Compulsory Equal Pay Audits – All Bark And No Bite

From today, employers who are found to have breached equal pay law will be ordered by the employment tribunal to carry out and publish equal pay audits.

In broad terms, breaches of equal pay law arise where men and women don't receive equal pay for equal work.

An equal pay audit involves a systematic evaluation of an employer's pay and reward systems. Any differences in pay, whether contractual or not, between women and men doing the same or equal work must be identified. The audit must include an action plan for eliminating any differences due to gender.

However, compulsory pay audits are not required for new businesses (less than 12 months trading), micro businesses (less than 10 employees), or where an employer has completed a valid audit in the last three years.