This episode is sponsored by Deel

Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) reform is one of the most significant payroll changes in years. Yet most of the complexity isn’t in the headline changes. It’s in what happens beneath the surface.

In this episode of the Payroll Podcast, Nick Day is joined by payroll software expert Jason Sweby to break down exactly what’s changing, why it matters, and how payroll teams can prepare for the transition.

The reform aims to expand access to sick pay, bringing over a million lower-paid workers into eligibility while removing waiting days and introducing new calculation rules. On paper, it sounds simple. In practice, it introduces one of the most technically complex transitions payroll professionals have had to navigate.

Nick and Jason unpack the biggest challenges, including how transitional protection works across the tax year boundary, why payroll systems need to track historical data, and where employers are most likely to get caught out.

They also explore the broader impact of the reform. From increased employer costs to potential shifts in employee behaviour, this episode gives you the context you need to understand not just what is changing, but what it means for your organisation.

If you are responsible for payroll, compliance, or people operations, this conversation will help you approach SSP reform with clarity and confidence.

Topics covered in this episode:

1. What SSP reform is trying to achieve
2. Key changes to eligibility and waiting days
3. How the new SSP calculation works
4. Transitional protection explained simply
5. Payroll system and compliance challenges
6. Employer cost implications
7. How to prepare for April implementation
8. Future payroll trends including payrolling of benefits

Subscribe to the Payroll Podcast for more insights on payroll, compliance, and the future of work.

Jason’s previous appearance on The Payroll Podcast: https://youtu.be/ty3qv1F1sP0

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

Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-sweby-6753bb1/

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

Payroll Talent Recruitment: www.jgarecruitment.com

Advertise Payroll Roles: www.payrolljobsboard.com

Know Your Worth in Payroll: www.payrollhrsalary.com

(00:00) Introduction to SSP Reform

(02:51) What the Reform Is Trying to Achieve

(04:03) Why SSP Is Changing Now

(05:55) Policy vs System Change Explained

(07:13) Key Changes to SSP Rules

(09:46) Why Transitional Protection Matters

(10:26) Inside HMRC Guidance & Developer Insights

(13:05) Technical Challenges for Payroll Systems

(17:58) Biggest Risks for Employers

(18:44) Is the Payroll Industry Ready?

(19:55) Impact on Employees & Behaviour

(22:22) How Payroll Leaders Should Prepare

(24:32) Edge Cases & Transitional Nuances

(25:59) Future Payroll Changes to Watch

(30:42) The Role of Payroll Software Moving Forward

(33:23) Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways

#Payroll #SSP #PayrollPodcast #HR #Compliance #PayrollManagement #EmploymentLaw #HRTech #PayrollReform #FutureOfWork

This episode is sponsored by Deel

Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/

The EU Pay Transparency Directive is one of the biggest regulatory changes facing payroll, HR, and reward leaders across Europe. With the June 2026 deadline approaching, many organizations are still figuring out what the legislation requires and how to prepare their pay structures, reporting processes, and reward frameworks.

In this special Payroll Podcast panel discussion, Lewis Roskilly (Global Reward Lead at JGA Recruitment) leads a conversation with experts in employment law and reward strategy to break down the real implications of pay transparency.

The panel explores gender pay gap reporting, job evaluation, pay architecture, and the risks of manager discretion in compensation decisions, while sharing practical guidance on how organizations can prepare before the directive goes live.

If you work in payroll, HR, reward strategy, or compliance, this episode provides clear insights on how to prepare for the EU Pay Transparency Directive.

Subscribe to The Payroll Podcast with Nick Day for more conversations shaping the future of payroll and reward.

Connect with Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-roskilly

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

Payroll Talent Recruitment: www.jgarecruitment.com

Advertise Payroll Roles: www.payrolljobsboard.com

Know Your Worth in Payroll: www.payrollhrsalary.com

(00:00) Methodology And Audit Trails In Pay Reporting

(00:52) Why The EU Pay Transparency Directive Matters

(03:54) Panel Introduction: Reward, Law And Pay Transparency Experts

(09:22) Gender Data And Reporting Without Forced Disclosure

(14:37) Equal Value Work: Job Descriptions vs Real Duties

(22:07) EU Implementation Timelines And Possible Delays

(27:52) Building A Cross-EU Pay Transparency Strategy

(34:31) Using Pay Transparency To Build Trust And Culture

(40:01) Building Pay Architecture And Fixing Legacy Pay Systems

(43:12) Who Is Responsible For Accurate Job Descriptions?

(46:33) Why Manager Discretion Creates Legal Risk

(48:28) The Four-Step Framework To Prepare For Pay Transparency

(51:52) Why UK Employers Will Still Be Impacted

(55:09) Unexpected Benefits Of Pay Transparency

(58:28) Final Takeaways And Next Steps For Employers

This episode is sponsored by Deel

Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/

Most payroll errors are not caused by systems or legislation. They are caused by human decisions made under pressure.

My guest today, Lars Hyland, is a global learning strategist, former Chief Learning Officer, and Founder of Enlytning, a behavioural learning platform designed to improve judgement, reduce risk, and strengthen compliance.

While companies invest heavily in payroll technology, automation, and compliance processes, the real challenge often lies in how people interpret policies, make decisions, and apply processes in real situations.

Lars explains why traditional compliance training and tick-box learning rarely change behavior, and how organisations can improve payroll accuracy by focusing on judgment, context, and behavioral reinforcement. The conversation also explores how AI, micro-learning, and scenario-based training can help teams make better decisions and reduce risk before mistakes ever reach the payroll run.

If you want to understand the real drivers of payroll accuracy and how modern learning and performance support strategies can strengthen compliance across your organisation, this episode offers valuable insights for payroll leaders, HR professionals, and operations teams.

Connect with Lars on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larshyland/

Enlytning - Your policies and training, automated by AI: https://www.enlytning.com

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

Payroll Talent Recruitment: www.jgarecruitment.com

Advertise Payroll Roles: www.payrolljobsboard.com

Know Your Worth in Payroll: www.payrollhrsalary.com