Despite the Equal Pay Act 45 years ago, women still earn less than men in Britain today.

The current gender pay gap means that women effectively stop earning relative to men on a day in November. This day is referred to as Equal Pay Day and varies according to the actual pay gap each year – in 2015 Equal Pay Day is the 9 of November.

What is the gender pay gap?

Overall, women can expect to earn significantly less than men over their entire careers as a result of differences in caring responsibilities; clustering in low skilled and low paid work, the qualifications and skills women acquire; and outright discrimination.

The current overall gap for full time workers is 14.2%.

What can I do about it?

Join our Equal Pay Day campaign and take action! Tweet @fawcettsociety with #PayGapPledge and tell us what you’ll be doing to help end this inequality.

Here are some ideas actions you can pledge to do:

• Have a conversation at work about pay and find out what your colleagues earn
• Ask your employer whether they know about the new regulations which are due to come in to force next year, requiring organisations with over 250 employees to publish their gender pay gap figure and whether they are ready to implement this change
• Write to your MP and ask them what they and their party are doing to close the gender pay gap

You can find out more about the gender pay gap and our recommendations for closing it here.

http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/equal-pay-day-2/

November 9, 2015