The draft regulations on reporting statistics outlining the potential gender pay gap at U.K. companies were published in early February this year, and reactions to the regulations have on the whole been positive, because their aims are part of other broad measures to address the wage gap, says Jillian Naylor, employment partner at U.K. law firm Linklaters. In addition, the regulations already align with some companies that already have programmes in place to address the issue.
Initially, the government tried to introduce the regulations voluntarily, but only a limited number of companies signed up. The rules apply to all employers with 250 or more employees who ordinarily work in Great Britain and whose contract of employment is governed by U.K. law. A snapshot is taken as of 30 April each year. They come into force on 1 October 2016, although employers will not be expected to publish the required information immediately, and a snapshot will be taken as of 30 April each year.
