The Cost of Working: calls for flexible economy to close gender pay gap

A charity is telling us at the current rate of change, women over 40 won't see the gender pay gap close in their working lifetime.

The Fawcett Society is marking Equal Pay Day today (Wednesday 22nd November) - the day when according to their research, because of the gender pay gap, women overall in the UK stop being paid compared to men

This means, on average, working women take home £574 less than men each month (£6888 p/a).

They reckon at this rate, it'll still take 28 years for the gender pay gap to close

The society have released new data and a report which shows making flexible work the default in high-quality, high-paid jobs is essential if the gender pay gap is going to close more quickly.

The Findings

· 40% of women who aren’t currently working said that access to flexible work would mean they could take on paid work (32% of men who aren’t working and 37% of people overall said the same)

· Women were significantly more likely to report working part-time (27%) compared to men (14%)

· Men were more likely to report having access to more desirable forms of flexible work – for example working term time only (outside of an education setting) (21%), working as part of a job share (18%), working a number of set hours flexibly across the year (15%) or working to commissioned outcomes (10%).

· 77% of women agreed that they would be more likely to apply for a job that advertises flexible working options

Jemima Olchawski, Fawcett Society CE said:

"The Chancellor is delivering the Autumn Statement today but can he really build a thriving economy without closing the gender pay gap? The fact is, if we want a thriving economy, the gender pay gap must close and to achieve this, our government must make flexible work the default.

“We see time and time again that women feel they have no choice but to accept lower paid, lower quality work in exchange for flexibility and this isn't fair.

"A need for flexible working arrangements, whether it be due to caring responsibilities, disability, or simply a desire to rebalance work and life, should not mean the end of career progression. Women are being kept in lower quality jobs due to old-fashioned workplace norms.

“Women must be allowed to progress with the flexible working arrangements they require, and men must step up and take on their fair share of caring responsibilities and household tasks. Flexible work must be the norm for both men and women at work."

Fawcett Chair, Harriet Harman, said:

“The gender pay gap is closing far too slowly. At the current rate of change, women over 40 will suffer the pay gap until they retire. This is unfair and unjust, and it hurts everyone.

"A thriving economy relies on the full participation of women, and we are currently locking women out of work they are qualified for and capable of doing."

A government spokesperson said;

"We’re investing £3.5 billion to help thousands into jobs – the best way to secure financial security in the long-term.

"We’ve protected and enhanced workers’ rights by supporting legislation, giving employees easier access to flexible working and all workers a right to request a more predictable working pattern."

All this week we are exploring the cost of working, and how it can be expensive to have a job.

You can read more about this here