7 NOVEMBER 2016

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#EqualValue

In 2016 Equal Pay Day is 10th November. This marks the day after which women are effectively working for free as a result of earning less on average than men.

The current overall gap for full time workers is 13.9%

About the gender pay gap

TEPD is calculated using the mean full time pay gap, which is currently 13.9%. At the current rate of progress it will take over 60 years to close the gender pay gap [1]. With low pay impacting on the lives of millions of women now and with mounting evidence of the impact gender inequality has on our economy, it’s clear we simply can’t afford to wait that long.

The jobs women do are more likely to be low paid, they are less likely to receive bonuses or to progress to the most senior and highest paid roles. Women still face discrimination in the workplace with 54,000 women having to leave their jobs early every year after having a baby or becoming pregnant. Furthermore, the under-valuing of caring roles means those not in paid
employment but working looking after loved ones often do not have sufficient support and recognition and are often excluded from opportunities to move into paid work.

The pay gap represents the difference between what women are paid and what they are really worth, so this year the Fawcett Society will be marking Equal Pay Day using the theme #EqualValue.

How to get involved

Tweet a photo of yourself doing the job that you are proud of -this could be either paid or unpaid work – to highlight the contribution of women to our economy and our society. Or tweet a photo of yourself with women in your workplace or in your life that you are proud of. Please use #EqualValue and tell us why you’re proud of what you/they do or why closing the pay gap matters to you.

Men can get involved too

We’d love men to tweet images of themselves undertaking important work traditionally perceived to be undertaken by women with the hashtag #EqualValue. Perhaps you are a stay at home Dad or work in a female dominated industry- from care work and nursing to primary school teaching and cabin crew, please tweet an image of yourself at work along with your thoughts on why closing the pay gap matters.

Or, you can tweet about the work done by your female colleagues, friends or family, highlighting why you are proud of and value their contribution.

For Employers

This is your chance to highlight the work you do to close the pay gap in your organisation and to demonstrate that you really value your female employees. Please tweet images of the great work women do for your organisation and share your examples of ways to close the pay gap.

We’re asking everyone who takes part to use #EqualValue.

[1] Based on a 0.9 percentage point decline of the mean full time pay gap excluding overtime between 2012 and 2016, ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

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READ MORE

You can find more details on the 2016 gender pay gap and it's causes in this briefing document -

Gender Pay Gap and Causes Briefing Equal Pay Day - 10th November 2016

Read more about Fawcett's work to close the gender pay gap here -

Close the gender pay gap