Free · 2027 edition · Employers
The HR, payroll and safety dates UK employers need for 2027: the 6-month unfair dismissal rule from 1 January, April pay and reporting changes, gender pay gap deadlines and the renewals that run on your own dates.
Unfair dismissal: 6-month qualifying period, no cap on compensation
New National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
Gender pay gap: publish your 5 April 2026 snapshot figures
New in the 2027 edition
Qualifying period drops from 2 years to 6 months and the compensatory award cap is removed. Confirmed in commencement regulations.[1][2]
Day-one paternity and unpaid parental leave and Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of sickness (6 April 2026). Employment tribunal claims: 6 months to claim, up from 3 (1 October 2026).[3]
Fire and rehire protections (listed for January 2027), stronger dismissal protection for pregnant women and new mothers, flexible working changes, bereavement leave including pregnancy loss, a new collective redundancy threshold, guaranteed hours, mandatory gender equality and menopause action plans, and limits on NDAs. Government says future dates may change.[3]
Dated deadlines
Open any date for what to do, who it applies to and what happens if it is missed. The calendar icon adds a single date to Google Calendar.
8 deadlines
For dismissals with an effective date of termination on or after 1 January 2027, employees need 6 months’ service (not 2 years) for ordinary unfair dismissal protection, and the cap on the compensatory award is removed. Review probation periods and dismissal processes before this date.[1][2]
Who: All employers in Great Britain
If missed: More employees can bring a claim, and awards are no longer capped.
Nothing dated this month.
Nothing dated this month.
Minimum wage rates change on 1 April every year. The 2027 rates had not been announced on 28 Sep 2026: the Low Pay Commission advises government by the end of October 2026. Current National Living Wage (21 and over): £12.71 an hour.[4][5][18]
Who: Every employer
If missed: Not paying the minimum wage is a criminal offence; arrears must be paid immediately.
Report and publish within a year of the snapshot date, so by 4 April 2027. It falls on a Sunday in 2027, so aim for the Friday before.[6]
Who: Private and voluntary sector employers with 250 or more employees on 5 April 2026
If missed: A legal duty for employers in scope.
Count your employees on this date. If you have 250 or more, your 2027 figures are due by 4 April 2028. Public authorities mostly use 31 March.[6]
Who: Private and voluntary sector employers
If missed: Missing data on the snapshot date makes the report hard to produce later.
From 6 April 2027 you must report and tax company cars, vans, car and van fuel and medical benefits through payroll software in real time, including Class 1A National Insurance. Most remaining benefits follow from 6 April 2028; employer-provided loans and accommodation stay on the year-end process. HMRC says the detailed scope is set by regulations announced at Budget 2026.[7]
Who: Employers who provide benefits in kind
If missed: Set up your payroll software before the first pay run of the tax year.
Nothing dated this month.
Report expenses and benefits, give employees a copy and report your Class 1A National Insurance.[9]
Who: Employers who provided expenses or benefits not payrolled
If missed: £100 per 50 employees for each month or part month the P11D(b) is late.
Pay electronically by 22 July (a cheque must arrive by 19 July).[9]
Who: Employers with a Class 1A bill
If missed: Interest and penalties on late payment.
Nothing dated this month.
Nothing dated this month.
Nothing dated this month.
Nothing dated this month.
Nothing dated this month.
Depends on your dates
Right to work, pension re-enrolment, first aid and insurance run from your own dates. Enter a date to get your deadlines.
If an employee’s right to work is time-limited, check their documents again when it is due to expire. Keep copies during employment and for 2 years after they leave.[10][11]
If missed: Civil penalty of up to £60,000 for each illegal worker.
Right to work check timing explainedEvery 3 years, put eligible staff who left the scheme back in. Choose a re-enrolment date in the 6-month window from 3 months before to 3 months after the third anniversary of your duties start date. Re-declare compliance within 5 months after that anniversary.[12][13]
If missed: The Pensions Regulator issues warnings, notices and fines.
