[Ireland] 20 per cent of firms aren’t ready for EU pay transparency directive

In Ireland, a survey of HR professionals has found that just over 20 per cent of organisations have no plans or preparations in place for an EU directive on pay transparency, Law Society Gazette reports.

The findings came in the latest HR update from business representative lobbying group IBEC.

The report was based on a survey of over 391 HR professionals. It revealed that just 1 per cent of organisations feel fully prepared for the upcoming EU Pay Transparency Directive, due to take effect in June 2026.

Almost one-third (27 per cent) of respondents said preparation work is in progress, while 22 per cent say preparations have yet to begin. An increase from 12 per cent in 2024.

Maeve McElwee  - executive director of employer relations at IBEC - reportedly described the directive as “arguably the most significant piece of EU employment legislation in decades”.

The primary challenges identified in the survey were categorising employees who perform the same work or work of equal value (25 per cent) and a requirement to make the criteria used to determine pay levels and progression accessible to employees (21 per cent).

Ms McElwee reportedly said that categorising roles of equal value and ensuring transparency on pay criteria were not just administrative tasks.

“They require significant structural and cultural shifts within organisations,” she stated, adding that “clear guidance” was needed to implement the changes.

Source: Law Society Gazette

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Ireland, a survey of HR professionals has found that just over 20 per cent of organisations have no plans or preparations in place for an EU directive on pay transparency, Law Society Gazette reports.

The findings came in the latest HR update from business representative lobbying group IBEC.

The report was based on a survey of over 391 HR professionals. It revealed that just 1 per cent of organisations feel fully prepared for the upcoming EU Pay Transparency Directive, due to take effect in June 2026.

Almost one-third (27 per cent) of respondents said preparation work is in progress, while 22 per cent say preparations have yet to begin. An increase from 12 per cent in 2024.

Maeve McElwee  - executive director of employer relations at IBEC - reportedly described the directive as “arguably the most significant piece of EU employment legislation in decades”.

The primary challenges identified in the survey were categorising employees who perform the same work or work of equal value (25 per cent) and a requirement to make the criteria used to determine pay levels and progression accessible to employees (21 per cent).

Ms McElwee reportedly said that categorising roles of equal value and ensuring transparency on pay criteria were not just administrative tasks.

“They require significant structural and cultural shifts within organisations,” she stated, adding that “clear guidance” was needed to implement the changes.

Source: Law Society Gazette

(Quotes via original reporting)