Employment Rights Act 2025

You may have seen in the news that the Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent at the end of December 2025. This is one of the most significant changes to employment law in over a decade, and several key measures will come into force from 6 April 2026.

Key Changes from 6 April 2026

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

• The lower earnings threshold will be removed

• Waiting days will be removed – SSP will be payable from day one (no 3-day wait)

• All workers will be eligible

• Lower earners will receive 80% of their usual pay, or the SSP flat rate (whichever is lower)

Family-Friendly Rights

• Day-one entitlement to paternity leave

• Day-one entitlement to unpaid parental leave

  (No minimum length of service required)

Fair Work Agency

• A new national enforcement body will be established to oversee and enforce employment rights

Trade Union Changes

• Simplified processes for trade union recognition and ballots

Redundancy Protections

• Increased protective awards in collective redundancy situations

We will continue to review these changes as further guidance becomes available and will keep you informed about how they apply at Glen. If you have any questions, please speak to your manager or the Employee Support team.

Keeping you informed and supported remains a priority for us.

National Living Wage From April 23 – April 26

As members of the Real Living Wage organisation, new voluntary rates apply from 4 November:

• £13.45 per hour across the UK

• £14.80 per hour in London

Currently, 89 employees at Glen are paid at the Real Living Wage, reflecting our continued commitment to fair pay.

Minimum-wage employees have been supported through a combination of government wage policy, welfare support, and Glen’s own pay practices. In recent years, the Government has increased the minimum wage faster than inflation to help protect real earnings and support a reasonable standard of living for lower-paid workers.

Tax & National Insurance – What This Means

• From 6 January 2024, the main employee Class 1 National Insurance rate was reduced from 12% to 10%

• The income tax personal allowance remains frozen at £12,570

• As wages rise, more income becomes taxable over time — a process known as “fiscal drag”, which can affect take-home pay

Hours Worked Before Tax & NI Apply

• In 2025, a minimum-wage employee can work up to 20 hours per week without paying income tax or National Insurance

• Employers begin paying National Insurance after 14 hours

• By April 2026, this reduces to 19 hours per week for employees, while employer National Insurance remains payable after 14 hours

We continue to monitor changes to wages, tax, and National Insurance closely and will keep you informed as further updates are confirmed. If you have any questions, please speak to your manager or contact the Employee Support team.