Kiwi companies working to close gender pay gap

  • 25/01/2017
Woman working stock exchange
(File)

Most New Zealand companies acknowledge a disparity between what men and women are paid in their organisation.

Almost all of them, 97 percent, are working on measures for pay equality, according to a survey by recruitment company Robert Half.

Of 100 human resources managers questioned, 82 percent acknowledged a difference in salaries between men and women in their firm.

Robert Half NZ general manager Megan Alexander says pay disparities should be concerning to any company.

"An individual's work ethic and ambition, regardless of gender, needs to be rewarded with a competitive salary to match the results and value the professional brings," she said.

"In today's competitive employment environment, where skills shortages are common, companies cannot afford to miss out on the benefits of a diverse talent pool."

She said it was encouraging to see that New Zealand firms were responding to the issue.

Measures being taken by companies to close the gender gap (multiple answers permitted):

  • Pay transparency - 30 percent
  • Linking promotions to fixed pay rises - 30 percent
  • Salary audits - 28 percent
  • Monitoring promotions and pay rises - 27 percent
  • Eliminating salary negotiations when starting a job - 19 percent
  • Open discussion on salary setting, pay rises and bonuses - 12 percent
  • None - 3 percent.

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