38.00 per hour; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">the apprentice rate rises from \u00a37.55 to \u00a38.00 per hour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employers should check their pay rates against the new minimum wage rates to ensure that, where necessary, they increase remuneration for the first pay reference period beginning on or after 1 April 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5 April\/6 April: Update policies to reflect statutory paternity and ordinary parental leave becoming day-one employment rights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The Employment Rights Act 2025 removes the qualifying periods for paternity leave (currently 26 weeks) and ordinary parental leave (currently one year), making them both day-one rights. It also removes the restriction on employees taking paternity leave and pay after they have taken shared parental leave and pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">HR professionals need to ensure that existing family-leave policies and procedures are updated to reflect the expanded entitlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Use our updated model paternity, ordinary parental and shared parental policies to help your organisation to comply with these changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5 April: Increase family-related pay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The weekly rates of statutory maternity, adoption, paternity, shared parental, neonatal care and parental bereavement pay increase to \u00a3194.32, up from \u00a3187.18. The increases take effect on the first Sunday in April, which in 2026 is 5 April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The lower earnings threshold to claim family-related support will rise at the same time from \u00a3125 to \u00a3129 a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It is up to HR to make sure that staff on maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, neonatal care and parental bereavement leave are paid these statutory minimum rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">HR professionals also need to review their policies and procedures that mention the rates, such as their maternity policies and sickness absence procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6 April: Extend eligibility for, and increase the rate of, statutory sick pay (SSP)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The weekly rate of SSP is rising to \u00a3123.25, up from \u00a3118.75. The lower earnings limit (LEL) will rise from \u00a3125 to \u00a3129.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">At the same time, the Employment Rights Act 2025 makes statutory sick pay available to all workers, by removing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">the three-day waiting period, so SSP is payable from the first day of a period of sickness rather than the fourth; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">the requirement to earn at least the LEL.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Since the LEL requirement is being removed, from 6 April employees will be entitled to the current rate of SSP (\u00a3123.25) or 80% of their average weekly earnings if that is lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">There will be&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hrcentre.uk.brightmine.com\/employment-law-guide\/statutory-sick-pay\/20356\/#guidance-for-software-developers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transitional arrangements<\/a>&nbsp;for employees who are already off sick on 6 April or earning less than the LEL who become eligible for statutory sick pay on 6 April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It is the responsibility of HR to make sure that staff on sick leave are paid these statutory minimum rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">HR professionals also need to review their policies and procedures that mention the rates, such as their sickness absence procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-80fb368b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:25px;border-top-right-radius:25px;border-bottom-left-radius:25px;border-bottom-right-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Did you know?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The Brightmine HR and Compliance Centre&#8217;s resources reach far beyond the UK, including international comparative tables on the levels of leave and the rates of pay offered in different countries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-brightmine-list-item-spacing-small\">\n<li class=\"\">Global maternity leave and pay comparative table<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Global paternity and parental leave and pay comparative table<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Global minimum wage rates comparative