Going on Holiday While on Sick Leave 2026: Rules, Pay & Risks
Section A: When can an employee legally go on holiday while on sick leave? For employers, the starting point should always be the legal position rather than assumptions about what sick leave should look like. UK employment law does not treat sickness absence as a period during which all other statutory rights are […]
Annual Leave Policy UK 2026: Legal Guide
An annual leave policy sets out how holiday entitlement is managed within an organisation. It explains the rules governing when employees can take paid time off work, how leave requests should be made, how entitlement is calculated and how employers will manage holiday pay, carry-forward and leave during notice periods. For employers, a clearly written […]
Paternity Leave UK: Rules, Pay & Eligibility (2026 Guide)
Employers in the UK must understand the legal framework governing paternity leave to ensure compliance with employment law while supporting employees during the arrival of a new child. Paternity leave provides eligible employees with time away from work following the birth or adoption of a child, allowing them to care for the child and support […]
Time Off for Dependants 2026 (UK): Legal Guide
Employers will often face situations where employees need to take time away from work at very short notice due to family emergencies. One of the most common examples is when an employee must deal with the illness, injury or care needs of someone who depends on them. UK employment law recognises that these situations cannot […]
Shared Parental Leave UK: Employer Guide 2026
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) is a statutory employment right in the UK that allows eligible parents to share responsibility for caring for their child during the first year after birth or adoption. Introduced under the Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014, the regime gives families greater flexibility in how they arrange time off work, allowing both […]
UK Sick Note (Fit Note) 2026: When & What It Means
Section A: What is a Sick Note in the UK? In UK employment law, there is no specific legal document called a ‘sick note’. The term is commonly used to describe what is officially known as a ‘fit note’. A fit note is the recognised form of medical evidence used to support sickness […]
Request for Annual Leave: UK Guide (2026)
Managing a request for annual leave is not simply an administrative task. It is a statutory compliance issue governed primarily by the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR), shaped by case law on holiday pay, and influenced by discrimination risk under the Equality Act 2010. Employers retain control over when leave may be taken, but they […]
Menstruation Leave UK 2026: Legal Risks & Policy
Menstruation leave is increasingly discussed in UK workplaces as employers consider how best to support staff experiencing severe menstrual symptoms. While some international jurisdictions have introduced specific statutory rights to menstrual leave, the legal position in the United Kingdom remains different. There is no standalone entitlement to menstruation leave under UK employment law. Instead, employers […]
Self Certification Form UK: 7-Day Rule & SSP 2026
Self certification is the process that allows an employee to confirm they are unfit for work due to illness without providing medical evidence for a short period of absence. In UK employment law, this typically covers sickness lasting up to seven calendar days, after which a fit note may be required. This guide is about […]
Long Term Sickness Absence: 2026 UK Employer Guide
Long-term sickness absence is one of the most sensitive and legally complex workforce issues UK employers face. While many absences begin as short-term illness, situations can quickly evolve into extended periods away from work, creating operational strain, financial cost and potential legal exposure. Handled poorly, long-term sickness absence can lead to unfair dismissal claims, disability […]