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:
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 the firm as a Paralegal in January 2022 and is now a Trainee Solicitor in the Property Finance department. Having obtained a First-Class Economic History Degree from the London School of Economics, Arabella completed her law conversion and post-graduate LPC at the University of Law in Liverpool in 2022.
Arabella advises both lender and borrower clients on a range of development and bridging finance transactions. She is actively involved in progressing transactions from instruction through to completion, working closely with the wider Property Finance team to ensure that matters progress efficiently.
Arabella is recognised for her organised and proactive approach, alongside her responsiveness and strong commercial awareness. She is committed to delivering a high standard of service and helping clients achieve their objectives.
Following an excellent performance during her Training Contract, Arabella will join the Property Finance department as a Solicitor upon her qualification in September 2026.
Outside of work, Arabella enjoys reading, cooking and baking
Several significant changes in employment law rates are set to take effect in 2025. These updates will impact various aspects of employment, including wages, family-friendly payments, and statutory leave. Below is a detailed overview of the key changes.
As we step into 2025, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 brings several crucial updates aimed at enhancing corporate transparency, protecting personal information, and combating economic crime. These changes are set to impact businesses across the UK significantly. Here, we explore the key updates and their implications.
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