Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
News
Compliance
Topics
Home
News
Compliance
Topics

'Only one in five firms' is taking action on gender pay gap

Open-access content Thursday 31st January 2019
p11_gender-pay_CREDIT-Alamy

Just one in five employers has produced an action plan to close the gender pay gap, according to a poll by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

04 February 2019 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal


Just one in five employers has produced an action plan to close the gender pay gap, according to a poll sampling by equality body the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).


The organisation is calling on more employers to publish action plans. Publication of plans is not mandatory, but the EHRC says it is essential that such plans are published by businesses that want to demonstrate a real commitment to reducing the gap.


It carried out an analysis of employers' gender pay gap action plans to understand "what they are doing to drive meaningful change and tackle inequalities facing women in the workplace".


The survey also reveals that:

Only 11 per cent of employers had set themselves targets that would enable them to measure the progress of their plans year on year.

Larger employers were more likely than smaller ones to set themselves targets, as employers with fewer than 499 staff were less likely to publish an action plan as part of their gender pay gap figures than larger ones.


The report also recommends what to include in a good action plan, such as:

  • Anonymising CVs and application forms;
  • Transparent recruitment and promotion procedures;
  • Advertising all jobs as open to flexible working from day one;
  • Actively promoting shared parental leave to staff;
  • Developing short apprenticeship 
  • programmes; and Providing opportunities for mentorship schemes.

  

Rebecca Hilsenrath, EHRC CEO, said: "Earlier this year gender pay gap reporting shone a light on some of the issues women face when accessing, progressing and staying in the workplace. As we head towards the second year of reporting, the attention now needs to shift towards employers, who must play their part in reducing the gap, starting with publicly setting out how they intend to address it in their organisations.


"Specific and time-bound action plans can do more than just identify the barriers holding women back in the workplace - they can help to create an environment where female employees can flourish, as well as demonstrate to employees, customers and shareholders a commitment to improving working practices, and can enhance the organisation's reputation.  


"We'd like to see them go further and are calling for the government to make the publication of action plans mandatory."


Disability and age discrimination 

Another British poll, by technology company Wildgoose, shows that about 47 per cent of male employees "don't consider the gender pay gap to be a major issue". 


And over 50 per cent of the 117 people questioned felt the inclusion of disabled people was the area that required the greatest improvement within their organisation.


The diversity of age groups came in a close second - with just under half saying this aspect demands attention.


The results raise concerns that dual discrimination based on disability and age is common practice in the workplace, highlighting a need for companies to undergo additional diversity training in this area.


Other significant findings show that nearly half (47 per cent) of male employees don't consider the gender pay gap to be a big issue compared with three-quarters of women who do - a worrying statistic given the recent publication of big companies' gender pay gaps, and media coverage of the issue.


But the gap between men and women narrowed as 67 per cent of men rated equal promotional opportunities as a highly important issue compared with 61 per cent of women.


Jim Alexander, head of learning and development at Wildgoose, said: "Despite organisations making headway in relation to diversity and inclusion policy, there is still a long way to go before we achieve inclusivity across all cross-sections of the workforce.   

Emma Potter

 

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Today's top reads

 

Latest Jobs

FM Helpdesk Manager

London (Central)
£35000.00 - £45000.00 per annum
Reference
55696

Building Services Senior Coordinator - Contract Position

Sutton
Up to £45,000 OR Equivalent Rate
Reference
55695

FM Customer Services Manager

London
GBP35000 - GBP40000 per annum + flexible benefits, pension
Reference
55694
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive, Level 5, 78 Chamber Street, London, E1 8BL