In July this year scandal hit the BBC when it was forced to reveal details of the salaries of the biggest earners. The figures revealed that male employees were being paid significantly more than their female counterparts putting pay gaps firmly in the headlines.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”) has published six recommendations with a view to reducing gender, disability and ethnicity pay gaps. The key recommendation is that the current gender pay gap reporting requirement be extended to include disability and ethnicity pay gap information. The EHRC also encourages greater flexibility in job roles at all levels.

The recommendations send a clear signal that differences in pay based upon gender, disability or ethnicity will not be tolerated. Employers will need to ensure that decisions in connection with recruitment, promotion and training opportunities are based upon legitimate and objectively justifiable criteria relevant to the role in question.