Eliminating the problem in the UK’s workplaces will only happen if employers start to recognise the structural and cultural issues that need to be tackled alongside.
A recent report found that despite firms now legally having to disclose information on the pay difference between their male and female staff, the gap between salaries in the public sector has actually widened. With new employment law regulations coming into force from April 6 and with Equal Pay Day taking place this week, firms need to shine a spotlight on their practices. Women can often lag behind male colleagues in earning power because of a number of factors.
Matthew Cole, employment partner at Prettys, comments,
Perhaps the main reason there is a pay gap is the fact that workplaces have still not made the necessary adjustments to allow women to pick up their careers effectively following a break for maternity leave, or to bring up children Whilst employers are making increasing efforts to put into place family-friendly working policies, many of these will take years to bear fruit, and the attitude among many employers has not yet shifted far enough.
Since last year companies with 250 or more employees have had to report their gender pay gaps at the end of their financial year (March 30 for public sector organisations).
The reporting looks at the overall pay gap in an organisation. It is different to equal pay which looks at employers paying men and women differently for performing the same role or ‘work of equal value’ and which is legally enforceable. Almost nine in ten (88.5 per cent) of public sector organisations have reported a gap in favour of men. The private sector has until today (April 4th) to file its figures to the Government. While Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay have been in effect since 2015, women are still taking far more leave than men. But it is not just about maternity leave.
Matthew Cole comments,
Clearly the pattern of flexible working to support childcare and similar responsibilities is evidence that women undertake the large majority of caring responsibilities outside the workplace, and this seems to inhibit career progression for women. In our experience SPL is hardly ever taken up by men. There are many reasons why this could be, including society’s expectations or that men do not actually want the time off, choosing instead to disrupt just one career instead of two.
There are also other, cultural issues, which are only just gaining more mainstream attention. There is evidence that men may over-value their worth, whilst women under-value their contribution. This means that men may push harder for career and pay progression, when compared to an equally (or more) competent woman. I think the pay gap will only be narrowed over a very long period of time by changing employment practices and attitudes.
However, while there may be no legal implications as long as the pay gap is reported properly, a significant difference between earnings could impact future recruitment.
Vanessa Bell, partner and Prettys’ head of employment, comments,
I think decision-makers have to look at the gender pay gap from a business perspective, not just out of a sense of legal or moral duty, It’s all well and good a business revealing its pay gap, but if these businesses don’t take action to address it, they could lose out on recruiting or retaining good staff. Talented women may disregard the company and choose not to apply for vacancies based on a perception – that may be misguided – that women are not valued in the business.
Matthew Cole comments,
The Government is currently looking at other areas of concern over equality in the workplace, such as pay gap reporting in regard to race. It is currently just a proposal but is proving controversial as a lot depends on a person’s self-identification of what their race is. There will be more categories than simply male or female, but we are already seeing some isolated examples of voluntary reporting. And if you’re looking at race, why not look at pay gaps with other things such as sexual orientation and age? There is still plenty to think about.
Interested in diversity in the workplace? We recommend the Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2019.
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
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