Pay audits to follow discrimination claims

Businesses that lose an employment tribunal on equal pay grounds will be required to carry out compulsory pay audits under plans unveiled by the coalition government.

In the government’s response to the Modern Workplaces consultation, parliamentary under secretary of state for equalities Lynne Featherstone said: “This will mean that an employment tribunal which finds that an employer has discriminated on grounds of sex in contractual or non-contractual pay will be obliged to order the employer to conduct a pay audit in cases where continuing discrimination is likely.

“An audit would not be ordered if an audit has been completed in the last three years, the employer has transparent pay practices or the employer can show a good reason why it would not be useful.” Small firms will initially be exempt from pay audits.

The response also outlined the government’s intention to launch a consultation later this year on how the audits will operate and what publication requirements will apply.

The introduction of the compulsory audits is intended to encourage employers to settle cases before they go to tribunal, as they would be deterred from proceeding to a situation where losing might result in them facing a pay audit.

The government said it intends to carry out a second consultation to seek views on the exact contents of pay audits and publication requirements, and to consider other issues raised by the consultation, before legislation is brought into force.

www.personneltoday.com/articles/2012/06/15/58593/compulsory-pay-audits-required-for-firms-that-lose-equal-pay-claims.html

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/womens-equality/modern-workplaces-consultation/