Podcast Preview: How Finland and Denmark Are Tackling Pay Transparency

Finland is aiming for a New Year start

The proposed rules would take effect on 1 January 2027, with much of the reporting built around the existing Incomes Register. Less administration sounds welcome, but employers will still need to group roles performing equal work or work of equal value and explain pay differences. A register can crunch the numbers; HR still needs to understand the story behind them.

Denmark is targeting 1 March 2027

Statistics Denmark and employer organisations would play an important role in producing pay reports. Certain reporting requirements would also extend to some businesses with 50-99 employees, bringing smaller employers into scope than the Directive’s standard reporting threshold.

Employees would gain greater insight into pay in both countries

The proposals would give employees the right to request information about their own pay and average pay levels, broken down by gender, for colleagues performing equal work or work of equal value. For employers, that means being ready to answer a straightforward question: “How does my pay compare - and why?”

Both countries plan their first new reporting cycle for employers with at least 150 employees in 2028, covering 2027 data. But employees’ information rights would arrive earlier, alongside the proposed rules in 2027. Preparing for transparency means more than getting the first report ready.

In the episode, we’ll get into:

• What the proposals could mean for employers in practice
• Which local differences HR teams should watch
• What organisations can start preparing today