#BridgeTheGap: It will be 2098 before women are paid equally to men

It will be 2098 before women are paid equally to men in this country.

Eighty-one years. Eighty-one years of doing the same work, for the same length of time, and yet still earning less than our male counterparts, according to statistics. Yes, pay inequality is a living, breathing beast – even if you don’t notice it in your everyday life. The latest Women In Work Index shows that the gender pay gap currently stands at 14.8 percent in this country, and while it is on the decrease, it’s moving far too slowly for our liking. On Wednesday, the Seanad is set to debate the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2017 – a bill which will demand companies with more than 50 employees share regular reports on their internal gender pay gaps. Let's not underestimate just what a milestone the presentation of this bill is; indeed, it represents nothing less than a hugely important day in our State's history. The UK recently implemented a similar law which one employer said will “do more for pay parity in five years than equal pay legislation has done in 45 years.” And for one reason – accountability. “Peer pressure is a powerful force. If firms’ pay gaps are public knowledge, those organisations are incentivised to compete with each other in order to narrow their pay disparities and, thereby, attract and retain the best female talent,” communications executive at IMPACT Trade Union, Lughan Deane, said of the move. “Brands trade on their reputations, and will compete on any front to protect and enhance those reputations. If they feel they can set up a stall at the next careers fair right beside a competitor and boast a lower pay gap, they will.” Not only would this bill be a major incentive for companies to improve their policies, it would also provide women with crucial information. “If you’re a woman on her way into a salary negotiation, knowing your employer’s gender pay gap is a really valuable piece of information. It gives you a sense of where on the ladder you’re likely to be.”

Pay inequality is STILL a problem. So we're asking, do you feel like you're treated equally to your male counterparts at work? #BridgeTheGap

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) April 24, 2017

We recently asked you about your experience of gender inequality in the workplace - and we were shocked to see that nearly 70 percent of you feel you are not treated equally to your male counterparts at work. Show your support for the Gender Pay Gap Reporting Bill by sharing IMPACT’s Thunderclap message.