British energy supplier SSE has become the first FTSE 100 member to publish its gender pay gap information, and also admit that its gap has grown year on year.
In a statement yesterday, Scotland-based SSE revealed that its median gender pay gap is 19.3% for 2016/17, up on the 2015/16 figure of 18.7%.
Publication of gender pay gap data has been required since April 2017 under the Equality Act 2010. The law applies to all companies with more than 250 employees. Last year, SSE published the data voluntarily.
John Stewart, SSE’s director of human resources, said: “In 2016 SSE became one of the first FTSE 100 companies to publish its gender pay gap, using the draft regulations available at the time. That exercise was both interesting and instructive and SSE now has two years of data to understand and act upon.
“Genuine transformation for SSE, and across the UK’s labour market, will require meaningful societal changes as well as improvements at organisational level. SSE is committed to being a leader for driving change in both of these areas.”
Anne Milton, the minister for apprenticeships, skills and women, said: “It is fantastic to see employers like SSE taking this important step in tackling the gender pay gap. They are setting an excellent example for other employers as we build a stronger, fairer country where success is defined by work and talent, not gender or circumstance.
“We have more women in work than ever before and the gender pay gap is at a record low, but there is more to do. Closing the gender pay gap isn’t just the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense, so that employers can take action to make sure every employee reaches their full potential.”