Day-One SSP, Mandatory Payrolling, and the New Rules Reshaping UK Payroll

In this episode: Day-One SSP, Mandatory Payrolling & the New Rules Reshaping UK Payroll | Payroll Question Time

Payroll Question Time is brought to you by SD Worx. SD Worx offers smart, tailored and integrated HR and Payroll solutions, along with the local expertise, global reach and reliable service you need to grow your business today!

UK payroll is facing one of its most demanding periods ever. Are your processes ready for everything landing at once?

In this episode of Payroll Question Time, host Steve Yardley and our expert panel break down the most pressing payroll challenges hitting employers right now. From day-one SSP entitlement and qualifying day complexities, to mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind and the Employment Rights Act. With the Fair Work Agency now operational and April 2027 approaching fast, this is essential viewing for every payroll professional in the UK.

From zero-hours SSP edge cases and holiday pay record-keeping obligations to the mileage rate increase and zero-hours contract reform, this session covers the operational, compliance, and strategic issues you need to act on today.

We cover:

•SSP day-one entitlement and what it means for zero-hours and casual workers

•The qualifying days problem and how some employees are already exploiting the new rules

•Zero-earnings SSP and the unresolved gap in the SSP1 process and what to do now

•Mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind: why preparation must start before the software is ready

•Overlapping taxation explained and why you must never call it double taxation

•The 50% regulatory limit and why it will catch employers out in 2027

Class 1A NIC individual calculations and the complexity this creates

•EV salary sacrifice and the company car confusion employers are getting wrong

•Mileage rate increase to 55p per mile: what has changed, what is backdated, and what is discretionary

•Employment Rights Act: unfair dismissal qualifying period, zero-hours contract reform, and tipping policy changes

•Employment tribunal backlogs and the Fair Work Agency's enforcement powers

•Holiday pay record-keeping and the six-year obligation employers have not woken up to

•Rolled-up holiday pay risks for variable and part-year workers

•How the Fair Work Agency could reshape compliance enforcement the way NMW teams did

•Skills shift in payroll: analytics, AI, and what the profession looks like going forward

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Steve Yardley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syardley/

Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!

Our Panel:

Simon Parsons, Director of UK Compliance Strategies, SD Worx

Mathew Akrigg, Policy & Advisory Leader, CIPP

Samantha Mann, Payroll Team Manager, Armstrong Watson LLP

Richard George, Payroll Consultant & Industry Leader

Steve Yardley, Host, Managing Director, JGA Recruitment Group

Timestamps:

(00:00) Welcome & What to Expect

(03:41) SSP Day-One Rules Explained

(12:13) Zero Earnings SSP & the SSP1 Gap

(20:54) Qualifying Days, Risks & Automation Pain

(29:02) Mandatory Payrolling of Benefits: Planning Starts Now

(38:10) Mileage Rate Rise & Payroll Impact

(43:55) The 50% Regulatory Limit & Employee Communications

(49:18) Employment Rights Act: What Changes & When

(1:04:22) Holiday Pay, Record-Keeping & the Fair Work Agency

(1:16:12) Who Should Own Holiday Records? Live Poll Results

(1:23:09) Skills Shift, Analytics, AI & CPD in Payroll

(1:28:26) Wrap-Up & Next Session: June 18th

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