April 2026 is one of the most significant months for UK employment law in a decade. The Employment Rights Act 2025, which received Royal Assent in December 2025, begins rolling out its first wave of changes on 6 April. If you run a pub, restaurant, or hospitality business, several of these changes will affect you directly.
1. Minimum wage increases from 1 April 2026
- National Living Wage (21+): £12.21 to £12.71 per hour
- 18 to 20 year olds: £10.00 to £10.85 per hour
- 16 to 17 year olds: £7.55 to £8.00 per hour
2. Paternity and parental leave become day-one rights from 6 April 2026
Currently, employees need 26 weeks of service before they can take paternity leave, and one year before they qualify for unpaid parental leave. Both of those thresholds are being scrapped. From 6 April 2026, any eligible employee can take paternity leave or unpaid parental leave from their first day in the job.
3. Statutory Sick Pay: the waiting period is gone
From 6 April 2026, SSP applies from the first day of sickness with no earnings threshold.
4. The Fair Work Agency launches on 7 April 2026
A new government enforcement body called the Fair Work Agency begins operating on 7 April. It gains new powers including the ability to enforce holiday pay and national minimum wage compliance.
A quick checklist before 6 April
- Update your minimum wage rates in payroll (from 1 April)
- Review and update employment contracts to remove service-length requirements for paternity and parental leave
- Update your sickness absence policy to reflect day-one SSP with no earnings threshold
- Review holiday pay calculations, particularly for staff on variable hours
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