table<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/hrcentre.uk.brightmine.com\/freetrial-login\/?loggedInUrl=%2Ffreetrial%2Fnew-user%2F&amp;registrationUrl=%2Ffreetrial%2Fnew-user%2F&amp;intcmp=resource|hrcentreuk-freetrial|start-a-7-day-free-trial\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:25px;border-top-right-radius:25px;border-bottom-left-radius:25px;border-bottom-right-radius:25px\">Start your free trial today<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6 April: Update your statutory redundancy pay calculations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">New limits on statutory redundancy pay come into force on 6 April 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employers that make employees redundant must pay those with two years&#8217; service an amount based on the employee&#8217;s weekly pay, length of service and age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The weekly pay is subject to a maximum amount, which is currently \u00a3719. The new rate is likely to be around \u00a3751 although this is yet to be announced. We will update the information here when it is made public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">HR professionals should ensure that calculations for statutory redundancy payments are made on the basis of this new maximum amount for redundancy dismissals on or after 6 April 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What else is happening?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-brightmine-list-item-spacing-small\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Sexual harassment added to whistleblowing legislation:<\/strong>&nbsp;From 6 April 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 amends the whistleblowing provisions so that complaints of sexual harassment will be treated as protected disclosures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Phase two of trade union law reforms:<\/strong>&nbsp;From 6 April 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 simplifies the union recognition process and provides a period of 20 working days to agree union access during a statutory recognition. For more detail, see our&nbsp;employment law guide on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hrcentre.uk.brightmine.com\/employment-law-guide\/trade-union-recognition-recognition-process\/167915\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trade union recognition: recognition process<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Protective award doubles:<\/strong>&nbsp;From 6 April 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 increases the maximum compensation that a tribunal can award where an employer fails to comply with their collective redundancy consultation obligations (known as the protective award), doubling it from 90 to 180 days&#8217; pay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Employment tribunal awards:<\/strong>&nbsp;On 6 April 2026, the employment tribunal award limits increase. The new rates have not yet been announced; the current basic award for unfair dismissal is \u00a38,763 and the compensatory award for unfair dismissal is \u00a3118,223. The Employment Rights Act 2025 will remove the compensation cap for unfair dismissal on 1 January 2027.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>State pension:<\/strong>&nbsp;On 6 April 2025, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hrcentre.uk.brightmine.com\/employment-law-guide\/state-pension\/156317\/#future-developments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">basic state pension<\/a>&nbsp;increases from \u00a3176.45 to \u00a3184.90 a week and the new state pension (for those reaching state pension age on or after 6 April 2016) will increase from \u00a3230.25 to \u00a3241.30.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Fair Work Agency established:&nbsp;<\/strong>The Employment Rights Act 2025 will establish the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hrcentre.uk.brightmine.com\/commentary-and-insights\/employment-rights-act-2025-essentials-preparing-for-the-fair-work-agency-fwa-\/167694\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fair Work Agency (FWA)<\/a>, a single, consolidated body to monitor and enforce core employment rights. The FWA is established on 7 April 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-secondary-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"\/uk\/tag\/employment-rights-act\/?intcmp=resource|era-hub|explore-our-era-hub\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:25px;border-top-right-radius:25px;border-bottom-left-radius:25px;border-bottom-right-radius:25px\">Explore our ERA resources<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a36fa716 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Navigate HR complexity with confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">With Brightmine, you can build powerful people strategies, implement best practices and set your organisation up for a brighter future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Learn how our tools, resources and automation can empower you and your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/uk\/solutions\/?intcmp=cta|blog|solutions|learn-more\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"#top\">Go