12 OCTOBER 2016

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New survey finds 6 in 10 women say “it matters to me” that my employer is taking steps to reduce the gender pay gap, with 77% of women say reducing it is the responsibility of business and employers.

Speaking at a major Gender Pay Gap conference today with over 100 employers represented, Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society claimed the pay gap would be “with us for a lifetime” unless there was concerted action on the part of employers and government to close it.

In her speech she set out the major barriers to progress including the less progressive attitudes of ‘barrier bosses’, a significant minority (16%) of recruitment decision-makers who do not believe in equality of opportunity and people who regard mothers at work as ‘less committed’ to their jobs*.

The conference organised in partnership with Neil Stewart Associates is being held as the Government prepares to publish new regulations requiring large employers to publish their gender pay gap figures.  Minister for Women and Equalities, Caroline Dinenage MP, will also address the conference and set out the Government’s approach.

The Fawcett Society is establishing a new Fast Forward Network for those employers who want to do more than the minimum on gender pay gap reporting.

Read the full press release here: Gender pay gap conference press release

Follow #GenderPay2016 on Twitter today for updates from the conference.

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Fawcett's campaigning led to new gender pay gap reporting legislation, which requires organisations with over 250 employees to publish data on their gender pay gaps, including bonuses, by April 2018. 

READ MORE ABOUT OUR WORK ON CLOSING THE GENDER PAY GAP HERE.