Same pay scale, yet the man can earn up to four times as much?

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As mentioned in previous blogs, there is still a considerable pay gap between men and women, despite there being Equal Pay legislation around since 1970. Generally this is greater in the private sector where there is more secrecy around salaries, but the public sector shouldn’t be complacent.

In the public sector there is usually a pay grade attached to each job role, which the post holder will be paid regardless of gender (or any other irrelevant factor). For a while there was a still a problem in that those job roles mostly occupied by men (refuse collectors, grounds maintenance etc.) were more highly paid than equivalent job roles mostly occupied by women (care workers, catering, cleaners etc.). But at least it was the case that a male care assistant would earn the same as a female one, and a female gardener would earn the same as a male one.

Then reviews were carried out under various Job Evaluation Schemes to determine the value of each role regardless of the gender who more typically occupied it. So – it should be fair now, yes?

Um, no – not if a recent landmark case in Birmingham is anything to go by. It was found that although jobs of equal value carried similar pay scales, those jobs traditionally occupied by men attracted bonuses (which could be worth up to 160% of their basic pay) which roles traditionally occupied by women were excluded from.

More than 4,000 female workers at Birmingham City Council won the right to be paid the same as their male colleagues in similar jobs. All the women were employed in traditionally female-dominated roles, such as cleaning, care and catering, as well as administrative jobs.

During the seven-week hearing, the tribunal heard how a man doing the same pay-graded job as a woman could earn four times more than her.

Under a bonus scheme, male refuse collection staff sometimes received up to 160% of their basic pay. In one year a refuse collector took home £51,000, while women on the same pay grade received less than £12,000.

We’ve had equal pay legislation for 40 years – I wonder how long it will be before we actually achieve it?

Jane

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Jane Hatton helps people with disabilities find a job through an Even Break. If you are an employer who is looking to recruit a talented individual from a Jane, then take a look at how you can here
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