Purplebricks has blamed its recent change of ownership after it was named among several high profile brands that have failed to disclose their gender pay gap data.
Under the Equality Act, organisations with 250 or more employees must publish the average difference in pay between men and women in their companies each year. The deadline for doing so is 4 April, with the exception of most English public sector employers for which it is 30 March.
But the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has revealed ten companies, including Purplebricks, who have failed to comply.
The online agent blamed the “additional administration following the change of ownership.” It was acquired by rival Strike in the summer of 2023.
Organisations that fail to publish their data receive a warning notice from the EHRC which threatens formal enforcement action. This can include enforceable action plans or investigations if a company is in breach of equality law. If organisations do not report, the EHRC has the power to seek a court order to impose an unlimited fine.
The full list of ten organisations which have failed to report their gender pay gap data is:
BCM Employment & Management Services Ltd
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd
Healthy Retail Ltd
L’Arche
N. Notaro Homes Ltd
Radish Food Services Group Ltd
Robinson Webster (Holdings) Ltd
Seafood Trading Ltd
Strike Ltd (trading as Purplebricks)
Trocadero (London) Hotel Ltd
The EHRC has written to the chief executives of the ten organisations named to ask for their data to be reported as soon as possible, and to remind them of the EHRC’s powers to conduct a legal investigation if they do not.
John Kirkpatrick, chief executive of the EHRC, said: “In order to address potential pay inequality or discrimination, organisations must give themselves the tools to find out if it’s happening. Without tracking and reporting their gender pay gaps, they are unable to do so.
“We’re disappointed that ten organisations have failed to report their data and have written to them again to remind them of their legal obligations. If they fail to submit their data following this, we will take appropriate enforcement action.”
A spokesperson for Purplebricks told Letting Agent Today: “The gender pay gap is an important measure of progress towards pay equality.
“This year’s report has been slightly delayed due to additional administration following the change of ownership, but we expect it to be filed shortly.”
