Government Equalities Office has published a report which says people need more support to interpret gender pay gap statistics. Contributor Kaammini Chanrai, Gender Research and Policy Manager – Business in the Community.
Kaammini Chanrai, Gender Research and Policy Manager, Business in the Community, said: “The report shows that simply publishing data on gender pay gaps is not enough – unless this information can be interpreted accurately, then it will have little effect on reducing the gap.
Our research shows that 92 percent of people would use gender pay gap information when looking for a job and half of female employees would favour an organisation with a smaller gap. If employers cannot communicate their gender pay gap clearly and current or prospective employees cannot understand it, this significantly damages transparency – counteracting what gender pay gap reporting aims to do – and risks a potential loss of female talent.
“We welcome the report’s recommendations on how to communicate gender pay gaps more clearly, but these also need to be backed up with contextual narratives and clear action plans on how organisations are addressing these gaps and promoting these plans internally and externally. This could include regular and transparent performance review and appraisal processes, ensuring opportunities for promotion and training are available to everyone, and making pay and rewards systems equitable and fair. Only then will we create inclusive workplaces that work for everyone. For employers who are unsure where to start on tackling gender pay gaps, our suite of Gender Pay Gap Toolkits can help them to take the first step.”
