The payroll industry has never been busier. According to the Office for National Statistics, there are an estimated 34 million working adults employed in the UK as of the end of June 2026 (estimated figures, full survey due in October 2026).
That’s a lot of payslips!
Why is UK payroll becoming more complex in 2026?
To make sure that everyone gets paid on time and accurately, your payroll administrator needs to keep track of a lot of threads.
According to the CIPP there are over 174 pieces of legislation that affect payroll.
Not only do we keep track of all the legal stuff, we’re also observing how your payroll operates and making sure we keep every deadline. Payrollers are specialists forged by the tight turnaround of each payroll cycle.
We look for patterns, anomalies and variations at every stage, and always double triple check everything we process.
What are the key payroll changes for employers in 2026?
2026 brought plenty of new challenges for payrollers and employers, with the introduction of new reporting requirements for annual leave, a major change to the way that statutory sick pay is calculated, and further protections for industrial action, whistleblowing and family leave.
At UHY we’ve had a lot of conversations with our clients this year to make sure that they’ve been ready for every change that’s come through. Whether that’s budgeting for new sick pay costs, or ensuring that
As specialists, payrollers are able to offer a wealth of insight into the practical outcomes of decisions involving staffing budgets. There’s no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to payroll. There are so many threads to keep track of, that even the obvious questions are useful in helping us to help you. And we would always rather you’d ask than worry and fret.
How does your payroll measure up? Upgrade your payroll experience: book a call with your local office.
The next step
Our payroll specialists are here to help you prosper by managing complexity with confidence and make payday seamless, every time.
If you’d like to discuss your payroll needs or explore how we can support your business, please book a call with our Chester payroll team. You can also learn more about our payroll services.
