Article: Closing the gender pay gap: “Flexibility is most important” Written by Joy Burnford Wednesday 22 March 2023 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email More work must be done to close the gender pay gap. So we asked business leader Joy Burnford, an expert on the topic, for her thoughts… She shared three practical steps business can take immediately Gender pay gap: tools to make a difference A quick skills refresher course to equip you with tools to make a difference Join CMI now to access While we all know that the gender pay gap is an issue that demands attention, I'm often amazed at how few businesses are taking practical steps to close it. In fact, since the pandemic, progress has actually reversed: while we were 202 years from gender parity in 2018, that number increased to 268 years in 2021. When researching my book, Don’t Fix Women: The practical path to gender equality at work, I found overwhelming evidence that the solution to gender equality is not fixing women, but rather doing the necessary work to improve an outdated system that wasn’t designed for women to thrive. The most significant issue for companies is the leaky pipeline and retaining women, supporting their progression into senior roles … Yet, there are practical steps that companies can take to enable change to happen. Joy Burnford, founder and CEO of Encompass Equality We know the most significant issue for companies, when it comes to gender equality, is the leaky pipeline and retaining women, supporting their progression into senior roles (one in three women considered leaving the workforce or downshifting their career in 2022). And no wonder – the obstacles women face in their careers are plentiful: fewer opportunities, lower pay, caring responsibilities and hormonal challenges, to name merely a few. These challenges tend to build up for women as they progress in their careers, which is one reason why they can fall off the corporate ladder before having the chance to reach senior positions. Yet, there are practical steps that companies can take to enable change to happen. We know gender balance in the workplace makes good business sense (FTSE 350 companies with more than 25% women their Executive Committees have profit margins almost three times higher than those with all male), yet shifting the dial must start from the top. Keep reading for three practical steps you can take to close the GPG Login or register below for Free Instant Access Login If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article. Confirm your registration Login below to confirm your details and access this article. Sign in with email Email remember me remember Forget? Please confirm that you want to switch off the "Sign in with email" remember me feature. Yes No Register for Free Access Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox. You have successfully registered As a CMI Friend, you now have access to whole range of CMI Friendship benefits. Please login to the left to confirm your registration and access the article. Article Our extensive range of articles are designed to keep you in the loop with all the latest management and leadership best practice, research and news. Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.
