{"id":1823,"date":"2019-06-08T22:38:05","date_gmt":"2019-06-08T21:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/?p=1823"},"modified":"2020-01-02T10:49:19","modified_gmt":"2020-01-02T10:49:19","slug":"gender-pay-gap-treasury-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/gender-pay-gap-treasury-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Pay Gaps #8 &#8211; My Evidence to the Treasury Select Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On June 5th 2019, I had the privilege of being able to talk to the Treasury Select Committee about the &#8220;<strong><em>Effectiveness of Gender Pay Gap Reporting<\/em><\/strong>&#8220;.\u00a0 My name was put forward by the Royal Statistical Society and we spent an hour discussing a number of issues with a particular focus on the Finance sector.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The session was split into two panels and I was in the first panel where I was joined by Sarah Gordon, the former Business Editor of the Financial Times.\u00a0 The second panel had two representatives of the Government Equality Office (GEO), Hillary Spencer and Elysia McCaffrey.<\/p>\n<p>The MPs asking questions were:-<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>Nicky Morgan<\/strong><\/span>, Conservative MP for Loughborough and Chair of the committee<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">John Mann<\/span><\/strong>, Labour MP for Bassetlaw<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Alison McGovern<\/span><\/strong>, Labour MP for Wirral South<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Catherine McKinnell<\/span><\/strong>, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>Hosie Stewart<\/strong><\/span>, SNP MP for Dundee East who arrived for the second panel and therefore did not ask me any questions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I was wearing two hats in this session.\u00a0 The first as myself as someone with extensive experience of working with, explaining statistical ideas to and providing training for non-statisticians.\u00a0 Given that Gender Pay Gap Reporting is a statistical exercise to be undertaken by mostly HR professionals with no statistical background, I felt I had something to give the committee with this perspective.\u00a0 The second hat was as a contributing author to the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/pay-gaps-11-median-and-quartiles\/\"><strong><em>10 Recommendations for Improving Gender Pay Gap Reporting<\/em><\/strong><\/a>&#8221; document published by the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rss.org.uk\/Default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Royal Statistical Society<\/a><\/strong> in April and I am grateful that the RSS were willing to allow me to speak in their name.<\/p>\n<p>Looking back, I was helped by a good briefing by the committee clerk.\u00a0 As a result, I wasn&#8217;t caught out by any of the questions and I felt I managed to convey some key points I wanted to get across.\u00a0 All in all, it was a very interesting experience and I hope the committee found my comments useful.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parliamentlive.tv\/Event\/Index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here to watch the full session<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 My part with Sarah Gordon lasts just over an hour.\u00a0 \u00a0If you prefer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parliament.uk\/business\/committees\/committees-a-z\/commons-select\/treasury-committee\/inquiries1\/parliament-2017\/gender-pay-gap-reporting-17-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">you can <strong>read the transcript<\/strong> instead<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #008000\"><strong>See my answers to specific questions<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>If you would like to skip to my answers for specific questions, here is the full list of questions asked.\u00a0 Italicised questions not inside quotes are paraphrasings of the actual question otherwise the question is a copy and paste from the transcript.\u00a0 The numbers in square brackets at the front give the timestamps of these clips so that you can find them in the full session link above instead.\u00a0 The italicised numbers in curly brackets at the end is the length of the clip.\u00a0 All are in [HH:MM:SS] format.<\/p>\n<p>If I was the first to answer the question, then clicking the link will give you both the question and the answer.\u00a0 If Sarah answered the question first, then the link shows my answer only so to hear the question itself, click on the question timestamp as well.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>[09:40:04] Nicky Morgan &#8220;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=09:40:04&amp;out=09:42:55\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Is there a gender pay gap and what are we learning from the figures at the moment?<\/a><\/strong>&#8221; {<em>00:02:40<\/em>}<\/li>\n<li>[09:42:55] Nicky Morgan &#8220;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=09:42:55&amp;out=09:45:43\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Should the threshold for reporting be lowered from 250 employees to 50, say?<\/a><\/strong>&#8221; <em>{00:02:48}<\/em><\/li>\n<li>[09:48:30] John Mann &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=09:48:30&amp;out=09:50:05\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Does a company have any discretion in how it makes its calculations for gender pay gap?<\/strong><\/a>&#8221; <em>{00:01:30}<\/em><\/li>\n<li>[09:50:05] John Mann &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=09:50:05&amp;out=09:50:49\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>How are part-time workers calculated?<\/strong><\/a>&#8221; <em>{00:00:44}<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=09:50:49&amp;out=09:51:04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[<strong>09:50:49<\/strong>]<\/a> John Mann &#8220;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=09:56:00&amp;out=10:00:23\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Do either of you have any suggestions for us on how the method of calculating could be improved?<\/a><\/strong>&#8221; <em>{00:04:23}<\/em><\/li>\n<li>[10:04:29] Alison McGovern &#8220;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=10:04:29&amp;out=10:08:49\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Would either of you like to make any initial comment specifically on the world of finance in relation to the gender pay gap?<\/a><\/strong>&#8221; <em>{00:04:10} &amp; <\/em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=10:12:00&amp;out=10:13:52\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">additional response regarding SIC code errors<\/a><\/strong> {00:01:52}<\/li>\n<li>[<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=10:13:52&amp;out=10:14:25\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">10:13:52<\/a><\/strong>] Alison McGovern &#8220;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=10:15:50&amp;out=10:18:10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Do both of you think that the information provided by financial firms is accessible to a layperson?