The consultation deadline for Ethnicity and Disability Pay Gap mandatory reporting is the 10th June which is two weeks away. You would have seen the video I posted last week reminding everyone of the importance of completing the consultation. The video as I understand it has gone viral which is great. This is a positive result that shows the desire to engage with this important issue. We also published the video on TikTok last night and we have had strong engagement which I hope help us to reach Generation Z.
Working with ShareAction we produced a consultation brief to assist our network in completing the document. I myself completed it the first week it came out. I recognise that completing the document can be difficult for some, particularly neurodivergent people like myself. It will take more time for some of us to complete the document but, it is worth making the time to complete it.
Spktral shared with us their response this week, outlining the importance of representation with less fixation about the Gap. Recognising that work needs to be done in more than one area to improve pay equity. Cut and pasting another organisations idea of improving pay equity will not help either. I recognise the importance of using data to help you to identify what is going on within your organisation. Data should not be used in isolation, it should be used in conjunction with other approaches to have a clear actionable vision.
I have connected with some great people and organisations that I hope to be working with in the coming months. We recognise we are only at the start of getting real action, it will take hard work and determination to get us to the end. What is the end in my view, getting Ethnicity Pay Gap mandatory to report with action plans and narrative to ensure that responsible action is taken. This work needs to be supported by employees and leadership lead. An independent body to oversee, support and hold organisations accountable for their actions . I would also encourage a forum where organisations can discuss and support each other. Reporting will be new to some and others may reflect and recognise their previous efforts to report were not robust enough to get a realistic result to help to establish pay equity.
I continue to be hopeful as the Government seems to be moving in the right direction. Let us do all we can to make mandatory Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting a reality. And of course Disability Pay Gap reporting.