The gender pay gap reflects how society values women and men differently, both in the workforce and wider society. It shows that gender biases, barriers, and inequities continue to exist. 

This research explores new frontiers in gender equity research by focusing on motivational factors and behavioural insights to understand why businesses, particularly small businesses, may act (or not) to close the gender pay gap and to tailor policy tools. The report offers a firm-level analysis of the gender pay gap and investigates how cultural norms influence decision-making at the firm level and how these factors affect progress toward pay equity and gender equality.

The authors developed six business profiles that combine intrinsic motivation, awareness, and action – elements which have often been overlooked in models of organisational behaviour but are important to reach the full spectrum of businesses across the economy. The profiles are: Unaware, Resistent, Incidental, Emerging, Impeded, and Embedded.

The authors recommend a range of policy tools to ‘meet businesses where they are at’.