Half (51%) of UK employer respondents have recently checked their pay arrangements to ensure they are meeting equal pay obligations, with a further 29% of respondents planning to do this in the near future, according to research by Willis Towers Watson.
Its survey of 1,949 worldwide employers, including 79 based in the UK, also found that 23% of global respondents report that gender pay equality is an important factor in base pay decisions.
The research also found:
- 93% of overall respondents have either already taken steps this year to promote flexible working arrangements, or are considering taking such action over the next three years.
- 47% of global respondents are planning to review their recruitment and promotion processes in order to reduce conscious and unconscious bias and meet equal pay obligations.
- 87% of worldwide respondents have either already started to increase their communications or activities to promote an inclusive culture this year, or are considering taking these steps over the next three years.
- 58% of UK respondents cite gender pay equality as an important factor when making individual base pay decisions.
Hazel Rees (pictured), UK leader, executive compensation at Willis Towers Watson, said: “The pressure on [organisations] to do more to promote fair pay and diverse talent in the workplace is not going to go away. The new disclosure requirements on [chief executive officer] pay ratios will reflect another dimension of fairness in the workplace. Likewise, the predicted changes to the UK Governance Code will stress the importance of a diverse pipeline into senior roles and give employees a greater voice.”
Tamsin Sridhara, UK leader, rewards and talent at Willis Towers Watson, added: “The many debates that we are having in the UK around fairness are being reflected in the workplace. Employees want to know they are being paid fairly and have the same chances for promotion. The gender pay gap reporting requirements raised lots of questions for employees and in boardrooms. As a result, we are seeing leading UK employers committed to doing more and leading the way for global peers.”
