Starting in 2026, the EU will mandate that organisations implement pay transparency to enhance equal pay rights for employees. This directive requires companies to reevaluate their pay philosophy and decision-making processes. These essential changes demand careful planning and time to ensure a smooth transition and avoid business disruption. Stay ahead of the curve and demonstrate your commitment to fairness and equity with PwC's expert guidance.
The EU Pay Transparency directive
The EU Pay Transparency directive imposes stringent pay transparency requirements on all employers, both private and public, with gender pay gap reporting specifically mandated for larger organisations. The aim is to uncover systemic biases and inequalities, promote diversity and inclusion and implement policies and practices that create equal opportunities for all individuals to advance and succeed in their careers.
Pay transparency is not just a passing trend; it is a legal requirement and a moral imperative. Equality at work extends beyond mere compliance; it involves fostering a culture of fairness, transparency and accountability.
We are here to help you seize this opportunity to upgrade your compensation and benefits practices and experience the positive impact of a successful pay transparency strategy.
How can we help?
We partner with you on your pay transparency journey, tailoring our step-by-step approach to align with your organisation's unique maturity level and evolving needs. Our experts support you every step of the way, helping to close gaps throughout the entire employee lifecycle. Our assistance can cover the following:
- Strategy
- Foundations
- AS IS
- TO BE
- Implementation
- Reporting
Strategy
- Define your pay transparency strategy: leadership awareness session, detailed roadmap for implementation and alignment with your broader sustainability and reward strategy.
Foundations
- Check your “fair foundations”: pay data and HR systems, job descriptions and job evaluation and classification system
AS IS
- Conduct internal pay audits: quantitative and qualitative assessments to identify pay discrepancies and their root causes.
TO BE
- Address pay disparities: close the gap
Implementation
- Pay transparency legal framework: right to information policy, retaliation policy, etc.
- Culture, change management and communication
Reporting
- Gender pay gap reporting
Our extensive presence across all EU countries, combined with our international network, ensures your compliance globally while meeting local regulations. We understand the nuances of different legal frameworks and cultural contexts across various countries, allowing us to provide tailored solutions that respect local requirements and practices. This unique advantage sets us apart, offering you comprehensive and seamless support worldwide.
Want to discover how PwC can help you?
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EQUAL-SALARY
Show your commitment to workplace equality by undergoing an independent, thorough review of your pay and HR data, practices and policies. Using proven methodologies, you can achieve a fully independent EQUAL-SALARY certification, recognised in the EU and rapidly gaining ground worldwide.
As EQUAL-SALARY’s exclusive partner in certification readiness assessment, PwC is here to help. We conduct a comprehensive assessment of your organisation, combining statistical analyses with qualitative assessments, including policy reviews, key HR metrics and stakeholder interviews. We guide you through every step of the process, highlighting areas for improvement.
EQUAL-SALARY certification demonstrates your commitment to pay equality, as well as preparing your organisation for pay transparency. The certification process enables you to:
- Identify areas that need further attention
- Investigate potential discrimination cases (e.g., employees with a pay gap exceeding 5%)
- Understand root causes of pay discrepancies
- Implement necessary remediation
By achieving EQUAL-SALARY certification, your organisation can ensure fair pay practices and enhance its reputation as an equitable employer.
Achieving pay equity is fundamental to building a fair workplace and is at the heart of what we do.
By integrating reward strategies with a people sustainability focus, companies create a supportive, fair and efficient environment that benefits both employees and the organisation, ensuring long-term success and resilience.
