Taking on Your First Gender Pay Gap Report: A Guide for Employers

For many organisations, preparing a Gender Pay Gap report for the first time can feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory. New obligations, strict timelines and detailed calculations can all create pressure. However, this first report is much more than a compliance task. It is an opportunity to understand your organisation more deeply and demonstrate a genuine commitment to fairness, transparency and long term progress.

At UHY FDW, we have supported employers across a wide range of industries through their first reporting cycle. What we see every time is that once the process begins, businesses recognise the real strategic value behind it.

Understanding what your first report involves

Your Gender Pay Gap report must include several statutory metrics that highlight the overall distribution of men and women across your organisation. These figures help you understand trends that often develop gradually and may not be immediately visible.

For your first report, you will calculate:

• Mean and median hourly pay gaps

• Mean and median bonus pay gaps

• The proportion of men and women receiving bonuses

• The gender balance across each of your four pay quartiles

These metrics do not assess equal pay for equal work. Instead, they focus on broader structural patterns that influence how talent progresses, how departments are staffed and where gaps may be emerging.

Why this first report matters

Your first Gender Pay Gap report is a significant moment for your business. Stakeholders expect honesty, clarity and context. Employees want to understand how your organisation is performing and what actions you are prepared to take. Prospective candidates increasingly use these reports to assess values and culture before applying.

A clear and thoughtful first report builds trust. It shows that you are prepared to face your data directly and that you value a workplace that supports every member of your team.

Telling the story behind the figures

The numbers alone cannot explain the full picture. Your narrative is your opportunity to connect the statistics to real activity within your organisation.

A strong first narrative will outline:

• The root causes that may be contributing to your pay gap

• The initiatives that have already been introduced

• The future actions you plan to take to drive improvement

This level of transparency helps people understand both your starting point and your intentions. It also reinforces that you take your responsibilities seriously and that you view this work as ongoing, not one off.

Building momentum from the start

Once your first report is complete, you gain a clear baseline. From here, you can measure progress year by year. You can see where interventions are working and where new approaches might be needed.

This is also the moment to embed wider conversations about talent development, career pathways, recruitment practices and leadership representation. These discussions often generate the most meaningful long term change.

How UHY FDW supports your first report

Completing your first Gender Pay Gap report does not need to be overwhelming. We guide organisations through every stage of the process with a structured and supportive approach.

We help you to:

• Gather and prepare accurate data

• Complete statutory calculations with confidence

• Interpret results clearly and identify key drivers

• Develop a narrative that is transparent, constructive and aligned with your values

• Produce a report that is compliant, accessible and easy to understand

Our aim is to simplify the process and provide the insight you need to move forward with purpose.

Take your next step with confidence

If your organisation is preparing its first Gender Pay Gap report, It is vital to be prepared early. Early preparation reduces pressure, improves data quality and allows space for reflection.

Our team at UHY FDW is ready to support you with clear guidance, practical expertise and a collaborative approach that keeps your people at the heart of the process.

Start your reporting journey with confidence. We are here to guide you every step of the way.

If there are any items you wish to discuss with our team, just give us a call on +353 42 933 9955 or email info@uhyfdw.ie

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