CMI and GEO have published new guidance showing the positive impact flexible working can have on the gender pay gap.

With the gender pay gap disproportionately impacting the UK’s managers, directors and senior officials, the CMI and GEO (Government Equalities Office) released new guidance to highlight how flexible working can help to close the gender pay gap. This follows on from the

CMI research has shown that well-designed flexible working can help tackle the gender pay gap (GPG). It allows women to reconcile work and caring responsibilities, and stay in roles that reflect their skills and experience. Crucially, offering flexible working at a senior level allows talented women who are not available to work what may be considered a standard, full-time week, to progress in senior management and leadership roles. This is key to closing the GPG.

This is why CMI and the Government Equalities Office have published joint guidance for managers and senior leaders on how to implement flexible working in the workplace.

Ann Francke, CEO of the Chartered Management Institute commented: “The latest data on the gender pay gap for UK managers shows the problem is getting worse, as the gap between men’s and women’s pay has widened. This is atrocious and needs to be a wakeup call to companies to act now. One action that can make a real difference is a well-designed flexible working policy.”

Women’s representation within organisations falls off the higher you go. At CMI, we call this the glass pyramid. Changing workplace cultures and boosting flexible working practices are key to helping women climb the glass pyramid and progress into senior roles.

Our guidance on flexible working is designed to help make flexible-working the norm, and to equip managers and leaders with the information they need to make flexible working really work.

Minister for Women, Victoria Atkins, said: “Flexible working is not only good for employees but it is also proven to be good for business, increasing productivity and helping improve staff engagement. The CMI are making it even easier to implement flexible working policies in the workplace with this easy to use guidance, I hope businesses will take advantage of it, embracing the obvious benefits in the process.”

You can read the Flexible Working and Gender Pay gap research here.

Notes:

Gender pay gap data: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) Findings October 2019

Chartered Management Institute

• The Chartered Management Institute’s 21st Century Leaders 2018 report found that the UK economy needs 1.9 million new managers by 2024.
• The Chartered Management Institute is the Chartered professional body for management and leadership, counting more than 132,000 managers and leaders in its membership community
• There are 7,697 Chartered Managers
• Backed by a unique Royal Charter, CMI is the only organisation able to award Chartered Manager status – the ultimate management accolade, which is proven to boost individuals’ career prospects, management capability and impact in the workplace.

Government Equalities Office

The Government Equalities Office leads work on policy relating to women, sexual orientation and transgender equality. It is responsible for a range of equalities legislation.

Victoria Atkins is the Minister for Women at the Government Equalities Office and as such is responsible for Government policy relating to the improvement of gender equality in the UK.

GEO works within the Cabinet Office.