Certificates last 3 years. First-aiders must requalify before they expire; once expired they are no longer considered competent. HSE strongly recommends annual refresher training.[14]
If missed: Gaps in first aid cover under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations.
How long a first aid certificate lastsCover of at least £5 million from an authorised insurer from the day you become an employer. Display the certificate where staff can see it and show it to inspectors.[15]
If missed: Fine of £2,500 for every day you are not properly insured; £1,000 for not displaying the certificate.
Employers’ liability insurance explainedAlso running all year
The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment and review it regularly. The law sets no fixed refresher interval for fire marshal training; an annual refresh is a common choice, not a legal requirement.[16]
If missed: Fines or prison for breaching fire safety law.
How often to review a fire risk assessmentEmployers with 250 or more employees on the snapshot date (5 April for private and voluntary sector, 31 March for most public authorities) must report and publish within a year.[6]
If missed: A legal duty each year you are in scope.
When you would rather not remember
Every date on this page can live in one place with an owner. ExpiryEdge sends the reminders at 90, 60, 30 and 7 days by email, SMS, WhatsApp, Slack or Teams, keeps the evidence on file and logs who did what.
Try it with your own dates, free for 14 days, no cardExpiryEdge · Tracked item
Right to work follow-up · A. Novak
ValidOwner
HR manager
Expires
30 Jun 2027
Reminders before expiry
90d
60d
30d
7d
Due
Full list
The same dates as the calendar above, in date order, for printing and quick scanning.
| Deadline | What | Who | If missed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | Unfair dismissal: 6-month qualifying period, no cap on compensation For dismissals with an effective date of termination on or after 1 January 2027, employees need 6 months’ service (not 2 years) for ordinary unfair dismissal protection, and the cap on the compensatory award is removed. Review probation periods and dismissal processes before this date. | All employers in Great Britain | More employees can bring a claim, and awards are no longer capped. | [1][2] |
| Thu 1 Apr 2027 | New National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates Minimum wage rates change on 1 April every year. The 2027 rates had not been announced on 28 Sep 2026: the Low Pay Commission advises government by the end of October 2026. Current National Living Wage (21 and over): £12.71 an hour. | Every employer | Not paying the minimum wage is a criminal offence; arrears must be paid immediately. | [4][5][18] |
| Sun 4 Apr 2027 | Gender pay gap: publish your 5 April 2026 snapshot figures Report and publish within a year of the snapshot date, so by 4 April 2027. It falls on a Sunday in 2027, so aim for the Friday before. | Private and voluntary sector employers with 250 or more employees on 5 April 2026 | A legal duty for employers in scope. | [6] |
| Mon 5 Apr 2027 | Gender pay gap snapshot date (2027 report) Count your employees on this date. If you have 250 or more, your 2027 figures are due by 4 April 2028. Public authorities mostly use 31 March. | Private and voluntary sector employers | Missing data on the snapshot date makes the report hard to produce later. | [6] |
| Tue 6 Apr 2027 | Company cars, vans, fuel and medical benefits must be payrolled From 6 April 2027 you must report and tax company cars, vans, car and van fuel and medical benefits through payroll software in real time, including Class 1A National Insurance. Most remaining benefits follow from 6 April 2028; employer-provided loans and accommodation stay on the year-end process. HMRC says the detailed scope is set by regulations announced at Budget 2026. | Employers who provide benefits in kind | Set up your payroll software before the first pay run of the tax year. | [7] |
| Mon 31 May 2027 | Give employees their P60 (2026 to 2027) Give a P60 to every employee on your payroll on 5 April 2027, on paper or electronically. 31 May 2027 is a bank holiday, so send them before. | Employers | A legal duty: employers must provide it by 31 May. | [8][17] |
| Tue 6 Jul 2027 | P11D and P11D(b) for 2026 to 2027 Report expenses and benefits, give employees a copy and report your Class 1A National Insurance. | Employers who provided expenses or benefits not payrolled | £100 per 50 employees for each month or part month the P11D(b) is late. | [9] |
| Thu 22 Jul 2027 | Pay Class 1A National Insurance (2026 to 2027) Pay electronically by 22 July (a cheque must arrive by 19 July). | Employers with a Class 1A bill | Interest and penalties on late payment. | [9] |
