1. Equal Pay Day 2012 in Europe

2. Equal Pay Day
Initiated by BPW
in 2008

3. Why does equal pay matter?
Closing the gender pay gap has benefits for employers and workers
Creates quality jobs
Attracts the best and most talented workers
Creates a positive working environment
Increases productivity and competitiveness
Closing the gender pay gap makes the economy as a whole more profitable
Women play a vital role in Europe’s employment and growth
Their skills and talents are necessary for economic and social development
Closing the gender pay gap can help to create a more equal society
Valuing women’s skills can improve their economic independence
Fewer women will be in poverty, particularly upon retirement

4. The History of Equal Pay Day
Initiated by BPW/USA in 1988 as the “Red Purse Campaign“
Brought to Europe by BPW Germany with the first Equal Pay Day
Equal Pay Day expanded throughout Europe in 2009/2010
International Awareness campaign by BPW International launched in New York at CSW
EU organizes Equal Pay Day on 15 April (fixed date)
2011- EU follows the calculation formular and organizes the first European Equal Pay Day on 5th March 2011 (average pay gap over Europe 17.5 %)

5. What is Equal Pay Day?
Equal Pay Day symbolizes the day until which women have to work longer to earn the same salary as men earned the year before.
Equal Pay Day is a calculated day depending on the pay gap of each country.
The goal is that Equal Pay day will be earlier each year according to the development of the pay gap in the country.
At Equal Pay day there are activities and events in each country to raise awareness for this still existing pay gap.

6. How to calculate the date (figures of Switzerland as example)
Pay gap (e.g. 19,3 %)
AverageWorking days per year* (225)
Additional Working days (49) = 11th March
11th March Switzerland
19,3 %
25th March Germany
23 %
13th April Austria
27 %
Dates of the first EPD countries in 2011
* Depending on number of holidays in the country

7. The Goals of Equal Pay Day
Raising awareness and mobilization
To force governments and companies to change their gender policy
Making the “unknown and illegal“ pay gap a topic in the media and in the companies
Through media coverage the pay gap becomes a subject of public discussion
The goal is: Equal Pay Day will be earlier each year as the pay gap decreases or even disappears.

8. The symbol of Equal Pay Day: A Red bag
On Equal Pay Day women and supporting men wear a red bag
Red stands for red numbers.
The red bag stands for red numbers in women‘s pockets.
France
Spain
Germany
Italy

9. The Logo Red numbers on our paychecks Less income below the line
Red numbers in women´s pockets
Designed by Natalie Schommler from Germany, available free of charge for non-commercial use

10. Events & Activities by BPW in Europe
Info stands and events in pedestrian zones or shopping centers
During lunch break women, equipped with a red bag, meet in a restaurant or go to the cantine
During the “unhappy hour” cafes, bars, restaurants and retailers offer a rebate of xx % for women equivalent to the pay gap in the country
Italy
Italy
Spain
Austria

11. Events & Activities by BPW in Europe
Shops decorate their windows with red bags
Workshops for salary negotiations
Equal Pay Day on TV in the news
Serving dishes on the street
Switzerland
Estonia
France

12. Events & Activities in Europe (2)
Letter to 1500 CEOs to inform them about equal pay tools for their companies like equalsalary
Panel discussions with high level speakers
Award for best Equal Pay Posters at schools
Promote and watch the film «We want Sex (Equality)» together at a local cinema
Poland
Switzerland

13. Equal Pay Day in the press
High media coverage in the local and national press in the countries.

14. Equal Pay Day Webpages
A Web page is an important tool to provide detailed information for the general public, the media and our members
For women and men about the topic “Equal pay for equal Work!”
About the background Equal Pay Day
About cause and effect of the pay gap
Overview of regional events
Contact persons
Q&A about salary negotiations
Articles and books about equal pay
Press articles and press reviews
Links to ministries, salary calculators, etc.
Germany

15. Webpage examples
Estonia
France
Austria

16. Tools for companies
There are tools in some countries to analyse the salaries of women and men within companies (with more than 50 employees)
For Example
Equal Salary (in Switzerland to be paid)
Companies receive certification and label
Logib (in Switzerland and Germany for free)
Encourage companies to use these tools to reduce the pay gap internally and to become an attractive employer for women!

17. What is the EU doing?

18. Delivering statistics: Gender Pay Gap in the countries
This is important for countries where no official statistics exist.

19. What action has the EU taken?
Under EU law it is illegal to discriminate against women at work and in their pay:
Equal pay for equal work is one of the European Union’s founding principles
Article 141 of the Treaty calls for equal pay for work of an equal value
The Directive 75/117 provides that the principle of equal pay means, for the same work or for work of equal value, the elimination of all discrimination on grounds of sex with regard to all aspects and conditions of remuneration. In particular, where a job classification system is used for determining pay, it must be based on the same criteria for both men and women and so drawn up as to exclude any discrimination on grounds of sex
The 2002 Directive on equal treatment as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions also applies to pay and requires Member States to establish Equality Bodies to promote equal treatment
These Directives have been incorporated into a single Directive 2006/54 (The Recast Directive) on equal opportunities and equal treatment in employment and occupation

20. EU gender pay gap campaign and material
Information and material from the EU can be downloaded on this webpage:

21. The gender pay gap across the lifecycle
Stereotypes shape women's and men's roles in society, starting at a very early age
Whilst this may reflect personal preferences, traditions and stereotypes may influence, for example, the choice of educational paths and employment patterns
These Posters can be downloaded from EU webpage.

22. The gender pay gap across the lifecycle
Women and men still tend to work in different jobs. Women often work in sectors where wages are, an average, lower than those dominated by men
The gender pay gap exists even though women represent as many as 59% of all university graduates
Women's skills and competences are under-valued especially in those occupations where women predominate

23. The gender pay gap across the lifecycle
Women’s opportunities for progression and higher pay in the workplace are affected by their family responsibilities
The gender pay gap widens when women have children, and particularly when they work part-time
The employment rate for women with dependent children is only 62.4% compared with 91.4% for men with children. More than three-quarters of part-time workers are women (76.5%)

24. The gender pay gap across the lifecycle
The gender pay gap reduces lifetime earnings and women's pensions
When women retire their lower pensions mean higher risk of poverty

25. First results and good practices

26. Equal Pay Day in Europe initiated by BPW (2008 – 2011)
in 17 countries up to now. Number of activities increased every year.

27. Equal Pay Day activities show results!
Those countries who started early, now see the progress (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
Pay gap has been reduced in these countries after years and Equal Pay Day is earlier now.
Equal Pay is regularly in the media in the EPD countries and awareness has increased.

28. Equal Pay Day shows positive developments after 3 years
These 3 countries started very early with the calculated date of Equal Pay Day.

29. Good practices for Equal Pay Day
The creativity for campaigns and activities in our federations is amazing.
The more creative they are, the more interesting to the media.
Campaigns with humor are very attractive for the media (France, Estonia).
Financial support is sometimes granted by a ministry or the EU.
Cooperation with other women organisations, trade-unions and trade associations (Germany)
Promote Equal Pay together with the WEPs (principle no. 2)

30. Organize Equal Pay Day Events 2012 in your country!
For a “Equal Pay Day” all over Europe!!!
Promote to wear a red bag at your Equal Pay Day
Inform us about your planned activities and announce them on your website.
Send us pictures and text for the European website
Together we can make the change!

31. Contacts and further information concerning Equal Pay Day and BPW
Please replace this with your national contact details.
Sabine Schmelzer
Regional Coordinator Europe