Topics

Pay and benefits

New and updated

  • Type:
    Legal timetable

    Ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting

    Updated to reflect the publication of the Government’s consultation response and press release on 25 March 2026 confirming plans to legislate for mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting, with implementation dates still to be confirmed.

  • Date:
    18 March 2026
    Type:
    Podcasts and webinars

    Podcast: Pay reviews in 2026 - balancing budgetary pressures and employee expectations

    With early pay awards showing signs of growth, Sheila Attwood joins the podcast to dig into what the data tells us about pay award plans for the year ahead, and how employers can navigate the growing tension between affordability and employee expectations.

  • Date:
    18 March 2026
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Pay trends March 2026: Pay awards edge up in early 2026 but outlook remains cautious

    The UK median pay award for the three months to February 2026 edged up slightly to 3.3%, although this level of pay growth is not expected to be sustained across the year.

  • Date:
    18 March 2026
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Pay award forecasts for 2026

    The first pay awards of 2026 have shown some growth compared with 2025, but is this new year boost likely to last the year? We look in detail at organisations' pay award plans for the coming 12 months.

  • Type:
    Quick reference

    State pension rates

    Updated to reflect the state pension rates for 2026/2027. Employers may use these updated figures to support employees in planning for retirement. Additionally, there may be cases where employees choose to work beyond state pension age. In such situations, if an employee is receiving a state pension, it could affect payroll processes, particularly regarding national insurance contributions. 

  • Type:
    Quick reference

    National insurance lower earnings limit

    Updated to include the rate of the lower earnings limit for 2026/27. Employers will need to review payroll systems and ensure statutory pay is applied correctly.

  • Type:
    Quick reference

    National minimum wage

    Updated with the national minimum wage rates in force from 1 April 2026, so employers can review pay and update payroll systems.

  • Date:
    18 February 2026
    Type:
    Commentary and insights

    April 2026 employment law changes: Six-point checklist for HR

    In April 2026, HR professionals face the challenge of dealing with business-as-usual employment law changes, such as increases in statutory maternity, paternity and sick pay, while also dealing with a raft of major changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025. We look at what HR needs to do to meet its employment law obligations this spring.

  • Date:
    18 February 2026
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Pay trends February 2026: A first look at the 2026 pay settlement landscape

    Following a year defined by steady pay deals, cost pressures and a softening labour market, we turn our attention to the pay award outlook for 2026.

  • Date:
    13 February 2026
    Type:
    Podcasts and webinars

    Webinar: Building transparent reward frameworks

    In this webinar you'll learn how pay grading strengthens fairness, clarifies role value, supports progression, reduces legal and reputational risk, and enhances communication across your organisation.

About this topic

HR and legal information and guidance relating to pay and benefits.