We reported in our Employment Law Briefing 2016 Winter Edition that data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the gender pay gap was at its lowest since records began, but on average, women still earn around 19 percent less than men in the UK. Clearly, there is still work to be done, and with new legislation now in force this year, it is hoped that the gap will continue to narrow.

All public sector employers, and each private or voluntary sector employer with more than 250 employees, are required to publish prescribed calculations every year showing the pay gap between their male and female employees. The definition of employee is broad and includes not only employees in the traditional sense but also workers, apprentices and some self-employed contractors.