More men are underpaid than women in Google, finds the company’s 2018 equity-wage analysis

When someone talks about gender-related wage discrimination in the workplace, we take it for granted that the person is talking about women who are normally believed to be paid less than men. However, when Google conducted an annual study on wage equality, the results were something unexpected. One of the genders was definitely underpaid but it was not what everyone believed it to be!

The tech giant carries out annual equity-wage analysis to stay true to its commitment to pay all its employees fairly irrespective of their gender. In 2018, 91 per cent of Google employees were included in the analysis and the company provided 9.7 million dollars in adjustments to 10,677 employees. Interestingly, as per a New York Times report, the majority of the employees whose pay was adjusted were men.

Based on the 2018 findings, which revealed that more male employees were underpaid than their female counterparts, the company is now reconsidering its human resource policies because the annual package of employees is based on the organisation’s methodology for determining fair salaries.

In the company's blog, one of its officials wrote, "Our pay equity analysis ensures that compensation is fair for employees in the same job, at the same level, location and performance. But we know that's only part of the story. Because leveling, performance ratings, and promotion impact pay, this year, we are undertaking a comprehensive review of these processes to make sure the outcomes are fair and equitable for all employees."

It’s quite encouraging to see how a company, which has faced several claims of pay discrimination against women, is trying it’s best to eliminate the gender pay gap. The company also said that a comprehensive review will be conducted taking into account other factors that can impact wage discrimination.

However, according to a survey conducted by the UK-based events company Wildgoose, more women were concerned about the gender pay gap than men. As per their findings around 75 per cent of women in the UK consider gender pay gap with utmost seriousness as compared to 53 per cent of men.

According to a World Bank study, gender inequality in the workplace could cost the world a whopping 160.2 trillion dollars in lost earnings. Besides wage discrimination, the next issue that affects both the genders equally at the workplace is promotion and hierarchy.

(All images used here are representational)