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Gender pay gap live updates: UK companies who fail to meet midnight reporting deadline face heavy government fines Gender pay gap: UK companies reveal figures as deadline looms - as it happened
(about 1 hour later)
Companies are dashing to release their gender pay gaps at the eleventh hour as the deadline to reveal the figures fast approaches. Companies have rushed to release their gender pay gap data as the deadline to reveal the figures approached.
Public and private sector employers with 250 employees or more are obliged to reveal by midnight on Wednesday how much more or less male staff are paid compared with female counterparts. Public and private sector employers with 250 employees or more are obliged to reveal by midnight on Wednesday how much more - or less - male staff are paid compared with their female counterparts.
The government estimates this to apply to around 9,000 organisations. Despite the fact firms have had a whole year to disclose their gender pay gap thousands have left it to the final moment - more than 1,200 companies reported in the past 24 hours.  The government estimates this will apply to more than 9,000 organisations. Despite the fact firms have had a whole year to disclose their gender pay gap, thousands have left it to the final moment, with more than 1,200 companies reporting their statistics in the past 24 hours. 
By almost 5pm on deadline day, more than 9720 companies had reported their gender pay discrepancy, with more than 200 of those publishing between 8am and 10.30am. As deadline day drew to a close, more than 9720 companies had reported their gender pay discrepancy, with more than 200 of those publishing between 8am and 10.30am.
Any firms with over 250 employees who do not comply by midnight on Wednesday are set to be targeted with stiff penalties. Companies that miss the deadline could face legal action including court orders and fines, but only after being given more than a month's grace period.
A spokeswoman for the Home Office said companies will still be able to publish their data using the Government website after the deadline, but added that their entries will be time-stamped.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has said it will initially contact employers informally if they have not published by the deadline, but businesses could ultimately be faced with “unlimited fines and convictions”.The Equality and Human Rights Commission has said it will initially contact employers informally if they have not published by the deadline, but businesses could ultimately be faced with “unlimited fines and convictions”.
Many firms have already revealed shocking discrepancies between what they pay men and women. Gaps have been far higher than the UK average of 18.4 per cent which is tantamount to women earning 81.6p for every £1 paid to a man. Many firms have already revealed large discrepancies between what they pay men and women. At many firms, gaps have been far higher than the UK average of 18.4 per cent, which is equal to women earning 81.6p for every £1 paid to a man.