Covid-19: Government suspends gender pay gap reporting

The Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has taken the decision to suspend enforcement of the gender pay gap deadlines for this reporting year (2019/20) due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The GEO and EHRC said the decision means there will be no expectation on employers to report their data.

However, more than 3000 employers have already reported their data via the gov.uk website this year (26% of expected reporters) and GEO said it will continue to provide support to employers in reporting their data should they wish to do so.

In a joint statement, 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.”

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.