From April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay will change in ways that directly affect how employers manage absence. SSP will be payable from the first day of sickness and the lower earnings limit will be removed, meaning more employees will qualify and costs are likely to increase.

For many businesses, this will bring absence management into sharper focus. Not because the rules are complex, but because small gaps in process and record keeping can quickly become expensive or difficult to defend.

These changes are one of the reasons HRChest launched its updated website on 26 January 2026. The website acts as a clearer gateway to the HRChest app, where employers can access practical HR documents and guidance designed to help get the basics right ahead of April.

Why this matters in practice

SSP becoming a day one entitlement means employers will need to be confident that sickness absence is managed fairly and consistently. The removal of the earnings threshold also means absence will affect a wider group of workers than before.

This is less about payroll and more about decisions. How absence is recorded. How patterns are identified. How managers respond when absence becomes frequent or prolonged.

Where businesses struggle is not usually with the legislation itself. It is with inconsistency. Different managers taking different approaches. Policies that exist but are rarely used. Records that are incomplete or spread across systems.

Getting the foundations right

Clear policies and simple processes reduce uncertainty for everyone. They help managers know what to do and employees understand what to expect.

As SSP becomes more accessible, employers need to be able to show that absence is handled properly. That means having a clear sickness absence policy, keeping accurate records and knowing when to seek further support, such as Occupational Health advice.

None of this needs to be complicated. But it does need to be in place and applied consistently.

Supporting employers ahead of April 2026

The updated HRChest website signposts employers clearly to the HRChest app, where practical HR documents are housed in one central place. This makes it easier for employers to put structure around everyday people management without hunting through folders or outdated files.

The app includes policies and procedures that support consistent absence management and help businesses demonstrate that decisions are fair and reasonable.

For many employers, having this framework in place makes managing absence less reactive and more straightforward.

Time to review, not panic

April 2026 may feel a way off, but businesses that review their approach now will be in a stronger position later. Checking policies, reviewing record keeping and making sure managers understand how to apply procedures consistently can prevent problems from escalating.

The SSP changes do not require a complete overhaul of how people are managed. They do, however, highlight the importance of getting the fundamentals right.