CASE STUDY GENDER PAY GAP - FACT OR FICTION? The small group seated in the staff dining room is noisy and animated. 'Hey, what are you guys talking about?' asks Lillian Ng,CFO for ABC Consolidated. 'It's Craig, he's having one of his raves', replies Sandra De Vries. 'Oh!' laughs Lillian, 'What is it this time?' 'See for yourself, Lillian,' says Jarrad Oxley, IT manager as he hands her a copy of the Daily Tribune. 554 PART 4 Rewarding human resources SOURCE MANAGEMENT 9E, Wley, Melbourne. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central. [16 November 2020]. 1-16 18:28:37. 'What am I meant to be looking at?' asks Lillian. 'The article headed "The gender pay gap myth", says Craig Gordon, accounting manager. 'Well, it's no myth in my view,' Lillian replies. 'The evidence is overwhelming that there is a significant difference in pay rates for men and women. In fact, the higher the position, we women occupy the bigger the difference.' 'Yes, I agree,' adds Sandra. 'Women in similar roles to men earn about 20 per cent less.' 'Well, then go and ask your boss for a raise - don't complain to me,' answers Craig. 'If you're so concerned, you can also ask HR to do a pay equity audit.' Everyone turns to Stephanie Liondis, HR manager. 'It's on our agenda,' says Stephanie weakly. 'You mean you don't know whether or not a gender pay gap exists in ABC Consolidated?' 'Correct,' replies Stephanie. 'Look, it doesn't matter anyway. A pay equity audit is just another bit of administrative nonsense dreamed up by some bureaucrat. The problem doesn't exist,' interjects Craig. 'What do you mean?' asks Sandra. 'It's simple,' says Craig, 'women do the easy stuff no maths and science, no hard physical labour plus they focus on service jobs and not line management jobs jobs that pay poorly and that don't lead to a top management position.' 'And they have no IT know-how,' adds Jarrad. 'Too right, Jarrad!' Craig responds enthusiastically. 'Men do the uni courses that get the jobs paying the big bucks. What do women do - nursing and teaching!' 'And don't forget it's men who do the dangerous jobs in remote mining towns,' adds Jarrad. 'If women want big money they should be prepared to take the same risks and go and live in the boondocks.' 'Jarrad is right. Women get equal pay for equal work where is the evidence that women doing the same work get paid less?' Craig barks in support. 'Oh, come on you two, don't be so ridiculous,' interjects Lillian. 'We're not being ridiculous,' Jarrad flares. 'It's you who don't want to face facts. If women choose not to study the hard subjects, they can't complain about getting paid less.' 'Women also take time out to have kids,' adds Craig. 'It's obvious that if you break your career you're not going to be able to compete for the top jobs. It's common sense, not discrimination.' 'Why should it be women who have to make the sacrifice? Why not men?' asks Sandra. 'It's a personal decision you want to have kids you pay the price,' replies Craig. 'You can say that again!' Stephanie snaps. 'We women have the cards stacked against us. We look after the kids, do most of the housework and sacrifice our careers only to be paid less than men.' 'Look, it's all very simple,' Craig smiles. 'If women want to reduce this mythical pay gap they should be prepared to take on the same courses of study and careers that men do.' 'Craig, you really are a lost cause,' sighs Sandra. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 What is the gender pay gap? 2 Who do you agree/disagree with? Why? 3 What are the major reasons that women earn less than men? 4 What is the value of conducting a pay equity audit