Employment Law Changes for Scottish Charities, April 2026
Summary
OSCR is notifying Scottish charities that employ staff of new employment rights under the Employment Rights Act 2025, which is being implemented in phases. Key changes taking effect from April 2026 include statutory sick pay, paternity and unpaid parental leave, bereaved partner's paternity leave, collective redundancy rules, whistleblowing protections, simplified Fair Work enforcement, holiday pay records, and National Minimum and Living Wage updates. Further changes will follow across 2026 and 2027. While OSCR does not regulate employment law, charity trustees remain responsible for ensuring their charity complies with all relevant employer obligations.
“While OSCR does not regulate employment law, charity trustees remain responsible for ensuring their charity complies with all relevant legal duties, including those that apply to employers.”
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GovPing monitors UK Charity Commission News Scot for new courts & legal regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 3 changes logged to date.
What changed
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is being implemented across Scotland in phases, with new employment rights taking effect from April 2026. OSCR has issued this notice to inform charities that employ staff about key changes including statutory sick pay, paternity and unpaid parental leave, bereaved partner's paternity leave, collective redundancy, whistleblowing protections, Fair Work enforcement, holiday pay records, and National Minimum and Living Wage updates. Further changes will follow through 2026 and 2027. Charity trustees are responsible for ensuring their organisations comply with all relevant legal duties as employers, even though OSCR does not regulate employment law itself.
Archived snapshot
Apr 22, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
More information to appear on the Scottish Charity Register from 9 March 2026, including charity trustee names and accounts documents. Click here for more details.
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- Employment law changes: What do charities need to be aware of?
16 Apr 2026 News
Employment law changes: What do charities need to be aware of?
Charities that employ staff will be aware that employment law applies to them in the same way as it does to other employers. A number of changes to employment law are now being introduced, and these will affect employers across all sectors, including charities.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is being implemented in phases. Some new and upgraded employment rights came into effect in April 2026, with further changes being phased in across 2026 and 2027. This phased approach is intended to give employers time to understand what applies to them and to take any necessary steps to comply.
Key changes introduced from April 2026:
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Paternity leave and Unpaid Parental Leave
- Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave
- Collective redundancy
- Whistleblowing protections
- Simpler enforcement through Fair Work
- Holiday pay records
- National Minimum and National Living Wage Further changes to follow
Guidance and support
The Government’s dedicated website provides free guidance and support to help you understand what applies to your charity. Visit business.gov.uk/employment-changes
They are also running a webinar Employment Rights Act 2025: Key measures and employer actions on 23 April which will help guide employers through the changes. You can sign up for the webinar here.
While OSCR does not regulate employment law, charity trustees remain responsible for ensuring their charity complies with all relevant legal duties, including those that apply to employers.
More OSCR News:
16 Apr 2026 News ### Employment law changes: What do charities need to be aware of? 08 Apr 2026 News ### Guidance for Scottish charities on campaigning about political issues 25 Mar 2026 News ### Video – Getting your accounts right: A guide for smaller charities 17 Mar 2026 News ### Webinar: Ask OSCR with ICO 03 Mar 2026 News ### OSCR website unavailable on 9 March 2026 26 Feb 2026 News ### Ellie Craig appointed as member of the Board of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) 25 Feb 2026 News ### Video - Charity law in transition: Key legislative changes and what they mean for you 19 Feb 2026 News ### More information to appear on the Scottish Charity Register from 9 March 2026 18 Feb 2026 News ### Charity banking: your chance to have your say 05 Feb 2026 Event ### Webinar – Getting your charity accounts right: A guide for smaller charities
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