Equalities minister: "... government might have to impose equal pay audits on companies if it did not see a reduction in the gap between what men and women are earning."

AndrewLevin · 2013-10-05T20:35:43+00:00

No word on other kinds of audits:

Equal sentencing audits for courts that impose hersher penalties to men
Equal custody audits for courts that are more likely to award custody to mothers than fathers
Equal health care audits for hospitals where men die younger than women
Equal tax audits for governments where men pay more than 50% of taxes
Equal safety audits for companies where male fatalities exceed 50% of total fatalities
Equal compassion audits for cultures where male victims of suicide are more than 50% of the total
Equal justice audits for jurisdictions where men are more than 50% of the prison population
Equal humanity audits for cities where men are more than 50% of homeless
Equal opportunity audits for universities where men are less than 50% of students
Equal attention audits for K-12 schools where boys have lower grades than girls

guywithaccount · 2013-10-05T22:15:40+00:00

Where do I start?

First, most companies in the US forbid employees to discuss their pay with each other. That means that you can't technically stop them, but they can't run to their boss and say "Susan makes X, why do I only make Y?" I can only assume it's the same in Britain. So this whole "women don't ask about pay" thing is a complete nonstarter.

Second: if women don't ask about pay, and there haven't been any audits yet, then what evidence is there that women are being paid less for the same work? Anyone? Bueller?

Whatever. Sure, do audits, and publish all the data. When they show that women aren't paid less for same work, maybe this old myth will suffer the fate it deserves. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

govt_took_my_baby · 2013-10-05T23:32:56+00:00

I never understand this - in the UK most companies have wage structures and remuneration revisited at appraisals - basically its almost impossible (in fact, i think its against the law) to pay someone differently for the same job. but with appraisals and raise - if mr A gets good reviews and works his way to the higher end of his band but ms B is average an sits at the bottom of the band, would this constitute a disparity proving the wage gap?

This 'wage gap' trope needs to be outed good and proper - we all know that if service record, hours worked, experience etc. are taken into account then there is no gap. Wont ever see the Guardian admit this but it will be interesting to see how the 'equalities minister' will spin it

hierophage · 2013-10-06T10:51:45+00:00

I hope they go ahead and do this. They'll just dispel the myth of gendered wage discrimination.

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