Lexology PRO spotlights the key legal and regulatory developments affecting women to mark International Women’s Day, from board diversity rules and pay transparency to workplace support and online safety.
AI adoption risks widening gender pay gaps
AI is transforming workplaces, but new research suggests women may be missing out. Studies show women use AI tools around 25% less than men, even where access and training are equal. With some employers now rewarding AI use in performance reviews and promotions, lower adoption could affect productivity, pay and career progression, potentially widening gender pay gaps. Find out how the emerging divide could impact workplace equality and what employers can do to close it here: How AI is widening the gender pay gap and what employers can do about it.
Board gender quotas enter a new era
Regulatory pressure on board gender balance is intensifying. From June 2026, the EU Gender Balance on Corporate Boards Directive will require 40% of non-executive roles and 33% of all directorships to be held by the under-represented sex. For many organisations, this will be the first time diversity targets carry clear legal consequences, with non-compliance risking fines and annulled appointments. Read more about what your organisation needs to do here: The new era of board gender quotas: what employers must do before June 2026.
APAC regulators tighten gender pay transparency rules
Gender pay gaps across APAC remain stark: men earn close to a third more than women in South Korea and Indonesia, and Australia's gap sits at nearly 11%. Regulation is catching up, with new pay transparency obligations taking effect across the region from April 2026. We explore what employers need to do to stay compliant and how GCs can drive meaningful progress on gender pay equality: New gender pay reporting rules in APAC demand action from legal teams.
Menopause support emerges as a workplace compliance issue
Menopause impacts millions of women in the workplace, yet it has long been overlooked. Research shows many women experience reduced productivity during this time, with some considering leaving their roles altogether. With UK and US legislative developments in 2025 expanding employer obligations, meaningful support is now both a human imperative and a compliance priority. Lexology Pro outlines what effective support looks like in practice here: Workplace menopause support: the rising legal, reputational and retention risks for employers.
Fertility benefits move up the corporate agenda
Infertility affects one in six people globally, yet only a quarter of organisations have dedicated fertility policies in place, leaving many navigating treatment alongside work without clear support. As countries such as Japan, South Korea and Malta introduce fertility leave requirements and pressure grows for similar rules elsewhere, employers must reassess what meaningful support looks like in their organisations. Our analysis examines the benefits, the changing regulatory landscape and how employers can shape these policies here: Fertility policies at work: what employers need to know.
Online misogyny draws fresh regulatory scrutiny
Women and girls face growing levels of online abuse, including stalking, coercive control and intimate image abuse, with studies suggesting 38% of women have personally experienced online violence. As AI and digital platforms amplify these risks, regulators are increasing scrutiny. New guidance from Ofcom urges companies to go beyond their legal duties under the UK Online Safety Act 2023 and take stronger action to tackle gender-based online harm. We unpack the regulator’s recommendations here: Regulators target online misogyny: Ofcom urges platforms to adopt enhanced safety measures.
More insights from Lexology PRO:
· The GC evolution: from the legal function to strategist
· The EU Pay Transparency Directive: what it means for employers
· Sexual harassment compliance is about to get harder for UK employers
· Preventing workplace harassment: five insights from McDonald's EHRC agreement
