Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the amount payable by employers when an employee is absent from work due to sickness. It is currently set at a flat rate of £118.75 (from 6th April 2025). There are certain eligibility requirements, including the fact that SSP is not currently payable during the first three days of absence, known as ‘waiting days’ and that those earning below the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) – £125 per week – were not eligible.
The Government has published its response to its consultation on the application of zero hours contracts measures to agency workers. The Employment Rights Bill already includes complex proposals for low and zero-hours workers covering three key areas:
The employment relationship can generally come to an end in one of two ways: resignation by the employee or dismissal by the employer. But what happens when wires get crossed? Where the employer genuinely believes that the employee has resigned and acts on that resignation – but they haven’t actually resigned. This point was addressed by the Employment Appeal Tribunal in the recent case of Korpysa v Impact Recruitment Services.
April marks the month each year where changes to statutory rates come into force. Most rate changes take effect from 6th April (to align with the start of the new tax year). National minimum wage changes take effect from 1st April.
Richard Riley joined Bermans in March 2025 and is a Partner and Head of Commercial.
Richard works with SME’s and business owners, family managed companies, life sciences, scientific sectors advises on all areas of Commercial Law, including:
Data Protection (including advising on compliance/breaches and documentation)
Business Law (including business to business and business to consumer contracts)
Intellectual Property Law (including IP assignments and IP licensing)
IT Law (including drafting SaaS Agreements, Support and Maintenance contracts, and development agreements)
Consumer Law
Franchise Law
Richard studied Biology at the University of Edinburgh and Law at Manchester Metropolitan University, before qualifying as a Solicitor in 2009.
He is currently recognised in the Legal 500 for his work on commercial matters.
Outside of work, Richard is currently marathon running, and also enjoys spending his time Crossfit/Hyrox training, as well as going to theatre, gigs, stand up and movies.
Arabella joined Bermans as a Paralegal in January 2023 and is currently a Trainee Solicitor in our Property team based in Liverpool.
She is currently working on commercial property matters.
Arabella obtained a First Class Economic History Degree from the London School of Economics and completed her GDL and LPC at the University of Law in Liverpool.
Outside of work, Arabella enjoys reading, cooking and baking.
Jobeth Copping-Barrett (pictured), joined Bermans in January 2025 and is a Senior Associate in our Private Client team. We spoke to her to learn more about her and her work.
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