<\/a><\/strong>&#8221; <em>{00:02:20}<\/em><\/li>\n<li>[<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=10:26:08&amp;out=10:27:16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">10:26:08<\/a><\/strong>] Catherine McKinnell &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=10:28:53&amp;out=10:34:28\"><strong><em>Are you concerned about the lack of an enforcement mechanism?<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 <em>{00:05:35} clip includes a follow up question on transparency and use of data<\/em><\/li>\n<li>[<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=10:36:10&amp;out=10:36:50\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">10:36:10<\/a><\/strong>] Nicky Morgan &#8211; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/a8f57a43-cf8b-42ff-a85d-889ab9ebf8fe?in=10:38:02&amp;out=10:41:12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Should the government require ethnicity pay gap reporting?<\/em><\/a><\/strong> <em>{00:03:10}<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #008000\"><strong>&#8211; Need help with interpreting your gender pay gap? &#8211;<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>I offer the following services.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\"><strong>Analysis<\/strong><\/span> &#8211; I can dig deep into your data to identify the key drivers of your pay gaps.\u00a0 I can build a model using a large number of variables such as pay band, seniority, job function, location, etc and use this to identify the priority areas for closing your gaps.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\"><strong>Training<\/strong><\/span> &#8211; I run training courses in basic statistics which are designed for non-statisticians such as people working in HR.\u00a0 The courses will show you how to perform the relevant calculations in Microsoft Excel, how to interpret what they mean for you and how to incorporate these in an action plan to close your gaps.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\"><strong>Expert Witness<\/strong><\/span> &#8211; Has your gender pay gap data uncovered an issue resulting in legal action?\u00a0 Need an expert independent statistician who can testify whether the data supports or contradicts a claim of discrimination?\u00a0 I have experience of acting as an expert witness for either plaintiff or defendant and I know how to testify and explain complex data in simple language that can be easily understood by non-statisticians.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you would like to have a no-obligation discussion about how I can help you, <a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">please do contact me<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4><strong><span style=\"color: #008000\">&#8211; Want to know more about the gender pay gap?\u00a0 &#8211;<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>I have written a number of articles about the gender pay gap covering these topics:-<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/7-ways-to-misuse-gender-pay-gap-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">What gender pay gap data tells us, what it doesn&#8217;t tell us and how it can be misused<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/1-in-10-orgs-published-incorrect-gender-pay-gap-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Three distinct errors that have been made by at least 10% of all organisations when submitting their gender pay gap data<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/gender-pay-gap-and-life-on-mars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to distinguish between a true pay gap and a pay gap that arises naturally due to the laws of chance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/gender-pay-gap-data-and-12-ways-to-improve-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">My 12 steps to improve public confidence in gender pay gap data<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/gender-pay-gap-calculator-free\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Calculate your gender pay gap by downloading my free spreadsheet calculator!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/gender-pay-gap-trends-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Did the gender pay gap narrow in 2018?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/gpg-yoy-trends-unilever-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to identify unusual year on year changes in gender pay gaps<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/gender-pay-gap-faqs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Frequently Asked Questions about gender pay gaps.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Finally visit <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarriottNigel?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">my Twitter thread<\/a> to see my comments on gender pay gaps in the media.\u00a0 Some notable ones are here.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarriottNigel\/status\/1114078541518389248\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">My complaint about comments made by the head of the TUC on the 2018 pay gap.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarriottNigel\/status\/1112766440573149185\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Some observations on the government&#8217;s guidance to producing gender pay gap statistics and the numerous deficiencies in these<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarriottNigel\/status\/1101438766823161856\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">My comments on why incorrect gender pay gap data is being submitted<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On June 5th 2019, I had the privilege of being able to talk to the Treasury Select Committee about the &#8220;Effectiveness of Gender Pay Gap Reporting&#8220;.\u00a0 My name was put forward by the Royal Statistical Society and we spent an hour discussing a number of issues with a particular focus on the Finance sector.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1826,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[64,9],"tags":[36,63,91,93],"class_list":{"0":"post-1823","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diversity","8":"category-featured-blog","9":"tag-evidence","10":"tag-gender-pay-gap","11":"tag-parliament","12":"tag-statistical-training","13":"entry","14":"override"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1823"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1897,"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1823\/revisions\/1897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marriott-stats.com\/nigels-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}