Furore Over the BBC Gender Pay Gap

A BBC Editor has resigned over unequal pay with male colleagues, stating that the public reaction to her resignation shows there is a “depth of hunger” for “equal, fair and transparent pay”. Carrie Gracie, the BBC’s China Editor, stepped down quoting pay inequality with male colleagues.

Many have expressed their support using the hashtag #IStandWithCarrie. In an open letter on Sunday, Gracie accused the corporation of having a “secretive and illegal pay culture.” Gracie said she will return to her former post in the TV newsroom, where she expects to be paid equally.

Last year, the BBC came under scrutiny after it revealed that only two of its top ten earners were women. It also revealed that the BBC’s two male international Editors earned at “least 50% more” than their female counterparts. When Gracie brought this up, she said she was offered a pay rise but that it still fell short of being equal with her male colleagues. The Equality Act 2010 states that men and women doing equal work must receive equal pay.

Many firms are now preparing to release their remuneration information, under gender pay gap guidelines. It is expected that there will be many more cases of senior women earning less than their male comparators.