Over 70% of Irish organisations are investing in pay equity initiatives, new research shows.
The survey carried out by SD Worx Ireland, a payroll and HR firm, shows that 30% of employers view pay equity as a top challenge when it comes to rewarding employees.
The research was carried out among 1,000 employers in Ireland to gain insights into how organisations are rewarding their employees and addressing gender pay inequity in a changing and competitive talent landscape.
The EU Pay Transparency Directive, which came into force in 2023, requires Irish organisations to report and provide transparency across key areas including pay equity and gender pay gaps.
SD Worx's research found that almost half 4of employers in Ireland are committed to pay transparency, which would see the pay level of employees being made available to employees of similar grade in the organisation.
As the war for talent continues to rage, businesses are adopting more strategic approaches to rewards.
31% are offering flexible wage payment dates, which could include paying employees early, or paying on special request.
Some employees have the flexibility to choose how they would like to be rewarded, and 31% of employers say that workers can put together their own reward package based on an allocated budget. A
side from salary, employee rewards offered by Irish employers include bonuses and commission, health and wellness benefits, and vouchers.
The survey suggests that the rising cost of doing business is having a significant impact on employers.
Over half say that their organisation is struggling to strike a balance between attractive rewards and manageable labour costs.
"Tackling pay inequity needs to be at the forefront of employers' agendas in Ireland, as equal pay for equivalent work should be the rule, not the exception," said Eimear Byrne, Country Leader, SD Worx Ireland.
"Businesses of all sizes must establish structures to effectively manage their pay transparency obligations, especially as mandatory gender pay gap reporting is extending to organisations with more than 50 employees in 2025," she added.
