The 2019 Pay and Employment Practices Survey from CIPD Ireland and Industrial Relations News (IRN) has found that a quarter of companies in Ireland say there is a gender pay gap at their firm.

This is in stark contrast to figures showing that the gender pay gap in Ireland has changed little in recent years. The gap remains relatively static at 14% despite the looming introduction of legislation to force some companies to reveal the figure.

The survey also found that only one in five companies had actually calculated their gender pay gap, meaning that the majority were ignorant as to the scale of the problem internally.

CIPD, the umbrella body for human resource and learning & development professionals in Ireland, says the responses show that there is a chronic lack of information and insight on gender pay analysis, and that a high level of awareness-raising is needed before the law changes.

Director of CIPD Ireland, Mary Connaughton says, “The gender pay gap is real, and legislation is being introduced that is going to force companies to acknowledge that it is a problem. While there had been hope that the market would correct itself, it’s clear that few firms have taken the opportunity to get ahead of the looming change and are in fact in denial. If they fail to address it now, then the law will address it for them through mandatory reporting. HR professionals need to do more to make their companies aware of the reality of the gender pay gap, and the benefits of proactively addressing the issue”.

Read the full press release below: