Guide to employment law compensation, rates and limits

April 2026 to April 2027

Compensation Limits (after 6 April 2026)

A week’s pay - £751

Failure to give a statement of particulars of employment - £1,502 or £3,004 (2 or 4 weeks’ pay)

Breach of the right to be accompanied at a grievance or a disciplinary meeting - £1,502 (2 weeks’ pay)

Breach of the flexible working provisions - £6,008 (8 weeks’ pay)

Failure to collectively consult on redundancy - up to 180 day’s gross pay

Unfair dismissal:

Basic award - maximum £22,530
Compensatory award (or the lesser of 52 weeks’ pay) - maximum £123,543
Additional award (failure to reinstate or reengage) - £19,526 to £39,052 (26 to 52 weeks’ pay)

Dismissals for union/employee representative or pension trustee reasons:

Basic award - maximum £22,530 (minimum £9,157)
Compensatory award - maximum £123,543

Dismissals for health and safety reasons:

Basic award - maximum £22,530 (minimum £9,157)
Compensatory award - no limit

Dismissals for making a protected disclosure:

Basic award - maximum £22,530
Compensatory award - no limit

Statutory redundancy payment - maximum £22,530

Contract claims - maximum £25,000

Failure to consult on a transfer - up to 13 weeks’ gross pay

Failure to allocate tips fairly - maximum £5,366

Guarantee payment - £41 per day maximum 5 days or £205 in 3 months)

Compensation for injury to feelings (Vento bands):

Lower band - £1,300 to £12,600 (less serious cases)
Middle band - £12,600 to £37,700 (cases that do not merit an award in the upper band)
Upper band - £37,700 to £62,900 (the most serious cases)
Exceptional cases - £62,900+

Insolvency Payments (for dismissals after 6 April 2026)

Arrears of pay - up to £6,008 (maximum 8 weeks’ pay)

Statutory notice pay - up to £9,012 (maximum 12 weeks’ pay)

Holiday pay - up to £4,506 (maximum 6 weeks’ pay)

Statutory redundancy payment or basic award - up to £22,530 (maximum 30 weeks’ pay)

Statutory Sick Pay (from 6 April 2026)

Standard rate - £123.25 - payable on the first day of absence (maximum 28 weeks)

Parental Payments (from 6 April 2026)

Statutory maternity pay (higher rate) - 90% of normal weekly earnings (maximum 6 weeks)

Statutory maternity pay (basic rate) - £194.32 (maximum 33 weeks)

Statutory adoption pay (higher rate) - 90% of normal weekly earnings (maximum 6 weeks)

Statutory adoption pay (basic rate) - £194.32 (maximum 33 weeks)

Maternity allowance - £194.32 (maximum 39 weeks)

Statutory paternity pay - £194.32 (maximum 2 weeks)

Shared parental leave pay - £194.32 (maximum 39 weeks)

Statutory neonatal care pay - £194.32 (maximum 12 weeks)

Statutory parental bereavement leave pay - £194.32 (maximum 2 weeks)

National Living/Minimum Wage (from 1 April 2026)

Workers aged 21+ - £12.71 an hour

Workers aged 18-20 - £10.85 an hour

Workers under 18 - £8.00 an hour

Apprentices - £8.00 an hour

Accommodation offset limit (maximum daily deduction from NMW) - £11.10

The material contained in this web page is provided for general purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice. Appropriate legal advice should be sought for specific circumstances and before action is taken.