Pay discrimination in the UK between male and female employees may be set to be a problem of the past, with the news that salary gaps between the genders are closing. According to the Office for National Statistics, the gender pay gap, as measured by the median hourly pay excluding overtime, narrowed between 2008 and 2009. The pay gap now stands at 12.2 per cent for full-time employees – which is a decline from the 12.6 per cent recorded in 2008 – while for part-time workers the gap stands at -0.2 per cent. For all UK employees, the divide has grown closer, from 22.5 per cent to 22 per cent over the same period, with 2009 hourly rates recorded as an average of £12.97 for men and £11.39 for women working full time. Commenting on the news, Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality, said: “Today’s figures are a small step in the right direction and the Equality Bill will help women make even further progress by shining a spotlight on gender pay discrimination, workplace by workplace, so problems can be identified and action taken.” She added that employers will no longer be able to rely on keeping their pay structure “secret”.
Whistleblowing cases are rising across UK councils as stronger workplace protections come into force, though concerns remain about underreporting of serious issues.
This article explores how organisations can move beyond passive, one-size-fits-all communication to deliver relevant, timely, and simplified benefits experiences that reflect employee needs and life stages.
Mental Health is among the most challenging workplace issues for businesses. Technological developments and expectations of 24/7 availability seem to be causing increasing levels of workplace stress. The financial costs are considerable: 91 million days are believed to be lost each year to mental health conditions. Nearly half of all long-term absences are believed to be due to mental health conditions and the annual cost to business is estimated at a staggering £30 billion.
Businesses need to stop penalizing employees when they legitimately take days off for the good of their mental health, and should even introduce ‘mental health home days’ to encourage loyalty, support and good communication in the workplace, according to cognitive psychologist and business neuroscientist, Dr Lynda Shaw.
Women expect nearly 10% less pay than men before applying for jobs, research shows, suggesting the gender pay gap begins during the job search process.
