The Gender Pay Gap in Retail

It’s 2019, right? So WHY are we still dealing with inequality in pay between men and women in the workplace? It’s a hot topic and apparently a difficult question to answer so we’ve broken it down for you into a few easy-to-understand dot points for you to check out and help you navigate what is fair and unfair in payment circumstances in the retail industry.

Firstly, what is the Gender Pay Gap?

The gender pay gap is the difference between women’s and men’s average weekly full-time equivalent earnings, expressed as a percentage of men’s earnings. It is an indicator of women’s overall position in the workforce and does not compare like roles. Women’s average full-time base salary across all industries and occupations is 17.3% less than men’s ($16,183 per year) while the average Women’s full-time total remuneration across all industries is 22.4% less than men’s ($26,527 per year).
 

Male versus Female representation in the retail industry.

In 2018 the global split for retail and customer service staff at a base level was around 35% men compared to 65% women meaning women make up a majority of our retail workmates all over the world. In upper management and higher paying corporate roles, the split was leaned more towards males at around 55% male versus 45% female. This figure is changing rapidly.

How do you ensure you are being paid equally?

If you are considering a role in the constantly evolving retail industry but are concerned about the gender pay gap, ask your employer for a payment agreement for both men and women and make the comparison based on the agreement. You can also speak with HR and check out websites such as Equal Pay Australia, Fair Work Australia and the Australian Taxation Office Payment Schedule.

What to do if you are not being paid equally?

If you are not being paid equally, speak to your employer about why they have chosen to pay you less than another employee. There may be a completely valid reason. If you feel the reason is invalid or unfair, take the matter to HR and ask for a review within the company. If you still feel you are not being paid fairly, seek the advice of an outside professional that specialises in workplace pay disputes. This could be a solicitor or government representative. Ensure you have all of your information organised before going ahead with further action.

While it is obviously an issue that is being worked on and slowly being rectified across the globe, the gender pay gap does still exist. Let’s all work together to make the retail industry a fair and enjoyable one to be a part of!