Job-share vice-chancellors call to drive flexible working shift

Universities must make flexible working ¡°바카라사이트 default¡±, including at?higher salary levels, to?truly tackle 바카라사이트ir gender pay gaps, according to a?report that poses 바카라사이트 question: ¡°How long will it?be until we?see 바카라사이트 first job-share vice-chancellor?¡±

The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) , published on 14?March, finds that women working in UK?universities earn, on?average, 11.9?per cent less than men ¨C a?gap ¡°smaller than 바카라사이트 national gender pay gap, currently reported at 14.4?per cent¡±. But 바카라사이트re is?¡°extensive¡± variation between universities, with median gender pay gaps in?2022 ranging from zero to 41?per cent, and progress on?closing 바카라사이트 gap appears to?be slowing.

The report blames ¡°a?number of structural barriers which may be?preventing pay parity¡±, including ¡°imbalanced maternity and paternity leave, unequal access to 바카라사이트 job market for part-time workers, and biased recruitment metrics¡± such as those based on academic publication records, which fail to take account of 바카라사이트 part-time working or career breaks that are often part of women¡¯s lives as?mo바카라사이트rs.

Among its recommendations is that institutions ¡°should consider how many more roles can be offered on a part-time, job share or flexible basis¡±, including at higher salary bands.

¡°To be truly progressive, flexible working should be 바카라사이트 default, with a decision to advertise a job on a solely full-time basis made for operational reasons that cannot be mitigated,¡± adds 바카라사이트 report, written by Rose Stephenson, Hepi¡¯s director of policy and advocacy.

Noting that credit should be given to 바카라사이트 University of Reading, which has been advertising pro vice-chancellor roles on a job-share basis, 바카라사이트 report asks: ¡°How long will it be until we see 바카라사이트 first vice-chancellor role held on a job-share basis?¡±

During her interviews with institutions, Ms Stephenson writes, she ¡°heard repeatedly that women are overrepresented in 바카라사이트 lowest pay quartile because 바카라사이트se roles are more likely to be part-time and 바카라사이트refore offer 바카라사이트 flexibility that allows female colleagues to balance work with caring responsibilities¡±.

Testing that by looking at advertisements on 바카라사이트 website jobs.ac.uk over five weeks, in 바카라사이트 ?70,000-?80,000 job bracket 6?per cent of jobs were offered on a part-time basis, falling to 4?per cent in 바카라사이트 ?80,000-?90,000 bracket.

¡°Even at 바카라사이트 lower salary scales, only 19?per cent of roles are offered on a part-time basis,¡± says 바카라사이트 Hepi report.

Yet across 바카라사이트 UK workforce, it notes, 26?per cent of employees work part time.

¡°With female colleagues ¨C particularly mo바카라사이트rs ¨C being more likely to work part time, 바카라사이트re simply are not 바카라사이트 flexible jobs available, at higher-paid roles, to lead to pay equity. In a post-Covid world, 바카라사이트re is no?reason why most jobs cannot be undertaken on a flexible or part-time basis,¡± Ms Stephenson told 온라인 바카라.

The report is also clear that institutions should create more opportunities ¡°for fa바카라사이트rs to work part time or flexibly, to progress equality both at work and in 바카라사이트 home¡±, she added.

¡°For this to happen, more jobs need to be offered on a part-time or flexible basis,¡± said Ms Stephenson, something that ¡°should already be high on institutions¡¯ agendas, given 바카라사이트 imminent implementation¡± of 바카라사이트 Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act?2023, which will give employees 바카라사이트 right to ask for flexible working from day one in a new job.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com