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Gender pay gap details to include bonuses | Gender pay gap details to include bonuses |
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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 plan on bonuses is the first of a number of "equality-boosting measures" to be set out in detail this week and hopefully introduced in the first half of 2016, according to Downing Street. | The plan on bonuses is the first of a number of "equality-boosting measures" to be set out in detail this week and hopefully introduced in the first half of 2016, according to Downing Street. |
Other steps also include: | Other steps also include: |
Details of exactly what companies must publish and when the scheme will begin will be announced after the results of a consultation, which concluded in September, are released. | |
'Concentrate minds' | 'Concentrate minds' |
More than 10 million workers will be covered by the new transparency rules - although far fewer than that receive bonuses. | More than 10 million workers will be covered by the new transparency rules - although far fewer than that receive bonuses. |
The measures are contained in the Equality Act 2010, which was introduced by Labour but blocked from implementation by the Conservatives until now. | |
Latest figures show that, overall, women in the UK earn 19% less than men. | Latest figures show that, 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. | 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. |
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said publishing salary and bonus 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". | TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said publishing salary and bonus 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". |
Women and equalities minister Nicky Morgan told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme said legislation to force reporting of remuneration was "a first step", but would help "concentrate minds". | Women and equalities minister Nicky Morgan told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme said legislation to force reporting of remuneration was "a first step", but would help "concentrate minds". |
She added: "When companies see the gender pay gap in their own company, of their employees, including bonuses, that does start to change behaviours, it [starts] the conversations in the company." | She added: "When companies see the gender pay gap in their own company, of their employees, including bonuses, that does start to change behaviours, it [starts] the conversations in the company." |
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. |
"Bonuses are also where gender bias can creep in easily as they are amongst the least transparent forms of pay," she said. | "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. | "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." | "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 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." |
'Guaranteed rights' | 'Guaranteed rights' |
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 was 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." | "British women don't need warm words - we need guaranteed rights at work, properly enforced." |
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". |
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. |
Or comment here: | Or comment here: |