Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the UK’s Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have today taken the decision to suspend gender pay gap reporting for this year (2019/20).
The decision means there will be no expectation on employers to report their gender pay gap data. In a joint statement, Minister for Women & 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.”
That said, more than 3,000 employers have already reported their data via the UK Government website this year (approximately 26% of expected reporters). GEO says it will continue to provide support to employers in reporting their data should they wish to do so. 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.
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