The Employment Rights Act (ERA) is the biggest overhaul of UK employment law in decades. It’s being introduced in stages throughout 2026 and 2027, and its impact is starting to be felt by employers.
One of the biggest changes is that Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is now a Day One right, and the Lower Earnings Limit for SSP has been removed. Good news for workers’ rights but does have implications for employers:
• ACAS estimates around 1.3 million more workers are now eligible for SSP
• Workers are more likely to take time off for minor illnesses, as a short absence has less financial impact
• A reliable supplier of last-minute staff could make a real difference
It’s too early for official data on the impact this change is having on businesses, but feedback from our network of 100+ offices across the UK suggests that there is a rise in last-minute, short-term bookings, which are often required to cover staff sickness.
As we go through the summer, when you need last-minute staff, we are here to help. You also need to be ready for the other changes that the Employment Rights Act is bringing about. There’s lots of information on our website.
If you’d like more information about ERA, you want to discuss how you can use quality agency staff to help manage its impact, or you just need a quality temp, fast, call your local Driver Hire recruitment office.