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The requirement for employers of 250 or more employees to report on their gender pay gap had the potential to highlight the extent, causes and effects of the pay gap, and lead to demonstrable change. But despite years of reporting little seems to be changing. The reasons for it are persistent and complex – even our female students can graduate into pay gaps despite the same qualifications and experiences as their male contemporaries.

To celebrate the University of Exeter Business School’s achievement of the Athena Swan Bronze Award, and its commitment to achieve sustained gender equality, and to mark International Women’s Day, the Business School is hosting a panel discussion on the gender pay gap.

Chair

Dr. Emma Jeanes, University of Exeter; Athena SWAN Chair, University of Exeter Business School

Expert panel

Prof. Susan Milner, University of Bath, who will ask what lies beneath the headline gender pay gap figure published annually by the Office for National Statistics. She will highlight the need for more detailed analyses on the reasons for the gender pay gap across sectors and ask what more can be done to tackle the gap. Susan examines the impact of policy impacting gender relations and gender equality both in the UK and Europe more widely, and acted on the steering committee of the Business in the Community’s project Equal Lives.

Dr. Alison Parken, OBE, University of Cardiff, who will speak on her work with higher education institutions to close gender pay gaps, highlighting common issues and actions that can be taken. Alison has worked extensively with the Welsh Government and acted as an expert advisor to the Government Equalities Office and Women and Equalities Select Committee.

All three speakers are members of the GW4 Pay Equality Research Consortium, led by Prof Milner.

Why does the gender pay gap persist?