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BBC gender pay row out in the open after Carrie Gracie's resignation BBC gender pay row out in the open after Carrie Gracie's resignation
(about 4 hours later)
The gender pay row at the BBC has exploded back into the open with to the resignation of Carrie Gracie and it looks more serious than ever. The gender pay row at the BBC has exploded back into the open with the resignation of Carrie Gracie and it looks more serious than ever.
Gracie stepped down from her position of China editor while accusing the corporation of a “secretive and illegal” pay culture.Gracie stepped down from her position of China editor while accusing the corporation of a “secretive and illegal” pay culture.
In an open letter to BBC licence fee payers, she makes a series of powerful claims against the corporation, including that it is not “not living up to its stated values of trust, honesty and accountability”.In an open letter to BBC licence fee payers, she makes a series of powerful claims against the corporation, including that it is not “not living up to its stated values of trust, honesty and accountability”.
Her letter and subsequent comments in interviews on Monday include some particularly serious revelations – up to 200 BBC women have complained about pay to management and Gracie resigned despite being offered a pay rise from £135,000 to £180,000 a year – which she declined – and having a grievance hearing in November – of which she is still awaiting the result. Her letter and subsequent comments in interviews on Monday include some particularly serious revelations: up to 200 women at the BBC have complained to management about pay; Gracie resigned despite being offered a pay rise from £135,000 to £180,000 a year (which she declined) and having a grievance hearing in November, of which she is still awaiting the result.
Her resignation demonstrates starkly that staff at the BBC are not only unhappy with the difference between what men and women are paid but how the organisation has handled the gender pay row since it began last summer. There is real frustration that the BBC is not dealing with the core problem – people being paid differently for doing the same job. Her resignation demonstrates starkly that staff at the BBC are not only unhappy with the pay gap between what men and women but also how the organisation has handled the dispute since it began last summer. There is frustration that the BBC is not dealing with the core problem: people being paid differently for doing the same job.
Gracie accused the BBC of a “divide-and-rule botch solution” by offering pay rises that do not guarantee equality and “locking down women in protracted complaints process”. Gracie accused the BBC of a “divide-and-rule botch solution” after it offered pay rises that did not guarantee equality and “locking down women in protracted complaints process”.
The news that women in the BBC are going through formal internal grievance procedures is significant because it is widely regarded as an essential precursor to employees launching legal proceedings.The news that women in the BBC are going through formal internal grievance procedures is significant because it is widely regarded as an essential precursor to employees launching legal proceedings.
The Guardian reported in October that City law firm Mishcon de Rey was working with women at the BBC, with other law firms also thought to be advising staff. The Guardian reported in October that the City law firm Mishcon de Reya was working with women at the BBC, with other law firms also thought to be advising staff.
Gracie is clear in her letter about the prospect of the BBC facing legal action, warning that it faces a “disastrous legal defeat” due to its “bunker mentality” and urging it to set up an independent arbitration to settle individual cases rather than face an “unwinnable court fight”. Gracie is clear in her letter about the prospect of the BBC facing legal action, warning it of a “disastrous legal defeat” caused by its “bunker mentality” and urging it to set up an independent arbitration to settle individual cases rather than face an “unwinnable court fight”.
The pay row began last summer when the BBC published a list of its top-earning stars, which revealed that only a third were women and the top seven were all men. This led to more than 40 of the BBC’s highest-profile female presenters, including Clare Balding, Fiona Bruce and Emily Maitlis, to publicly call for change through a letter to the BBC director general, Tony Hall.The pay row began last summer when the BBC published a list of its top-earning stars, which revealed that only a third were women and the top seven were all men. This led to more than 40 of the BBC’s highest-profile female presenters, including Clare Balding, Fiona Bruce and Emily Maitlis, to publicly call for change through a letter to the BBC director general, Tony Hall.
Since then there has been increasing discontent at how the BBC has dealt with the backlash. The corporation published a series of pay reviews and audits in October that concluded that men were being paid 9.3% more than women at the BBC on average – far less than the UK average of 18.1% – and that there is “no systemic discrimination against women” at the corporation.Since then there has been increasing discontent at how the BBC has dealt with the backlash. The corporation published a series of pay reviews and audits in October that concluded that men were being paid 9.3% more than women at the BBC on average – far less than the UK average of 18.1% – and that there is “no systemic discrimination against women” at the corporation.
However, this review did not include the vast majority of on-air presenters, editors and senior managers. The review also found there was a lack of women in senior roles and that in almost one in 10 occasions where there was substantial difference in pay between men and women doing similar jobs, there was no clear reason for the disparity other than gender.However, this review did not include the vast majority of on-air presenters, editors and senior managers. The review also found there was a lack of women in senior roles and that in almost one in 10 occasions where there was substantial difference in pay between men and women doing similar jobs, there was no clear reason for the disparity other than gender.
Gracie’s letter also reveals discontent at how individual cases are being dealt with. She is frustrated that she was offered a token pay rise rather than any guarantee of gender equality. Her proposed new salary of £180,000 is still far less than the £200,000 to £249,999 paid to Jon Sopel, the BBC’s North America editor.Gracie’s letter also reveals discontent at how individual cases are being dealt with. She is frustrated that she was offered a token pay rise rather than any guarantee of gender equality. Her proposed new salary of £180,000 is still far less than the £200,000 to £249,999 paid to Jon Sopel, the BBC’s North America editor.
Gracie’s suggestion that the BBC sets up an independent arbitration to settle individual cases is fascinating but also sensible. This arbitration, for example, could conclude whether the China and North America editors should be paid the same and make similar calls elsewhere.Gracie’s suggestion that the BBC sets up an independent arbitration to settle individual cases is fascinating but also sensible. This arbitration, for example, could conclude whether the China and North America editors should be paid the same and make similar calls elsewhere.
In response to Gracie’s letter, the BBC has said it is “performing considerably better” than other organisations and pointed to the conclusion of its independent audit.In response to Gracie’s letter, the BBC has said it is “performing considerably better” than other organisations and pointed to the conclusion of its independent audit.
But it is clear that the corporation has not done enough to quell the anger of women, and men, across the corporation. A separate report about the pay for on-air staff is due to published in the coming weeks, but the BBC risks more high-profile resignations or legal action if it fails to tackle what insiders see as the fundamental problem – the gross disparities between what people are paid for doing the same job. However, at present it is clear that the corporation has not done enough to quell the anger of women across the corporation.
This is not an easy problem to solve – it could mean substantial pay rises for some staff and pay cuts for others. However, the consequences of not responding to the concerns of Gracie and other women at the BBC look increasingly serious in light of her letter. A significant moment should come within the next couple weeks when a report by accountancy firm PwC about on-air staff is published. BBC insiders say this will analyse whether there are discrepancies in pay and that the corporation will “stand by the judgements be they helpful or unhelpful”. If the report is as significant as advertised then it will lay roadmap for how the BBC will tackle what Gracie and other employees see as the fundamental problem – the gross disparities between what people are paid for doing the same job.
The BBC risks further high-profile resignations or legal action if it fails to tackle the issue. It is not an easy problem to solve – it could mean substantial pay rises for some staff, pay cuts for others and controversial calls on which jobs are the same and which are different. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that Fran Unsworth, the new director of news at the BBC, has to cut £80m from the BBC News budget.
However, the consequences of not responding to the concerns of Gracie and other women at the BBC look increasingly serious in light of her letter.