Gender pay gap – new guidance
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has updated its statutory guidance for employers on their gender pay gap reporting obligations.
The new guidance has not changed in substance, but the format has been updated to make it clearer and simpler for employers to use, and to remove unnecessary duplication and repetition. The method of calculating the gender pay gap is the same.
Reporting deadlines (for employers with 250 or more employees) are fast approaching: 30 March for most public authority employers and 4 April for private, voluntary and all other public authority employers. Gender pay gap calculations should be based on data taken on the appropriate ‘snapshot’ date of the preceding year: 31 March for public authorities and 5 April for other employers.
Gender pay gap data is published on the gender pay gap service website, which is searchable by sector and employer name.
Government ‘Returnerships’ programme
The Spring 2023 Budget included the announcement of a new ‘Returnerships’ programme to improve access to retraining and encourage older workers (over-50s) to return to the workplace.
New employer guidance has now been published, to help individuals to return to work. The guidance highlights the benefits to employers of implementing a returners programme, advice on designing and setting up a returner programme and adapting recruitment practices. It is aimed at organisations in all sectors and of all sizes and focuses on returner programmes involving paid work, offering a route back to permanent employment.
2023 uprating of tribunal awards
From 6 April 2023, the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2023 will take effect, increasing compensation for certain tribunal awards and other statutory payments.
Key Contacts
| Award | Current rate | Rate from 6 April 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory week’s pay (for calculating an unfair dismissal basic award and statutory redundancy pay) | £571 | £643 |
| Minimum basic award (automatic unfair dismissal) | £6,959 | £7,836 |
| Maximum unfair dismissal basic award or statutory redundancy payment | £17,130 | £19,290 |
| Maximum unfair dismissal compensatory award | £93,878 | £105,707 |
| Guarantee pay (per day, up to five days) | £31 | £35 |
The high increase in limits reflects the 12.6% increase in the RPI to September 2022. The new amounts will generally apply where the effective date of termination falls on or after 6 April 2023.
The content of this article is for general information only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. If you require any further information in relation to this article please contact the author in the first instance. Law covered as at March 2023.