Equality and Human Rights Commission

Equal pay audit toolkit

This toolkit is a guide for employers on carrying out an equal pay audit, designed for businesses with over 50 employees. It also gives advice on good equal pay practice, on conducting equality impact assessments and provides guidance on actions arising from the audit that may need to be taken to eliminate any pay gaps. It will help you carry out an equal pay audit related to the gender, race, disability, or working patterns of your employees. We will refer to these employees as ‘protected groups’. Equal pay audits are recommended in the Code of Practice on Equal Pay. 

The toolkit gives general guidance only and should not be regarded as a complete or authoritative statement of the law. Readers should be alert to the possibility of developments in case law that may affect the rights of employees. The toolkit is intended to be used as a living document, which may be added to, or taken away from, depending on current legislative changes, case law and user experience. If you have any comments on the kit please email: Michelle.Gyimah@equalityhumanrights.com

The toolkit follows a five step model, but there are also a number of general sections that provide important context when undertaking an equal pay audit. Each step has an 'additional information' section with more detailed resources relating to that step.

Background and Context

• Carrying out an equal pay audit - what is an equal pay audit, they are needed, and more about this toolkit
• Pay gaps - what they are and where equal pay audits fit in
• Equality impact assessments - what they are and how they can be used in relation to pay

Step 1 - Scope

• Step 1: Deciding the scope
• Step 1 - additional information (data required)

Step 2 - Equal work, equal value and job evaluation

• Step 2: Protected groups and equal work
• Step 2 - additional information (job evaluation, equal workand equal value checks)

Step 3 - Collecting and analysing pay data

• Step 3: Collecting pay data
• Step 3 - additional information (calculations and analysis)

Step 4 - Causes of pay gaps in all elements of pay

• Step 4: Causes of pay gaps
• Step 4 - additional information (examples and checklists)

Step 5 - Developing an equal pay action plan

• Step 5: Developing an action plan 
• Step 5 - additional information (time scales and resulting actions)

 Please send any feedback or enquiries to equalpayfeedback@equalityhumanrights.com.