back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4b7a3f7f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You may also be interested in&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"resources-search-filter\" class=\"wp-elements-b1392ecd0e962e91e5a1f3899d12aa76 wp-block-brightmine-resources-filter has-text-color has-primary-black-color has-background has-primary-white-background-color\">\n\n\n<div class=\"ajax-filter\">\n<div class=\"lnrs-resources-search-filter   editor-posts-filtered-tags\">\n\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_bottom\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_left\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_result_count\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_right\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"loader-container\">\n\t\t<span class=\"loader\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-filter-widget__container\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #E9E7E4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/employment-rights-act-2025-unfair_dismissal\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/17145727\/two-female-hr-professionals-discussing-notes.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Webinars<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/employment-rights-act-2025-unfair_dismissal\/\">Unfair dismissal changes: Are your probationary processes ready for 1 July?<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">Trade union access is changing. Join this webinar to understand the Employment Rights Act 2025 and its impact &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #E9E7E4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/labour-government-employment-law-changes-tracker\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/17112605\/Brightmine-employee-rights-bill-qanda-podcast.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Commentary and Insights<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/labour-government-employment-law-changes-tracker\/\">Labour Government employment law changes | On your radar<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">This resource reviews Labour Government employment law changes that are in the pipeline and how you can prepare &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #E9E7E4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/talent-management\/employee-relations\/employment-rights-act-2025-trade-union-access\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/13151509\/brightmine-wins-trustradius-tech-cares-award-2025-1.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Webinars<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/talent-management\/employee-relations\/employment-rights-act-2025-trade-union-access\/\">How should HR be approaching the new trade union access rights?<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">Trade union access is changing. Join this webinar to understand the Employment Rights Act 2025 and its impact &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fcdab8bb wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">About the author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-658170e2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail is-resized is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/18065019\/Stephen-Simpson-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Stephen Simpson, Acting content manager - employment law and compliance at Brightmine\" class=\"wp-image-8924\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/18065019\/Stephen-Simpson-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/18065019\/Stephen-Simpson-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/18065019\/Stephen-Simpson-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/18065019\/Stephen-Simpson.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Stephen Simpson<\/strong><br>Principal editor &#8211; Employment Law and Compliance, Brightmine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Stephen is a principal editor who has worked on the Brightmine employment law and leading practice resources for over 20 years. After growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1980s, he trained as a solicitor in England in the 1990s but soon moved into legal publishing. He was among the first recruits to Brightmine in the year before it was launched as XpertHR in 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Stephen has worked on a wide range of employment law and leading practice resources, including overseeing the creation and expansion of the HR templates resource types (Policies and procedures, Letters and forms, and Contract clauses). He has written up over 1,000 reports on employment law cases and created practical guidance on a range of HR issues for the Commentary &amp; insights tool. He also had a stint working on Personnel Today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Connect with Stephen