Our guide provides the current statutory rates for calculating tribunal compensation awards, sick pay, maternity pay, etc.
Key employment rates
National minimum wage
| Age | 2024-2025 (£) | 2025-2026 (£) | 2026-2027 (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers aged 21 and over (National Living Wage) | 11.44 | 12.21 | 12.71 |
| Workers aged 18 – 20 | 8.60 | 10.00 | 10.85 |
| Workers under 18 | 6.40 | 7.55 | 8.00 |
| Apprentices under 19, or over 19 and in their first year of the apprenticeship | 6.40 | 7.55 | 8.00 |
Statutory sick pay
| Payment | Former Rate (£) | Current Rate (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory sick pay (per week) | 116.75 | 118.75 |
Family friendly payments
| Payments | Former Rate (£) | Current Rate (£) |
|---|---|---|
Statutory maternity pay (SMP)First six weeks - 90% of employee's average weekly earnings. Remaining weeks at the statutory rate, or 90% of the employee's weekly earnings if this is lower. |
184.03 | 187.18 |
Statutory paternity pay (SPP)Statutory rate, or 90% of employee's weekly earnings if this is lower |
184.03 | 187.18 |
Statutory shared paternal pay (ShPP)Statutory rate, or 90% of employee's weekly earnings if this is lower |
184.03 | 187.18 |
Statutory adoption pay (SAP)First six weeks - 90% of employee's average weekly earnings. Remaining weeks at the statutory rate, or 90% of the employee's weekly earnings if this is lower. |
184.03 | 187.18 |
Statutory parental bereavement payStatutory rate, or 90% of employee's weekly earnings if this is lower |
184.03 | 187.18 |
Statutory neonatal care payStatutory rate, or 90% of employee's weekly earnings if this is lower |
187.18 |
Compensation limits
| Payments | Former Rate (£) | Current Rate (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Limit on guarantee payments | 38 (maximum £190 across five days in any three-month period) | 39 (maximum £195, across five days in any three-month period) |
| Limit on a week’s pay for calculating redundancy and unfair dismissal basic award | 700 | 719 |
| Maximum basic award for unfair dismissal and statutory redundancy payment | 21,000 (30 weeks' pay subject to the limit on a week's pay) | 21,570 (30 weeks' pay subject to the limit on a week's pay) |
| Minimum basic award for dismissal on trade union, health and safety, occupational pension scheme trustee, employee representative and on working time grounds only | 8,533 | 8,763 |
| Maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal | 115,115 | 118,223 |
| Additional award for failure to comply with reinstatement or re-engagement order | 18,200 – 36,400 (26 – 52 weeks’ pay maximum) |
18,694 – 37,388 (26 – 52 weeks’ pay maximum) |
| Minimum compensation for employees excluded/expelled from trade union | 13,032 | 13,384 |
| Failure to allow right to be accompanied correctly | 1,400 (two weeks’ pay capped at the statutory amount) |
1,438 (two weeks’ pay capped at the statutory amount) |
| Failure to give written statement of particulars | 1,400 or 2,800 (two or four weeks’ pay capped at the statutory amount) |
1,438 or 2,876 (two or four weeks’ pay capped at the statutory amount) |
| Failure to comply with flexible working regulations | 5,600 (eight weeks’ pay capped at the statutory amount) | 5,752 (eight weeks’ pay capped at the statutory amount) |
| Contract claims (if a claim for breach of contract is brought in an employment tribunal, compensation is capped at £25,000. If the claim is for more than £25,000, it can be made in the County Court or High Court. | 25,000 | 25,000 |
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