A new survey commissioned by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has revealed that the upcoming changes to statutory sick pay (SSP) are viewed as the most consequential reform of the Employment Rights Act 2025 by both employers and employees.
The research, conducted by YouGov, asked over 2,000 business leaders and workers to identify which elements of the new legislation—the most significant overhaul of UK employment law in a generation—will have the greatest impact on their day-to-day working lives. The results offer a clear roadmap of where the anxieties and expectations are highest as the government’s employment agenda begins to take effect.
The most striking finding is the consensus on sick pay. A substantial 43% of employers and 36% of employees identified the shift from the fourth day to the first day of illness for statutory sick pay eligibility as the change with the biggest impact. This reform, which takes effect at the start of the new tax year, represents a major financial and administrative shift for businesses, while offering a significant boost in financial security for the workforce.
The second most impactful change, according to both groups, is the reduction in the qualifying period for protection against unfair dismissal. Currently, workers need two years of continuous service to bring a claim. Under the new Act, this will be cut to just six months from January 2027. This reform was selected by 31% of employers and 30% of workers,...
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