Sickness absence continues to create significant operational, financial and workforce challenges for UK employers. In 2025, 148.8 million working days were lost to sickness or injury, with 2.0% of working days lost overall.

Against this backdrop, the Statutory Sick Pay landscape has also changed. Since 6 April 2026, the Lower Earnings Limit has been removed, meaning eligible employees can qualify for SSP regardless of their earnings. 

These reforms make it more important than ever for employers to have clear absence reporting arrangements, consistent management practices and a supportive but appropriately controlled approach to long-term sickness absence.

In this practical webinar, we will examine how employers can respond lawfully and effectively to the changing SSP framework, while supporting genuine illness, facilitating appropriate returns to work and addressing patterns of absence fairly.

• How the removal of the Lower Earnings Limit affects part-time, low-paid and variable-hours employees, and how SSP is now paid from day one of absence.

• How to manage long-term sickness absence through regular, meaningful and appropriately documented contact.

• The role of medical evidence and occupational health advice in understanding prognosis, functional effects and likely timescales.

• How to identify and consider reasonable adjustments, phased returns, amended duties and other measures that may facilitate a return to work.

• How to identify concerning absence patterns or potential misuse of the SSP process without making assumptions or treating genuine illness as misconduct

Registrant Bonus

All registrants will be entitled to a free business document critique. Our experts will review a core document - such as a sickness absence policy - to identify potential risks and ensure your paperwork stands up to new upcoming legislation.