The government announced on 24 March 2020 that enforcement of the gender pay gap reporting deadlines have been suspended for this year, due to the coronavirus outbreak. This means that employers will not be expected to report their data this year.
Mandatory gender pay gap reporting for large private and voluntary sector employers came into force on 6 April 2017. It applies to those employers with 250 (or more) employees on 5 April each year. Under normal circumstances, the deadline for data submission for such employers would be at midnight of 4 April 2020.
Recognising the ‘unprecedented uncertainty and pressure’ that employers currently face as a result of the ongoing effects of coronavirus, the government has announced that there will be no expectation for employers to report their data for this reporting year. This also means that no fines and/or other enforcement measures will be used to ensure that employers maintain compliance with the legislation.
Should an employer still wish to report their data, The Government Equalities Office has announced that it will continue to provide support to employers in doing so.
Kerry Garcia