on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/stephen-simpson-editor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0fd240ca wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" id=\"newsletter\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">Sign up to receive expert HR insights from Brightmine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ebe15cfa 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value=\"Argentina\">Argentina<\/option><option value=\"Armenia\">Armenia<\/option><option value=\"Aruba\">Aruba<\/option><option value=\"Australia\">Australia<\/option><option value=\"Austria\">Austria<\/option><option value=\"Azerbaijan\">Azerbaijan<\/option><option value=\"Bahamas\">Bahamas<\/option><option value=\"Bahrain\">Bahrain<\/option><option value=\"Bangladesh\">Bangladesh<\/option><option value=\"Barbados\">Barbados<\/option><option value=\"Belarus\">Belarus<\/option><option value=\"Belgium\">Belgium<\/option><option value=\"Belize\">Belize<\/option><option value=\"Benin\">Benin<\/option><option value=\"Bermuda\">Bermuda<\/option><option value=\"Bhutan\">Bhutan<\/option><option value=\"Bolivia, Plurinational State\">Bolivia, Plurinational State<\/option><option value=\"Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba\">Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba<\/option><option value=\"Bosnia and Herzegovina\">Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/option><option value=\"Botswana\">Botswana<\/option><option value=\"Bouvet Island\">Bouvet Island<\/option><option value=\"Brazil\">Brazil<\/option><option value=\"British Indian Ocean Territory\">British Indian Ocean Territory<\/option><option value=\"Brunei\n    Darussalam\">Brunei\n    Darussalam<\/option><option value=\"Bulgaria\">Bulgaria<\/option><option value=\"Burkina Faso\">Burkina Faso<\/option><option value=\"Burundi\">Burundi<\/option><option value=\"Cambodia\">Cambodia<\/option><option value=\"Cameroon\">Cameroon<\/option><option value=\"Canada\">Canada<\/option><option value=\"Cape Verde\">Cape Verde<\/option><option value=\"Cayman Islands\">Cayman Islands<\/option><option value=\"Central African Republic\">Central African Republic<\/option><option value=\"Chad\">Chad<\/option><option value=\"Chile\">Chile<\/option><option value=\"China\">China<\/option><option value=\"Christmas Island\">Christmas Island<\/option><option value=\"Cocos (Keeling) Islands\">Cocos (Keeling) Islands<\/option><option value=\"Colombia\">Colombia<\/option><option value=\"Comoros\">Comoros<\/option><option value=\"Congo\">Congo<\/option><option value=\"Congo, the Democratic Republic of the\">Congo, the Democratic Republic of the<\/option><option value=\"Cook Islands\">Cook Islands<\/option><option value=\"Costa Rica\">Costa Rica<\/option><option value=\"Cote d&#039;Ivoire\">Cote d&#039;Ivoire<\/option><option value=\"Croatia\">Croatia<\/option><option value=\"Cuba\">Cuba<\/option><option value=\"Cura\u00e7ao\">Cura\u00e7ao<\/option><option value=\"Cyprus\">Cyprus<\/option><option value=\"Czech\n    Republic\">Czech\n    Republic<\/option><option value=\"Denmark\">Denmark<\/option><option value=\"Djibouti\">Djibouti<\/option><option value=\"Dominica\">Dominica<\/option><option value=\"Dominican Republic\">Dominican Republic<\/option><option value=\"Ecuador\">Ecuador<\/option><option value=\"Egypt\">Egypt<\/option><option value=\"El Salvador\">El Salvador<\/option><option value=\"Equatorial Guinea\">Equatorial Guinea<\/option><option value=\"Eritrea\">Eritrea<\/option><option value=\"Estonia\">Estonia<\/option><option value=\"Eswatini\">Eswatini<\/option><option value=\"Ethiopia\">Ethiopia<\/option><option value=\"Falkland Islands (Malvinas)\">Falkland Islands (Malvinas)<\/option><option value=\"Faroe Islands\">Faroe Islands<\/option><option value=\"Fiji\">Fiji<\/option><option value=\"Finland\">Finland<\/option><option value=\"France\">France<\/option><option value=\"French Guiana\">French Guiana<\/option><option value=\"French Polynesia\">French Polynesia<\/option><option value=\"French Southern Territories\">French Southern Territories<\/option><option value=\"Gabon\">Gabon<\/option><option value=\"Gambia\">Gambia<\/option><option value=\"Georgia\">Georgia<\/option><option value=\"Germany\">Germany<\/option><option value=\"Ghana\">Ghana<\/option><option value=\"Gibraltar\">Gibraltar<\/option><option value=\"Greece\">Greece<\/option><option value=\"Greenland\">Greenland<\/option><option value=\"Grenada\">Grenada<\/option><option value=\"Guadeloupe\">Guadeloupe<\/option><option value=\"Guam\">Guam<\/option><option value=\"Guatemala\">Guatemala<\/option><option value=\"Guernsey\">Guernsey<\/option><option value=\"Guinea\">Guinea<\/option><option value=\"Guinea-Bissau\">Guinea-Bissau<\/option><option value=\"Guyana\">Guyana<\/option><option value=\"Haiti\">Haiti<\/option><option value=\"Heard Island and McDonald Islands\">Heard Island and McDonald Islands<\/option><option value=\"Holy\n    See (Vatican City State)\">Holy\n    See (Vatican City State)<\/option><option value=\"Honduras\">Honduras<\/option><option value=\"Hong Kong\">Hong Kong<\/option><option