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Gender pay gap details to include bonuses Gender pay gap details to include bonuses
(35 minutes later)
Larger employers will have to publish the amount men and women are awarded in bonuses as part of proposed legislation to reduce the gender pay gap.Larger employers will have to publish the amount men and women are awarded in bonuses as part of proposed legislation to reduce the gender pay gap.
The planned regulations will apply to businesses in England, Wales and Scotland with more than 250 employees.The planned regulations will apply to businesses in England, Wales and Scotland with more than 250 employees.
The Chartered Management Institute said the new legislation would "force transparency" on companies.The Chartered Management Institute said the new legislation would "force transparency" on companies.
The TUC said the measures should include medium-sized businesses and come with fines for non-compliance.The TUC said the measures should include medium-sized businesses and come with fines for non-compliance.
The new legislation would mean the public sector will have to publish gender pay information in line with employers in the private and voluntary sectors, who already have to do so. The new legislation will also mean the public sector will have to publish gender pay information in line with employers in the private and voluntary sectors, who already have to do so.
Latest figures show overall women in the UK earn 19% less than men.
The government also wants to see women on the boards of all the UK's top 350 companies.The government also wants to see women on the boards of all the UK's top 350 companies.
'Appal us all' 'Bias can creep in'
Up to the age of 40 there is very little difference between the earnings of men and women. Latest figures show overall women in the UK earn 19% less than men.
Up to the age of 40, there is very little difference between the earnings of men and women.
But beyond that age, when more women are likely to have taken time out to raise families and work part-time, there is a significant gap.But beyond that age, when more women are likely to have taken time out to raise families and work part-time, there is a significant gap.
Women and equalities minister Nicky Morgan said: "From the opportunities women are given in school to the ability to move up the executive pipeline, we are determined to tackle the barriers to women achieving their all. Women and equalities minister Nicky Morgan said business had made progress but it should "appal us" that, 100 years on from the suffragette movement, "we still don't have gender equality in every aspect of our society".
"Business has made huge amounts of progress already in recent years - the gender pay gap is the lowest since records began.
"But it should appal us all that, 100 years on from the suffragette movement, we still don't have gender equality in every aspect of our society."
Chartered Management Institute chief executive Ann Francke said bonus gaps were "one of the biggest drivers" of gender pay discrepancy, particularly at senior levels.Chartered Management Institute chief executive Ann Francke said bonus gaps were "one of the biggest drivers" of gender pay discrepancy, particularly at senior levels.
She told BBC Radio 5 Live the new legislation would mean many companies "are going to say, 'I didn't know we had a problem but we do... because we have too few women at the top, so we're going to have to look at how we bring these women on.'" "Bonuses are also where gender bias can creep in easily as they are amongst the least transparent forms of pay," she said.
"There's a tendency to reward those in our own image or to think that because men may be the 'main breadwinners' they deserve higher bonuses.
"And men often negotiate harder or trumpet their achievements more readily."
She told BBC Radio 5 Live the new legislation would mean many companies were going to say, "I didn't know we had a problem but we do".
She also said that while some pay discrepancies were down to women taking a more flexible approach to their careers, "that should not derail those careers, and nor should it impact their pay when they are in those full-time roles".She also said that while some pay discrepancies were down to women taking a more flexible approach to their careers, "that should not derail those careers, and nor should it impact their pay when they are in those full-time roles".
'Guaranteed rights''Guaranteed rights'
CBI director for employment and skills Neil Carberry said eradicating the gender pay gap was an important goal but reporting must be "relevant to each company rather than a box-ticking exercise". CBI director for employment and skills Neil Carberry said eradicating the gender pay gap was an important goal, but reporting must be "relevant to each company rather than a box-ticking exercise".
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Publishing information on gender pay gaps in salaries and bonuses is a start. But it is just that, a start. Employers need to look at why women are still being paid less than men and do something meaningful about it." TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said publishing the information was a "start" - but employers needed to look at why women were still being paid less than men and "do something meaningful about it".
In July, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to end the gender pay gap within a generation, but Labour called for "action not words" on equality.In July, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to end the gender pay gap within a generation, but Labour called for "action not words" on equality.
Shadow women and equalities minister Kate Green said: "The gender pay gap is still nearly 20% above the European average. Shadow women and equalities minister Kate Green said the gender pay gap was nearly 20% above the European average.
"British women don't need warm words - we need guaranteed rights at work, properly enforced. It's not enough to talk about equality, it must run through every piece of legislation." "British women don't need warm words - we need guaranteed rights at work, properly enforced."
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Sophie Walker, of the Women's Equality Party, pointed out that the Equal Pay Act was 45 years old. Sophie Walker, of the Women's Equality Party, pointed out that the Equal Pay Act was 45 years old.
"So it's terribly important that the government gets on with this... so we can actually get this antiquated and not terribly helpful piece of legislation to work the way it was supposed to.""So it's terribly important that the government gets on with this... so we can actually get this antiquated and not terribly helpful piece of legislation to work the way it was supposed to."
What are your experiences when it comes to the gender pay gap? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. If you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist, please include contact details. If you are happy to have your story featured, please also include a picture of yourself to help us illustrate our story. It must be your own copyright.What are your experiences when it comes to the gender pay gap? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. If you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist, please include contact details. If you are happy to have your story featured, please also include a picture of yourself to help us illustrate our story. It must be your own copyright.
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