In May 2023, British Columbia passed the Pay Transparency Act, marking a significant change in how employers must report gender pay gaps. To assist with this transition, the B.C. government has introduced an online pay transparency reporting tool designed to streamline the reporting process.
What is the Pay Transparency Reporting Tool?
The pay transparency reporting tool is an online resource that helps B.C. employers prepare and submit their pay transparency reports efficiently. Employers can upload anonymized data on employees’ gender and pay, and the tool generates an automated report.
Who Needs to Comply?
The reporting requirements are being phased in over several years:
- Nov. 1, 2023: BC Public Service and the six largest Crown corporations, including ICBC, BC Hydro, and WorkSafeBC, must comply.
- Nov. 1, 2024: All employers with 1,000 or more employees are required to post reports on their gender-pay gaps.
- Nov. 1, 2025: Employers with 300 or more employees will need to comply.
- Nov. 1, 2026: The requirement extends to all employers with 50 or more employees.
For more information on compliance and reporting, visit B.C.’s Pay Transparency Act.
The Importance of Pay Transparency
Since 2023, B.C. employers must include salary or wage information in all publicly posted job advertisements. This has significantly increased the availability of wage information, enhancing job market transparency.
The government’s first annual pay transparency report revealed that in 2023, women in B.C. earned 17% less than men, with Indigenous, racialized, and newcomer women facing even larger gaps. Addressing these disparities is essential for achieving workplace equity.
As employers prepare for these new requirements, they might need to authenticate documents related to their pay transparency reports. For notarial services and document authentication, you can visit our Notary Services for more details.
Employers in B.C. should start preparing to meet the new pay transparency requirements. Using the government’s reporting tool will help ensure compliance and support the goal of closing the gender-pay gap in the province. For additional assistance with notarial services related to these reports, contact us today.
