11 March 2016 | Jamie Harris

A survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that only a third of large organisations currently conduct any analysis on the pay of men and women.

The figure is just 28 per cent for all employers within the survey, which questioned more than 1,000 employers and HR professionals.

Only 7 per cent of large organisations (more than 250 employees) plan to conduct any analysis over the next 12 months, with almost half saying they will not. Forty-six per cent were unsure, which the CIPD suggests reflects the uncertainty over government legislation.

The government’s consultation on gender pay reporting closes today, and legislation is expected to come into force later this year.

The consultation sought views on how best to increase transparency on gender pay differences.

Dianah Worman, diversity adviser for the CIPD, said: “The survey findings demonstrate the need for employers to act expeditiously to be able to deliver what will be expected of them, or risk damaging their public reputations as progressive employers of female talent and undermine their competitiveness in attracting and retaining it.

“Overall, the CIPD believes the government proposals on the regulations, which are based on extensive consultations, are on the right track. We welcome the additional focus on publishing information on the bonus gap and quartile salary bands, which will give more detailed insights to employers on where and how pronounced gender pay differentials exist and what needs to be done to address them.”