Voluntary Equality Action Plans
Currently, employers with more than 250 employees are obliged to report annually on their gender pay gap, but there is no requirement to publish an action plan setting out how the employer proposes to address this. The ERA 2025 introduces a power for regulations to be introduced requiring employers with 250 employees or more, including public authorities, to develop and publish an “equality action plan” showing what steps they are taking in relation to “prescribed matters” relating to gender equality. The prescribed matters related to gender equality are addressing the gender pay gap and supporting employees going through the menopause.
While the mandatory duty to publish equality action plans is not due to come into force until Spring 2027, employers are being encouraged by the government to produce and publish a voluntary action plan alongside their pay gap data from April 2026. To inspire employers, a series of 18 recommended actions covering the recruitment, promotion and development of staff, building diversity within organisations, increasing transparency and supporting employees experiencing the menopause have been launched.
The government factsheet on equality action plans states that the national average gender pay gap for all employees stands at 12.8% and that 8 out of 10 menopausal women who are in work have no basic support in place.
Visit our main Employment Rights Act Hub for further information.