Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Latest NewsEqual payPublic sectorGender pay gapPay & benefits

BBC equal pay findings come under fire

by Adam McCulloch 12 Nov 2020
by Adam McCulloch 12 Nov 2020 Carrie Gracie (centre), flanked by journalists Martine Croxall (left) and Razia Iqbal outside New Broadcasting House
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA Images
Carrie Gracie (centre), flanked by journalists Martine Croxall (left) and Razia Iqbal outside New Broadcasting House
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA Images

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has defended itself as former and current BBC workers rejected its judgment that the corporation had not acted unlawfully over women’s pay at the corporation.

Despite a series of high-profile cases in which female journalists had been paid less than male colleagues in seemingly similar roles, the EHRC criticised procedures, record-keeping and communication but said nothing illegal had occurred. It said the BBC had accepted that “its historical practices were not fit for purpose and has made significant changes since 2015”.

Former BBC China editor Carrie Gracie and the BBC Women group were among those highly critical of the EHRC findings, saying they did not address the systemic issue of unequal pay, but the EHRC defended its verdict.

EHRC board member Suzanne Baxter, who led the investigation, said: “Our work here has been carried out under the Equality Act, and has a different remit to an employment tribunal.

“I do understand why there might be some surprise. Our investigation is broader, we’re gathering every piece of evidence we can, which isn’t always available to a tribunal.

Gender pay gap 2020

BBC cleared of breaking the law over women’s pay

ONS gender pay gap data: ASHE 2020

Gender pay gap reporting and the impact of coronavirus 

“We think we’ve done robust investigations. The important thing here is the recommendations we make.” She added she was sure that the findings would make a positive difference for women at the corporation over time.

However, the BBC Women group of equal pay campaigners issued a statement which said it was deeply disappointed at the EHRC findings, which “do not reflect our experiences”.

It said the EHRC’s conclusion there was no breach of the law over pay complaints did not “address the systemic issue of unequal pay suggested by the hundreds of pay increases and settlements the BBC has made to women. Out of over 1,000 complaints, the EHRC looked in depth at only 10 cases and accepted the BBC’s excuses for why these were not ‘likely’ to be equal pay cases. We question why the EHRC discounted equal pay cases it knows the BBC has been forced to settle. New cases are coming forward and women are still heading to court. We fight on.”

Carrie Gracie, who resigned from her post as BBC China editor in 2018 as a result of pay discrimination (which the BBC later recognised), wrote on Twitter: “Seriously? FOLLOW THE ££ INSTEAD: #BBC forced to pay out to 100s of #bbcwomen. Moral of story: don’t rely on regulator but stay strong, calm, united + JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL.”

Chief executive of the EHRC Rebecca Hilsenrath added that “we’re looking at overarching systems, whereas employment tribunals look at a specific case”.

Out of over 1,000 complaints, the EHRC looked in depth at only 10 cases and accepted the BBC’s excuses for why these were not ‘likely’ to be equal pay cases” – BBC Women

She said they did find “real concerns about the overall processes which led to concerns about trust and transparency”, and acknowledged that “this is about real lives [of the women] at the centre of this investigation”.

She added: “We talked to them, they had gone though humiliation, anxiety, insomnia, were signed off work. One woman waited 370 days, another woman was passed between eight people in 10 months. These are real people having a terrible time.”

Gracie received back pay and an apology from the corporation in June 2018.

In January 2020, Radio 4’s Sarah Montague received a £400,000 settlement after being paid less than former Radio 4 co-presenters such as John Humphrys and Nick Robinson.

Also in January, Newswatch host Samira Ahmed successfully argued at an employment tribunal that Jeremy Vine was paid more than six times her salary for doing similar work on Points of View.

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more human resources jobs

 

 

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

 

Adam McCulloch

Adam McCulloch first worked for Personnel Today magazine in the early 1990s as a sub editor. He rejoined Personnel Today as a writer in 2017, covering all aspects of HR but with a special interest in diversity, social mobility and industrial relations. He has ventured beyond the HR realm to work as a freelance writer and production editor in sectors including travel (The Guardian), aviation (Flight International), agriculture (Farmers' Weekly), music (Jazzwise), theatre (The Stage) and social work (Community Care). He is also the author of KentWalksNearLondon. Adam first became interested in industrial relations after witnessing an exchange between Arthur Scargill and National Coal Board chairman Ian McGregor in 1984, while working as a temp in facilities at the NCB, carrying extra chairs into a conference room!

previous post
Speedy sponsor-licence process costs businesses extra £500
next post
Personnel Today Awards 2020: HR Impact Award shortlist

You may also like

Eight new equality laws in the pipeline

10 Apr 2025

Barnet Council to face equal pay claim worth...

26 Mar 2025

Have group litigation claims advanced pay equality?

26 Mar 2025

Equality at work: ‘Men are out of touch’

28 Feb 2025

Asda workers advance to final stage in equal...

3 Feb 2025

Morrisons workers move forward in equal pay claim

17 Jan 2025

Birmingham City Council to settle 6,000 equal pay...

10 Dec 2024

Four BBC presenters launch equal pay appeal

29 Nov 2024

Disney agrees $43.3m gender pay settlement

27 Nov 2024

Employment Rights Bill: government outlines next steps for...

10 Oct 2024

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+