Requirement on employers to report gender pay gap data suspended due to coronavirus outbreak

Joint decision to suspend reporting deadline for 2019/2020 taken by Government Equalities Office and Equality and Human Rights Commission

The requirement on employers to report gender pay gap data has been suspended due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

In a joint announcement today, the Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) say that while in normal circumstances the EHRC has the power to investigate employers that fail to report their gender pay gap data and could face an unlimited fine after court action, they have taken the decision to suspend enforcement of the reporting deadlines for 2019/2020.

NB - however the GEO confirms that it will continue to provide support to employers in reporting their data should they wish to do so.

Commenting on the announcement, Minister for Women and Equalities Liz Truss and EHRC Chair David Isaac said -

'We recognise that employers across the country are facing unprecedented uncertainty and pressure at this time. Because of this we feel it is only right to suspend enforcement of gender pay gap reporting this year.'

For more information, see Employers do not have to report gender pay gaps from gov.uk