New rules which require companies with over 250 employees to report their gender pay gap have had a positive impact on workplaces across the country, data suggests.
From December 2024, the regulations will also apply to workplaces with 150 or more employees.
Figures compiled by HR body CIPD Ireland reveal that 41% of respondents have noticed a more inclusive culture taking hold in their workplace since it came under the gender pay gap reporting regulations.
Meanwhile, 28% said having to report on a gender pay gap has led to changes in leader and manager behaviours, while 36% said it has led to changes in job descriptions and recruitment practices.
"We had expected the immediate impact of our gender pay gap legislation to be seen in job descriptions and recruitment practices but it's really interesting to see it having a wider impact around issues of inclusivity and leader behaviours in Irish organisations," said Mary Connaughton, Director of CIPD Ireland.
"We understand that the need to sign-off a legal report and action plan highlighting the gender pay gap at senior and board levels in organisations, and in particular board visibility is driving a more inclusive culture," she added.
Given more and more organisations will be taken into the reporting net in the coming years, Ms Connaughton said it will be interesting to see if these trends continue when smaller organisations begin reporting.
But not all of the study's results offer positive news.
23% of respondents said the requirement to report on their workplace’s gender pay gap had brought about no progress or change.
"It will be interesting to see how and why the reporting has varying impacts on different workplaces, and the extent to which these changes actually lead to a reduction in the gender pay gap in future years, at both company and national level," Ms Connaughton said.
