We are restarting these short updates to share the payroll and employment developments that matter in practice — and to keep useful resources within easy reach.
A quick payroll check
For 2026/27, the National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. Employer National Insurance is 15% above the £5,000 annual secondary threshold, and Statutory Sick Pay is £123.25 a week, or 80% of average weekly earnings if that is lower.
Before the next pay run, it is worth checking that starter information, pay changes, sickness records, holiday data and any deductions are complete and approved.
A useful new resource: our Payroll Fact Card app
Our Payroll Fact Card app is designed to make everyday payroll information easier to find when you need it. It is a practical quick-reference tool for the facts and figures that come up time and again.
Explore the Payroll Fact Card app →
New Acas draft Code: disciplinary and grievance procedures
Acas published a draft replacement for its disciplinary and grievance Code on 30 July. It is not yet final, but it is important reading: Employment Tribunals can take the Code into account and may adjust awards by up to 25% where there has been an unreasonable failure to comply.
The draft puts a sharper emphasis on:
- resolving concerns early and informally where appropriate;
- clear, accessible policies and manager training;
- fair, proportionate fact-finding before formal action;
- using suspension only where necessary, keeping it brief and under review;
- making reasonable adjustments and avoiding discrimination throughout a process;
- giving people a proper opportunity to respond and appeal; and
- considering mediation or facilitated conversations where they may help.
The practical message is simple: review your disciplinary and grievance process before you need to use it. Make sure managers know the difference between an informal conversation and a formal warning, and that records are clear, fair and timely.
Looking ahead: payrolling benefits course in November
Our payrolling benefits course returns in November. It will be a useful opportunity to build confidence with the rules, reporting and practical decisions around employee benefits.
Find out more / book your place →
Skills and the future workforce
The Government has announced plans to give young people access to technical education, work experience and employer connections from age 14. The intention is to put technical and academic routes on a more equal footing, with schools, colleges, local leaders and employers helping shape pathways around local jobs and growth sectors.
For employers, there is no immediate new duty. But the announcement signals a bigger role for businesses in mentoring, workplace visits, projects and meaningful work experience. The Government’s ambition is for the new routes to start rolling out from September 2028.
That creates an interesting question for every employer: what could we offer now that would help a young person see a real route into our sector?
Read the Government announcement →
Holiday pay enforcement: have your say
Holiday pay continues to be an area of real payroll complexity and enforcement risk. We are hosting a webinar, “Holiday Pay Enforcement: What Payroll Needs Government to Hear,” to explore the practical challenges and ensure the payroll perspective is part of the conversation.
If there is a payroll or employment topic you would like us to cover in a future edition, please let us know.