Gender Pay Gap Closes Faster for Some

15 August 2018 – Organisers of New Zealand’s Equal Pay Awards have acknowledged that the latest Gender Pay Gap statistic of 9.2% shows a small improvement from 2017 but says that several NZ companies have achieved much better results.

Acting CEO of YWCA Auckland, Kat Doughty says that it is encouraging to see the gender pay gap is smaller for full-time than part-time workers. “This suggests that more companies are recognising the current and future value of their female workforce and making positive changes to retain and attract women like flexible work, proactive recruitment and placing more women into leadership roles” she says.

Ms Doughty also acknowledges the impact of the Care and Support Workers (Pay Equity) Settlement last year and the rise in the minimum wage to $16.50 in April 2018 as drivers of increased wages for women in casual and part-time employment. “While these are positive changes toward achieving equal pay, we know that legislation is only one lever and will not be effective in isolation. Through five years of the Equal Pay Awards we have seen more businesses like ANZ and Youthtown taking charge of their gender pay gap and getting it down to less than a third of the national figure. Some, like Lion and Simpson Grierson have been able to eliminate it completely” she added.

Now in their fifth year the Equal Pay Awards have evolved to include categories to recognise the challenges faced by the Not-For-Profit sector and the impact that individual staff can have in achieving equal pay. The online entry process is simple and Kat Doughty encourages any business who has adopted equal pay policies or other measures to close their gender pay gap to enter.

“Previous finalists and winners have told us that being acknowledged as an equal pay champion has made them more attractive to top talent looking for forward thinking organisations and has also enhanced their workplace culture” she says. “If your company is doing better than the rest of New Zealand and has a gender pay gap of less than 9% then enter and claim your place as a top performer” Ms Doughty said.

Entries for the YWCA Equal Pay Awards close on Friday, 7th September 2018.

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