More than 15 million UK workers are set to benefit from a new set of rules being introduced next month, the Government has said. The changes, announced by the Department for Business and Trade, include day one paternity leave and parental leave, statutory sick pay, protections for pregnant workers, increased protection from unfair dismissal, an end to exploitative zero hours contracts, and a new right to bereavement leave.

The Employment Rights Act became law last year, and a number of planned changes have been rolled out since. From April 6, statutory sick pay will be either 80% of the worker’s average weekly earnings or £123.25 per week. Workers will be entitled to whichever rate is lower, and it will be paid from the first full day of sickness absence. The previous eight weeks of work will be used to calculate a worker’s average weekly earnings, and payments will be rounded up to the nearest penny.

“Statutory Sick Pay will be payable from the first full day of sickness absence (the three-day waiting period is being removed).

“The rate of Statutory Sick Pay for all employees will be calculated at 80% of their average weekly earnings or the flat weekly rate, whichever is lower.”

Companies have been told to check in with their payroll provider to see how the changes will affect their payroll system.

“New statutory sick pay reforms mean up to 1.3m low paid employees will now be able to take time off when they’re sick without worrying about not being paid,” the announcement from the Department for Business and Trade adds.

Starting April 6, bereavement leave will be available to employees from their first day on the job. This includes circumstances of pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.

“Employees who are going through the toughest personal circumstances will also be afforded dignity at work, with up to 2.7m employees a year to gain the right to the new bereavement leave entitlement,” the Government says.

The current bereavement leave is only mandatory for the loss of a child under 18 or a miscarriage after 24 weeks.

“This Act sets in motion an increase in living standards, supporting productivity and importantly, more security and dignity for people in work,” said Sir Keir Starmer.

“When we said we’d bring work into the 21st century, we meant it – and today we’ve delivered it.”