University releases 2023 gender pay gap report
6 December 2023
Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland has released its inaugural Gender Pay Gap Report as part of its commitment to equity for staff.
Publishing the Gender Pay Gap (GPG) report is an important part of the University’s priorities outlined in its strategic plan, Taumata Teitei, which recognises that improving data and insights is a core component of building a ‘high-performing, diverse, equitable and inclusive community’.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater said that the University’s results were disappointing, with an overall GPG of 10.8 percent, against a national average of 8.6 percent. This means that across all staff, the median hourly rate for women is 10.8 percent less than for men.
“Gaps persist despite decades of change towards a more equitable workforce which make it clear that new approaches are called for,” Professor Freshwater said.
“Having a detailed understanding of our pay gaps and what perpetuates them will add momentum to efforts to address structural and systemic sexism, racism, and other forms of discrimination.
Professor Cathy Stinear, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Equity who led the GPG research and finalised the report in collaboration with People and Culture, said that there was much work to be done. While the University of Auckland had focused on gender, employee group, and permanence, as a starting point for the 2023 report, ethnicity is another important factor that will be explored for the 2024 report, along with the distribution of women and men across salary bands and leadership roles.
“An organisation can have equal pay, and pay equity, and still have a GPG. Many factors that may contribute are difficult to quantify, such as discrimination and unconscious bias ,” she said.
“We want to make sure we continue to improve in this area, building on our Māori and Pacific Staffing plans, Parental Leave policy, and Flexible Work policy. We are also committed to a review of the Academic Standards to provide an equitable framework for valuing the achievements and contributions of academic staff.”
Professor Freshwater has made it clear that she is dedicated to making significant progress on the GPG.
“The Gender Pay Gap is a global concern seriously impacting the lives of millions while posing future workforce and societal issues for nations.
“Monitoring, reporting and taking action to reduce gender pay gaps will help us to address one of the most tangible and persistent forms of workplace inequity worldwide.”