Address Gender Pay Gap or risk being Named and Shamed – CIPD

CIPD Ireland – the umbrella body for human resource and learning & development professionals in Ireland – has warned companies about the implications of a failure to address their gender pay gap ahead of the passage of new legislation.

The Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019 will initially apply to companies with a workforce of 250 or more, but over time it will apply to all companies with a workforce of 50 or more. Indications are that the worst performing companies will be named and shamed, similar to what happens in other countries.

CIPD Ireland has carried out an analysis of Ireland’s top companies based on recent Gender Pay Gap reports in the UK. When reports from 34 companies among Ireland’s list of the top 50 were analysed, it showed an average gender pay gap of 16.1%.

Urgently establish the extent of the gender pay gap

Mary Connaughton, Director of CIPD Ireland, says “Irish companies, particularly those with more than 250 staff need to urgently look at their payroll to establish the extent of the gender pay gap. There is now an added urgency, as no organisation wants to be known as being tardy in addressing the pay gap, or in having tried to identify it at all. We’ve talked about this long enough, let’s see business and the government work together to make this the priority it deserves to be.”

CIPD Ireland has called for the Government to provide more information for employers, ahead of the implementation of the new legislation. A recent survey of Irish companies on the issue of the gender pay gap by CIPD Ireland found;

– Over 80% of those surveyed agreed that companies should have to include a section explaining company-specific reasons for any gender pay gap
– 77% agree that a separate analysis of part-time and full-time workers should be included in any reporting
– 28% want support and incentives for organisations to close their gender pay gap

Mary Connaughton added; “We know that employers will need supports to be put in place to help them comply with the new laws. Because of this, we’re calling for further consultation on the timeline and detail of the legislation. CIPD Ireland will actively engage with all of our members, to help further this debate in the months ahead.”