Frequently asked questions

What is the gender pay gap?

The gender pay gap is the difference in average earnings for men and women. It is typically expressed as a percentage of men's earnings.

Is the gender pay gap illegal in the UK?

Paying someone less than a colleague doing the same or work of equal value based on their gender is illegal in the UK under the Equality Act 2010, but the gender pay gap still exists due to various factors.

Why does the gender pay gap exist?

As well as discrimination, factors such as occupational segregation, the value ascribed to jobs normally performed by women and women’s caregiving responsibilities contribute to the gender pay gap.

What is the difference between Equal Pay and the Gender Pay Gap?

Equal Pay refers to the legal requirement that men and women should receive the same pay for doing the same or similar work, while the Gender Pay Gap refers to the difference in average earnings between men and women.

How can we close the gender pay gap?

Closing the gender pay gap requires measures such as pay transparency, equal pay policies, addressing biases, removing barriers to women’s recruitment, progression and promotion, and supporting work-life balance.

What actions are being taken in the UK to address the gender pay gap?

In the UK, companies with 250 or more employees are required to report their gender pay gap data annually. Additionally, the Government and other bodies have emphasised the importance of organisations providing a written narrative with their gender pay gap figures.

What can employers do to close the gender pay gap?

Employers can take a number of steps to close the gender pay gap, including implementing fair pay practices, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels, addressing occupational segregation, for example by removing the barriers to women’s progression, and developing employer action plans to address their pay gaps.