Large companies to publish equality action plans

Large companies to publish equality action plans | Wednesday 1 April 2026 | 2 min read

Under section 33 of the Employment Rights Act 2025, employers with 250 or more employees will be required to publish equality action plans outlining the steps they are taking to reduce their gender pay gap and support employees experiencing menopause. These plans, and related data, will be submitted through the existing gender pay gap reporting portal, which will be updated to accommodate the new requirements.

Employers already reporting gender pay gap data will be able to publish a voluntary action plan for the 2026–27 reporting year. Although primarily aimed at large organisations, the guidance is also available to smaller employers wishing to adopt similar practices.

Action plans must be published on the reporting portal and may also be shared on employers’ own websites. More detailed guidance is expected in April 2026, including advice on developing plans and monitoring their impact.

Deadlines

Action plans for the 2026–27 reporting year can be published at any time up to the gender pay gap reporting deadlines:

• 30 March 2027 for most public authorities.
• 4 April 2027 for private, voluntary sector and other public authority employers.

Recommended actions

The guidance expands on the suggested actions with practical implementation steps and methods for monitoring progress. It also highlights areas where employers should take particular care, including:

• The risk of AI tools replicating historical bias
• Ensuring equality‑related monitoring data is handled in compliance with data protection requirements

The guidance also notes that that improving gender representation may involve lawful positive action. For menopause support, it recommends a structured approach including training, occupational health advice and reviewing workplace policies.

The complete list of recommended actions can be found here.

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  Emily
  Morrison Associate Solicitor
  Employment Team

  • Phone 01727 798 106
  • Email emily.morrison@salaw.com