Strategy | Your essential HR & payroll checklist for 2026

As the saying goes, ‘new year, new you’. Yes, we know it’s a phrase that usually belongs in a January gym advert or alongside a soon-to-be-abandoned New Year’s resolution. But for HR and payroll, 2026 really will mark a new beginning.

This year, some of the biggest changes we’ve seen in decades are expected to land as the Employment Rights Bill takes shape, raising expectations around fairness and transparency. Add to that the recent Budget’s impact on pay, tax and employment costs, it’s fair to say HR and payroll teams will have plenty to keep them busy.