To address concerns about fairness in how organisations treat such stakeholders as workers, customers, or investors, the UK has introduced various regulations. For instance, the law requires employers to treat their employees fairly in terms of people management policies and practices, including how they reward them. Large UK employers must now disclose pay data, such as by gender.

This factsheet covers pay fairness, including high and low pay, and equal pay for equal work. It also looks at pay reporting, outlining what must be disclosed under UK law (such as the gender pay gap) as well as ethnicity pay disclosure that will be required in future. It also discusses the benefits of publishing pay narratives, which helps employers show they are trying to pay their workforces equitably.

Explore our stances on low pay and financial wellbeingexecutive pay and gender equality at work in more detail, along with actions for government and recommendations for employers.

To continue reading, log in or become a member

Affiliate membership offers instant access to CIPD resources without the need for assessments or study, or explore your options to become a professional member of the CIPD to demonstrate your commitment to the world of work.

  • Access to exclusive, up-to-date resources
  • Become part of a community to learn, debate and connect with other people professionals
  • Free access to a series of CIPD learning courses and a discount on the rest of our catalogue

Related content

Data

Data hub

Explore the evidence behind workforce trends

Data

Pay intentions

Stay up to date with the latest pay intentions among employers in the UK.

Policy engagement

CIPD consultation response: Low Pay Commission 2025 consultation

Our response to the Low Pay Commission consultation

Explore our other factsheets

Factsheet

Mediation at work

Learn how mediation can resolve conflict in the workplace

Factsheet

Skills development in the UK workplace

Understand what we mean by skills in the workplace, UK skill levels and the government’s skills policy.

Factsheet

Stress in the workplace

Learn how to identify the signs of stress and address stress at work

For Members
Factsheet

Occupational health

Outlines the kind of occupational health services an organisation might offer and the role of confidentiality and consent in discussing an employee’s health

For Members
Factsheets