Continuing gender pay gap in favour of males at Department of Health 

The Department of Health Gender Pay Gap Report for 2023 states its gender pay gap is 3.02 per cent in favour of male employees.

This means that the average hourly rate for male employees is 3.02 per cent higher than females over the 12-month reporting period.

“Overtime, when required, is offered to eligible grades equally,” according to the report.

“In the reporting period, overtime was availed of by more men, thereby increasing the male pay profile.”

Representation on the management board was 62.5 per cent in favour of males for this reporting period.

This also contributed to the pay gap and males were on higher points of their respective pay scales due to longer service at these grades.

The report points out that the Department has equal pay for men and women in the same roles.

The mean gender pay gap in favour of males is lower than the percentage recorded in the 2022 report, which was 6.75 per cent.

According to the 2023 report, the median, which is the middle point of the pay scale, is -0.76 per cent in favour of females. This means that at the mid-point of the pay scale, women are paid 0.76 per cent higher than men. In 2022, the median pay gap was 3.45 per cent in favour of men.

The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced reporting requirements for organisations with over 250 employees.

For the report, a headcount of all employees in the Department was carried out on 25 June 2023. 

The gender pay information was calculated based on those employees’ remuneration between 26 June 2022 and 25 June 2023. 

The report outlines a number of measures being undertaken by the Department to address the pay gap.

For example, it points out that the Department established an equality, diversity, and inclusion working group in 2021 with the aim of promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.