Jardine Lloyd Thompson : JLT SURVEY REVEALS GENDER PAY TRANSPARENCY & FLEXIBLE WORKING KEY TO WORKPLACE EQUALITY

07 April 2017

• Survey published as UK's top athletes discuss gender equality at Grand Women's Summit

A survey carried out by JLT, the specialist insurance broker and risk consultant, has revealed that transparency around the gender pay gap and flexible working are key to improving gender equality in the workplace.

Of the 119 people surveyed, the highest number said that transparency around the gender pay gap would improve workplace equality. The 28 per cent of people that voted for this will welcome the news that from next April employers with over 250 employees will be required to publish data relating to the gender gap - including bonuses paid to male and female employees.

The second highest number of people - 23 per cent - said they believed that encouraging flexible working would better promote equality in the workplace, and this was despite employees now having the legal right to request flexible working from their company.

Seventeen per cent of respondents supported having a quota for females in senior roles and/or at Board level, and this was followed by 12 per cent of people selecting better childcare provision and maternity rights.

The lowest number of votes in the survey was for designated female mentoring programmes which attracted only six per cent of the votes, and organised female networks at two per cent.

The results come as JLT, in partnership with Women in Racing and Aintree, sponsors the Grand Women's Summit at Aintree racecourse this year. This annual event, which coincides with Ladies Day at the Randox Health Grand National Festival, discusses women's roles in racing, sport and business, and looks at how to encourage more female representation within senior roles.

The Summit will be attended by delegates from across the sports industry including the UK's most decorated British Paralympic athlete Dame Sarah Storey, Sam Quek who won Olympic Gold as part of the GB Women's hockey team last year and former eventer and National Hunt jockey and current presenter on ITV Racing, Alice Plunkett. Also speaking at the event will be JLT's Director of Marketing, Ellie Mickleburgh, who will discuss the challenges facing women within senior roles in business.

Ellie Mickleburgh said: 'It's interesting that transparency around the gender pay gap and flexible working were the top two issues that people believe will bring improved gender equality in the workplace, as these issues are already being addressed through legislation. It's clear that the government is taking serious action to tackle this issue, but employers also need to look at how they can address this problem and remember that a voluntary approach is better than regulation.

'Listening to employees, introducing initiatives to promote equal opportunities, measuring performance and reporting gender-related issues at Board level is a good way for employers to start addressing the issue. Businesses have already done a lot to address gender equality in the last decade, but there's still a long way to go.'

John Baker, Regional Director for Aintree Racecourse, said: 'We are delighted to be hosting our third Grand Women's Summit at Aintree Racecourse on Ladies Day in partnership with JLT this year, which underlines the Jockey Club Northwest's commitment to supporting women in horseracing and sport in general.

'We're looking forward to making it even better this year and I'm thrilled that JLT has joined us as new sponsors and that we have such a fantastic panel including Dame Sarah Storey, Sam Quek, Alice Plunkett and JLT's very own Marketing Director, Ellie Mickleburgh. On the past two years, the Grand Women's Summit has been a huge success with over 240 delegates enjoying great debates on important topics followed by a unique course walk around the Grand National fences with jockeys synonymous with the illustrious race.'

- ENDS -

ENQUIRIES:

JLT

Corinne Gladstone, PR Manager, JLT Group | T: +44 (0)20 7895 7705 | M: +44 (0)7799 340658 | E: corinne_gladstone@jltgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The survey was carried out online and asked the question:

What do you think can be done to improve gender equality in the workplace?

Transparency of gender pay gap: 27.7% [ 33]

Quota of females in senior roles/Board: 17.6% [ 21]

Better childcare provision/maternity rights: 11.8% [ 14]

Encourage flexible working: 23.5% [ 28]

Equal parental leave: 11.8% [ 14]

Female mentoring programmes: 5.9% [ 7]

Female network: 1.7% [2]

Total # respondents: 119

About Jardine Lloyd Thompson

Jardine Lloyd Thompson is one of the world's leading providers of insurance, reinsurance and employee benefits related advice, brokerage and associated services. JLT's client proposition is built upon its deep specialist knowledge, client advocacy, tailored advice and service excellence.

JLT is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and owns offices in 40 territories with more than 10,600 employees. Supported by the JLT International Network, it offers risk management and employee benefit solutions in 135 countries.