28/01/2026
From April, cleaners will be entitled to sick pay from day one.
On paper, it sounds fair. And as an employer, I absolutely believe people deserve security when they’re unwell.
But I’ll be honest this change worries me.
I’ve spent years building my business the right way. Training staff, paying taxes, running payroll properly, investing in people, and doing everything asked of small business owners.
None of that has been easy, and none of it has been cheap but I believed in building something fair, stable, and sustainable.
One of my favourite parts of my business is actually employing people and building the team.
The reality is, this new cost isn’t arriving in isolation. It’s coming alongside rising National Insurance, increasing wages, higher overheads, and a client base that’s already under pressure.
There’s only so much small businesses can absorb before something has to give.
What scares me most is this:
If the changes due to be implemented are suppose to protect your employees end up pushing responsible small employers to the brink, we risk losing the very businesses that do things properly.
The ones who don’t cut corners.
The ones who employ locally.
The ones who try to offer consistency, training, and real support.
I’m not asking for special treatment. I’m asking for realism.
Saving small businesses is supporting workers.
When good employers disappear, so do good jobs.
I want to keep employing
I want to keep doing things the right way
I just hope those making these decisions understand the real impact they’re having on businesses like mine.
If you feel the same or want to support small businesses to continue to do things well without pushing them into not employing then sign the petition
https://www.change.org/p/implement-support-for-small-businesses-affected-by-ssp-changes?source_location=search&fbclid=IwdGRzaAPl_WpjbGNrA-X7YWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHpMEqNjcpJHQB19ktoFNGaz_2p3xDxYuf1revejOHM5QjzElwQrSVk74AQU8_aem_oNPycst3z7qXr0gLBRF0Tg