To mark Equal Pay Day, Close the Gap launches new online tool to support employers to report their gender pay gap under new UK regulations

 

Today is Equal Pay Day, the day from which women are effectively working for free for the rest of the year because of the gender pay gap. Two weeks ago the new national gender pay gap figures were released, which showed Scotland’s pay gap hasn’t budged since last year, as women in Scotland are still paid on average 15% less than men.

There has been little progress on narrowing the pay gap in recent years. The gender pay gap will not close on its own, and it’s time for decisive action from employers to help close the gap.

To mark Equal Pay Day, Close the Gap has launched a new online tool for employers who are required to report their gender pay gap under the new UK Gender Pay Gap Information Regulations 2017.

The free tool, Close Your Pay Gap, is a unique, innovative online resource which enables employers to:

• Generate their pay gap information;
• Identify priority areas for their organisation by answering a short series of questions; and
• Receive a bespoke report and action plan for addressing the pay gap in their organisation.

The easy to use online tool provides detailed, tailored guidance around an organisation’s employment practice in five key areas which align with the causes of the gender pay gap:

• Pay, performance and bonuses;
• Flexible and part-time working;
• Recruitment and promotion;
• Training and development; and
• Workplace culture.

Employers that take steps to reduce their pay gap are more productive, more innovative and more profitable, and are able to draw from a wider pool of skills and talent. When employers take action on the pay gap everybody benefits, as evidence shows closing the gender gap in employment is worth up to £17bn to Scotland’s economy.

To use the tool visit www.closeyourpaygap.org.uk