value=\"Hungary\">Hungary<\/option><option value=\"Iceland\">Iceland<\/option><option value=\"India\">India<\/option><option value=\"Indonesia\">Indonesia<\/option><option value=\"Iran, Islamic Republic of\">Iran, Islamic Republic of<\/option><option value=\"Iraq\">Iraq<\/option><option value=\"Ireland\">Ireland<\/option><option value=\"Isle of Man\">Isle of Man<\/option><option value=\"Israel\">Israel<\/option><option value=\"Italy\">Italy<\/option><option value=\"Jamaica\">Jamaica<\/option><option value=\"Japan\">Japan<\/option><option value=\"Jersey\">Jersey<\/option><option value=\"Jordan\">Jordan<\/option><option value=\"Kazakhstan\">Kazakhstan<\/option><option value=\"Kenya\">Kenya<\/option><option value=\"Kiribati\">Kiribati<\/option><option value=\"Korea, Democratic People&#039;s Republic of\">Korea, Democratic People&#039;s Republic of<\/option><option value=\"Korea, Republic of\">Korea, Republic of<\/option><option value=\"Kosovo\">Kosovo<\/option><option value=\"Kuwait\">Kuwait<\/option><option value=\"Kyrgyzstan\">Kyrgyzstan<\/option><option value=\"Lao People&#039;s Democratic Republic\">Lao People&#039;s Democratic Republic<\/option><option value=\"Latvia\">Latvia<\/option><option value=\"Lebanon\">Lebanon<\/option><option value=\"Lesotho\">Lesotho<\/option><option value=\"Liberia\">Liberia<\/option><option value=\"Libyan Arab Jamahiriya\">Libyan Arab Jamahiriya<\/option><option value=\"Liechtenstein\">Liechtenstein<\/option><option value=\"Lithuania\">Lithuania<\/option><option value=\"Luxembourg\">Luxembourg<\/option><option value=\"Macao\">Macao<\/option><option value=\"Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic\n    of\">Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic\n    of<\/option><option value=\"Madagascar\">Madagascar<\/option><option value=\"Malawi\">Malawi<\/option><option value=\"Malaysia\">Malaysia<\/option><option value=\"Maldives\">Maldives<\/option><option value=\"Mali\">Mali<\/option><option value=\"Malta\">Malta<\/option><option value=\"Marshall\n    Islands\">Marshall\n    Islands<\/option><option value=\"Martinique\">Martinique<\/option><option value=\"Mauritania\">Mauritania<\/option><option value=\"Mauritius\">Mauritius<\/option><option value=\"Mayotte\">Mayotte<\/option><option value=\"Mexico\">Mexico<\/option><option value=\"Micronesia\">Micronesia<\/option><option value=\"Moldova, Republic of\">Moldova, Republic of<\/option><option value=\"Monaco\">Monaco<\/option><option value=\"Mongolia\">Mongolia<\/option><option value=\"Montenegro\">Montenegro<\/option><option value=\"Montserrat\">Montserrat<\/option><option value=\"Morocco\">Morocco<\/option><option value=\"Mozambique\">Mozambique<\/option><option value=\"Myanmar\">Myanmar<\/option><option value=\"Namibia\">Namibia<\/option><option value=\"Nauru\">Nauru<\/option><option value=\"Nepal\">Nepal<\/option><option value=\"Netherlands\">Netherlands<\/option><option value=\"New Caledonia\">New Caledonia<\/option><option value=\"New Zealand\">New Zealand<\/option><option value=\"Nicaragua\">Nicaragua<\/option><option value=\"Niger\">Niger<\/option><option value=\"Nigeria\">Nigeria<\/option><option value=\"Niue\">Niue<\/option><option value=\"Norfolk Island\">Norfolk Island<\/option><option value=\"Northern Mariana Islands\">Northern Mariana Islands<\/option><option value=\"Norway\">Norway<\/option><option value=\"Oman\">Oman<\/option><option value=\"Pakistan\">Pakistan<\/option><option value=\"Palau\">Palau<\/option><option value=\"Palestinian Territory, Occupied\">Palestinian Territory, Occupied<\/option><option value=\"Panama\">Panama<\/option><option value=\"Papua New\n    Guinea\">Papua New\n    Guinea<\/option><option value=\"Paraguay\">Paraguay<\/option><option value=\"Peru\">Peru<\/option><option value=\"Philippines\">Philippines<\/option><option value=\"Pitcairn\">Pitcairn<\/option><option value=\"Poland\">Poland<\/option><option value=\"Portugal\">Portugal<\/option><option value=\"Puerto Rico\">Puerto Rico<\/option><option value=\"Qatar\">Qatar<\/option><option value=\"Reunion\">Reunion<\/option><option value=\"Romania\">Romania<\/option><option value=\"Russian Federation\">Russian Federation<\/option><option value=\"Rwanda\">Rwanda<\/option><option value=\"Saint Barth\u00e9lemy\">Saint Barth\u00e9lemy<\/option><option value=\"Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha\">Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha<\/option><option value=\"Saint\n    Kitts and Nevis\">Saint\n    Kitts and Nevis<\/option><option value=\"Saint Lucia\">Saint Lucia<\/option><option value=\"Saint Martin (French part)\">Saint Martin (French part)<\/option><option value=\"Saint Pierre\n    and Miquelon\">Saint Pierre\n    and Miquelon<\/option><option value=\"Saint Vincent and the Grenadines\">Saint Vincent and the Grenadines<\/option><option value=\"Samoa\">Samoa<\/option><option value=\"San Marino\">San Marino<\/option><option value=\"Sao\n    Tome and Principe\">Sao\n    Tome and Principe<\/option><option value=\"Saudi Arabia\">Saudi Arabia<\/option><option value=\"Senegal\">Senegal<\/option><option