| Rule | When | If missed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right to work follow-up checks | If an employee’s right to work is time-limited, check their documents again when it is due to expire. Keep copies during employment and for 2 years after they leave. | Civil penalty of up to £60,000 for each illegal worker. | [10][11] |
| Pension re-enrolment and re-declaration | Every 3 years, put eligible staff who left the scheme back in. Choose a re-enrolment date in the 6-month window from 3 months before to 3 months after the third anniversary of your duties start date. Re-declare compliance within 5 months after that anniversary. | The Pensions Regulator issues warnings, notices and fines. | [12][13] |
| First aid at work certificates | Certificates last 3 years. First-aiders must requalify before they expire; once expired they are no longer considered competent. HSE strongly recommends annual refresher training. | Gaps in first aid cover under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations. | [14] |
| Employers’ liability insurance | Cover of at least £5 million from an authorised insurer from the day you become an employer. Display the certificate where staff can see it and show it to inspectors. | Fine of £2,500 for every day you are not properly insured; £1,000 for not displaying the certificate. | [15] |
| Fire risk assessment and fire training | The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment and review it regularly. The law sets no fixed refresher interval for fire marshal training; an annual refresh is a common choice, not a legal requirement. | Fines or prison for breaching fire safety law. | [16] |
| Gender pay gap reporting | Employers with 250 or more employees on the snapshot date (5 April for private and voluntary sector, 31 March for most public authorities) must report and publish within a year. | A legal duty each year you are in scope. | [6] |
Useful for rotas, payroll cut-offs and the dates above. Scotland and Northern Ireland differ.
Fri 1 Jan 2027
New Year’s Day
Fri 26 Mar 2027
Good Friday
Mon 29 Mar 2027
Easter Monday
Mon 3 May 2027
Early May bank holiday
Mon 31 May 2027
Spring bank holiday
Mon 30 Aug 2027
Summer bank holiday
Mon 27 Dec 2027
Christmas Day (substitute day)
Tue 28 Dec 2027
Boxing Day (substitute day)
Source: GOV.UK bank holidays[17]
For dismissals with an effective date of termination on or after 1 January 2027, the qualifying period for ordinary unfair dismissal falls from 2 years to 6 months and the cap on the compensatory award is removed. Both are confirmed in the Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026.
Not yet announced as of 28 September 2026. Rates change on 1 April every year, and the Low Pay Commission advises government by the end of October 2026. The National Living Wage for people aged 21 and over is currently £12.71 an hour.
If you are a private or voluntary sector employer with 250 or more employees on 5 April 2026, publish within a year of that date, so by 4 April 2027. Your next snapshot date is 5 April 2027.
Every 3 years. You choose a re-enrolment date within 3 months either side of the third anniversary of your duties start date, then complete a re-declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator within 5 months after that anniversary.
Three years, according to HSE. First-aiders need to requalify before it expires, and HSE strongly recommends annual refresher training in between.
Every date and rule on this page comes from these official sources.
1.
legislation.gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
2.
Department for Business and Trade (business.gov.uk) · business.gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
3.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
4.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
5.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
6.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
7.
HMRC, GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
8.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
9.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
10.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
11.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
12.
The Pensions Regulator · thepensionsregulator.gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
13.
The Pensions Regulator · thepensionsregulator.gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
14.
HSE · hse.gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
15.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
16.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
17.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
18.
GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked 28 Sep 2026
Guidance, not legal advice. Dates reflect GOV.UK, HMRC, HSE and Pensions Regulator guidance as checked on 28 Sep 2026. Employment law in Northern Ireland differs.
