Recently released figures by the Chartered Management Institute in their 2011 Salary Survey revealed that female executives are earning as much as their male colleagues for the first time since their records began 38 years ago, however this is only £602 at junior executive level based on an average salary of £21,969. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) the gender pay gap has fallen below 10% for the first time ever after women’s earnings increased at a faster rate than men’s over the year. Despite calls for equality the 2011 National Management Salary Survey has revealed that men continue to be paid more on average than women for doing the same jobs (£42,441 compared to £31,895).
Some interesting statistics:
• There is still considerable disparity in pay between the public and the private sectors. The gender pay divide for full-timers fell from 9.9% to 9.2% in the public sector whilst in the private sector the gap narrowed from 19.7% to 18.4%
• If salaries continue to increase at current rates (2.1% for men and 2.4% for women) the average salary for female executives will not match that of their male colleagues until 2091
• The gap between earnings of men and women of all ages fell from 10.1% in April 2010 to 9.1% in April 2011
• Women’s wages rose by 1.9% over the year to April 9 compared with a rise of 0.8% for men
• According to the ONS the average gender pay gap for full-time workers in was 17% in 1997
• Public Sector wages grew by 0.3% to £556 a week whilst Private Sector earnings rose by 0.8% to £476
With the high rate of inflation and stagnant wages, the average worker is 3.5% worse off than they were this time last year, however wage-led growth is the only way to secure a sustainable economic recovery. As a result, the Chartered Management Institute is calling for the Government to scrutinise organisational pay, demand more transparency from companies on pay bandings and publicly expose organisations found guilty of fuelling the gender pay gap.
If you think that you are being paid less than those doing similar work for your employers, with the only apparent difference between you being your sex, you may have grounds for an employment tribunal claim for sex discrimination. For free initial phone legal advice about employment tribunal compensation, contact our specialist employment lawyers today on 01722 4223300. Remember, we run appropriate compensation claims under no win no fee employment tribunal agreements.