We end the year with the gender pay gap top of mind. Listen to this episode of The Detail on RNZ for a discussion with Dr. Jo Cribb, who will be offering workshops to our members in 2025.
From Dr Jo Cribb:
“Last month the Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill quietly passed through its first reading to the Education and Workforce Select Committee. The Bill calls for pay secrecy clauses in employment agreements to be banned. Research shows banning pay secrecy improves transparency and reduces gender and ethnic pay gaps by allowing employees to discuss their pay without fear.
- US research shows women’s wages in states prohibiting pay secrecy clauses are 4-12% higher (depending on how the data was analysed) than in states that allow secrecy clauses.
- In Canada, pay secrecy law reduced the gender pay gap between men and women by 20-40% (again depending on how data was analysed).
- A 2019 study covering approximately 9,000 US employees found women’s annual pay growth was 0.4% lower than for men under pay secrecy. This gap disappeared with greater transparency.
The benefits for employers are also clearly documented. Pay transparency increases employee performance and job satisfaction.
Submissions are open until 23rd January 2025. Please consider sharing your thoughts about the importance of measures to reduce gender and ethnic pay gaps.
Say as much or little as you wish. Upload your thoughts here
WIFT will be submitting on your behalf but take a moment to stand up for yourselves while we have this opportunity and submit in support of the bill.
We start workshops again in February with Dr Jo Cribb leading us through taking our space and valuing our worth in Christchurch and Auckland. Make sure you book here for this intensive workshop in your area.