Midnight deadline looms for firms’ gender pay gap figures

UK companies have until midnight tonight to publish their gender pay gap figures or face penalties from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

It is reported that thousands of businesses have yet to publish their figures ahead of the deadline tonight.

The news follows the failure of 2,500 organisations to publish gender pay gap figures by the public sector deadline of 31 March.

The EHRC has stressed that it will impose penalties on companies that do not comply. Chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath said: “Gender pay gap reporting is not optional. It is a legal requirement and there’s simply no excuse for employers failing to comply with the regulations this year.

“We will be taking enforcement action against all organisations that have not filed by the deadline requiring them to report immediately.”

This is the second year that gender pay gap reporting has been required by the EHRC, with the government issuing guidelines back in February to help businesses and organisations gather the required information.

Rebecca continued: “Employers that don’t report on time not only risk enforcement action and potential financial penalties; they are letting down the women who work for them. They should be prepared for an unhappy workforce and potential reputational damage.”