Overview of Gender Pay Gap Findings

On April 4, 2024, Macmillan Publishers International Limited (MPIL) UK released its latest gender pay gap report, which presents noteworthy findings. Notably, the mean gender pay gap stands at 15% in favor of women, while the median gender pay gap has reached 30% in the same favor. Compared to the previous year, the mean pay gap indicating women’s advantage increased by 2%, whereas the median pay gap saw a 2% decrease.

Hourly Pay Trends

The report highlights significant increases in average hourly pay among both genders, with women experiencing a 6% rise in earnings and men seeing a 4% increase. This positive trend can be attributed to a growing number of women being appointed in the highest pay brackets, combined with a reduction in the number of higher-paid men. Additionally, the lowest-paid quartile has seen an increase in male representation, moving from 56% in 2023 to 59% in 2024.

Bonus Distribution Insights

Regarding bonuses, 35% of male employees and 74% of female employees received a bonus, reflecting a rise of 2% for men and 5% for women compared to 2023. The significant difference in bonus receipt is largely attributed to Pan Macmillan’s implementation of a company-wide bonus, which is not offered to Macmillan Distribution (MDL) employees. Consequently, 95% of Pan Macmillan’s employees, who are predominantly female, received a bonus, contrasting sharply with just 12% of MDL employees. Notably, the mean bonus earnings for men exceeded those of women by 51%.

Changes in Bonus Gaps

The overall mean bonus gap in 2024 decreased to 51% from 56% the previous year. Conversely, the median bonus gap exhibited a significant increase, rising from 0% to 79%. This disparity is attributed to the uneven distribution of bonus recipients among men and women, heavily influenced by the company-wide bonus structure at Pan Macmillan. The lack of gap reported in 2023 was a result of a £750 cost of living payment distributed instead of a bonus.

Leadership Gender Representation

At the leadership level within Macmillan, there is an equal gender representation comprising both men and women at 50%. Significantly, the representation of women on the leadership team at Pan Macmillan has surged to 82%, following recent appointments, including Briony Grogan as the People and Culture Director, and the retirement of Jeremy Trevathan, the former adult publishing managing director.

Commitment to Inclusivity

Briony Grogan commented on the findings, stating, “The 2024 snapshot data demonstrates a slight increase in the mean gender pay gap in favour of women at MPIL. It’s positive to see a good representation of women in the highest-paid quartile and across the leadership teams at MDL and Pan Macmillan; however, we must also acknowledge that the gap – in particular, the median gap – continues to be influenced by the unequal proportions of men and women across these two businesses.”

Grogan further emphasized ongoing efforts at Pan Macmillan to cultivate an inclusive workplace. This includes an extension of parental leave entitlements to a full year for all parents and the introduction of the ‘Returnity’ coaching scheme in partnership with Spring Back, aimed at aiding employees as they transition back into the workforce post-parental leave.