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Sick pay from day one, longer tribunal time limits and the harassment duty are in force. Unfair dismissal after 6 months and the tipping consultation follow in January 2027.
Published 3 November 2026
All articlesSince 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is paid from the first day off sick, and the lower earnings limit has gone. Since 1 October 2026 workers have 6 months, not 3, to bring a tribunal claim. Since 30 October 2026 employers must take "all reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment of their staff, and must not permit harassment by third parties such as customers.
From 1 January 2027 the qualifying period for unfair dismissal falls to 6 months and the cap on the compensatory award is removed. The same date brings the duty to consult staff on the tipping policy and to review it at least every three years.
The Act gives zero-hours and low-hours workers a right to guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of shifts, and pay for shifts cancelled, moved or cut short. The government says the dates "will be updated following the consultation". Once these sections are in force, a shift cancelled, moved or cut short will carry a payment to the worker.
We run payroll to each rule as it starts and cost the changes into your plan for the year. See payroll, tips and tronc.
1 January 2027, on the government's timeline.
No date has been set. The government says the timeline will be updated after consultation.
Send us your last accounts, a recent VAT return and one payroll run. We will show you what we would change and what it would cost each month.