November 21st 2024.
The issue of gender pay inequality in the UK has been a long-standing problem, and unfortunately, it seems to have only worsened this year. Despite the fact that we are in 2024, the pay gap between men and women has widened, according to a recent report by The Fawcett Society. In fact, just yesterday marked Equal Pay Day in the UK, which is the day when women, based on average pay, essentially stop being paid compared to men due to the pay gap. This means that for the rest of the year, women are effectively working for free. It's a frustrating and disheartening reality that we continue to face.
The Fawcett Society, a women's rights organization, has been tirelessly working towards closing the gender pay gap for years. However, despite their efforts, the recent report revealed that the full-time pay gap now stands at 11.3%, up from 10.7% last year. This means that, on average, women earn £631 less than men every month, which adds up to a whopping £7,572 per year. This year, Equal Pay Day fell on November 20, two days earlier than last year, indicating a step backwards rather than progress towards gender equality.
The Fawcett Society, in collaboration with Dr Giacomo Vagni, a leading academic expert on the gender pay gap, has created a Gender Pay Gap calculator to help women understand the extent of their pay disparity. In their report, they discovered several factors that contribute to this pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty." Women are more likely to take on part-time, low-paid, or insecure work in order to balance caregiving responsibilities. This ultimately affects their earning potential and often traps them in lower-paying roles. Additionally, the lack of affordable and accessible childcare puts women at a disadvantage, leading to what is known as the "Motherhood Penalty." This means that many mothers are forced to leave their careers or settle for jobs that do not offer the flexibility or pay they deserve.
But what exactly is Equal Pay Day? According to The Fawcett Society, it is the day when women effectively stop getting paid compared to men due to the gender pay gap, which currently stands at 11.31%. This means that women are earning £631 less in monthly take-home pay. Even when men and women work the same hours in the same roles, nearly two-thirds of the gender pay gap remains unexplained, indicating that pay discrimination is a major factor holding women back. The charity also highlights that black, minoritised, and disabled women face even greater pay disparities, with women of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and mixed white and black Caribbean backgrounds experiencing significantly higher pay gaps.
The Fawcett Society believes that several steps need to be taken to close the pay gap for good, and that we cannot afford to wait any longer. They emphasize the importance of making flexible work the default across all sectors, as well as transforming the UK's childcare system to make it affordable and accessible to all families. Pay discrimination also needs to be eradicated to ensure that men and women are paid equally for equal work, and intersectional pay gaps that affect black, minoritised, and disabled women must be addressed.
Before she became Britain's first female chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves made a promise to close the pay gap once and for all. The chief executive of The Fawcett Society, Jemima Olchawski, welcomes her commitment, stating that significant shifts in the approach towards achieving equality are necessary to reach this goal. She also reminds us that the gender pay gap is not just an issue for women, but for our entire economy.
It's important to note that the gender pay gap is distinct from pay discrimination, which has been illegal since the 1970s. Pay discrimination occurs when women are paid less than men for equal work. Under UK law, this is defined as "like work," where two people are doing the same job, "work rated as equivalent," where two people might be doing slightly different jobs but are assessed as equivalent by a job evaluation study, and "work of equal value," where a Tribunal has determined that two people's jobs are of equal value based on factors such as effort, skill, and decision-making.
Do you have a story to share about your experience with the gender pay gap? The Fawcett Society encourages individuals to get in touch by emailing them. It's important to continue the conversation and work towards closing the pay gap once and for all. Let's strive for a more equal and just society for all.
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