value=\"Serbia\">Serbia<\/option><option value=\"Seychelles\">Seychelles<\/option><option value=\"Sierra\n    Leone\">Sierra\n    Leone<\/option><option value=\"Singapore\">Singapore<\/option><option value=\"Sint Maarten (Dutch part)\">Sint Maarten (Dutch part)<\/option><option value=\"Slovakia\">Slovakia<\/option><option value=\"Slovenia\">Slovenia<\/option><option value=\"Solomon Islands\">Solomon Islands<\/option><option value=\"Somalia\">Somalia<\/option><option value=\"South Africa\">South Africa<\/option><option value=\"South Georgia and the South\n    Sandwich Islands\">South Georgia and the South\n    Sandwich Islands<\/option><option value=\"South Sudan\">South Sudan<\/option><option value=\"Spain\">Spain<\/option><option value=\"Sri Lanka\">Sri Lanka<\/option><option value=\"Sudan\">Sudan<\/option><option value=\"Suriname\">Suriname<\/option><option value=\"Svalbard and Jan Mayen\">Svalbard and Jan Mayen<\/option><option value=\"Sweden\">Sweden<\/option><option value=\"Switzerland\">Switzerland<\/option><option value=\"Syrian Arab Republic\">Syrian Arab Republic<\/option><option value=\"Taiwan\">Taiwan<\/option><option value=\"Tajikistan\">Tajikistan<\/option><option value=\"Tanzania, United Republic of\">Tanzania, United Republic of<\/option><option value=\"Thailand\">Thailand<\/option><option value=\"Timor-Leste\">Timor-Leste<\/option><option value=\"Togo\">Togo<\/option><option value=\"Tokelau\">Tokelau<\/option><option value=\"Tonga\">Tonga<\/option><option value=\"Trinidad and Tobago\">Trinidad and Tobago<\/option><option value=\"Tunisia\">Tunisia<\/option><option value=\"Turkey\">Turkey<\/option><option value=\"Turkmenistan\">Turkmenistan<\/option><option value=\"Turks and Caicos Islands\">Turks and Caicos Islands<\/option><option value=\"Tuvalu\">Tuvalu<\/option><option value=\"Uganda\">Uganda<\/option><option value=\"Ukraine\">Ukraine<\/option><option value=\"United Arab Emirates\">United Arab Emirates<\/option><option value=\"United\n    States Minor Outlying Islands\">United\n    States Minor Outlying Islands<\/option><option value=\"Uruguay\">Uruguay<\/option><option value=\"Uzbekistan\">Uzbekistan<\/option><option value=\"Vanuatu\">Vanuatu<\/option><option value=\"Venezuela,\n    Bolivarian Republic of\">Venezuela,\n    Bolivarian Republic of<\/option><option value=\"Viet Nam\">Viet Nam<\/option><option value=\"Virgin Islands, British\">Virgin Islands, British<\/option><option value=\"Wallis and\n    Futuna\">Wallis and\n    Futuna<\/option><option value=\"Western Sahara\">Western Sahara<\/option><option value=\"Yemen\">Yemen<\/option><option value=\"Zambia\">Zambia<\/option><option value=\"Zimbabwe\">Zimbabwe<\/option><\/select><\/span><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"form-submit\">\n<button type=\"submit\" id=\"contact-us-submit-button\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-submit has-spinner\">Get our latest updates<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n*<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">Brightmine<\/a> is a tradename of <a href=\"https:\/\/risk.lexisnexis.com\/group\/\" target=\"_blank\">LexisNexis Risk Solutions<\/a>. By registering your details, you understand that your personal data will be handled according to our <a href=\"https:\/\/risk.lexisnexis.com\/group\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. \n<\/p><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"client_id\" class=\"client_id\" \/><input type=\"text\" class=\"elq-itemhp-tel5\" name=\"Telephone5\" value=\"\" style=\"width:100%;\" autocomplete=\"2S0OI3\">\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" class=\"elq-itemhp-tel6\" name=\"Telephone6\" value=\"\" style=\"width:100%;\" autocomplete=\"DduwX4\">\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" class=\"elq-itemhp-tel7\" name=\"Telephone7\" value=\"\" style=\"width:100%;\" autocomplete=\"8ihsaF\"><div class=\"wpcf7-response-output\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In April 2026, HR professionals face the challenge of dealing with business-as-usual employment law changes, such as increases in statutory maternity, paternity and sick pay, while also dealing with a raft of major changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025. We look at what HR needs to do to meet its employment law obligations this spring.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":14748,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-new-resources","categories":[53],"tags":[102],"topic":[59],"class_list":["post-15716","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-c-and-i","tag-employment-rights-act","topic-employment-law-updates"],"_lnrs_read_more":"","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>April 2026 employment law changes: Six-point checklist for HR | Brightmine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Stay compliant this April 2026 with key HR actions: gender pay gap deadlines, wage increases, new day\u2011one parental rights, SSP changes and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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