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Why do some businesses succeed in closing the gender pay gap, while others fall behind or choose not to act?

The problem:

Progress on closing the gender pay gap has stalled, with many businesses not prioritising gender equality. The Victorian Government is exploring practical, research-based ways to help companies, especially small businesses, take action.

Our research:

• Our research, commissioned by the Victorian Government, examined the barriers that prevent businesses—especially small enterprises—from acting to close the gender pay gap.
• We combined behavioural economics insights with analysis of gender pay gap patterns across industries, organisation sizes, and regions, and spoke directly with employers and business owners, including at the Victorian Small Business Expo.
• We also investigated attitudes toward gender equality across industries, showing that businesses sit along a wide spectrum, with many still unaware of the gender pay gap.

Our impact:

• Our research highlighted the importance of understanding businesses’ reasons for inaction on gender equality. We made practical recommendations to the Victorian Government on how to incentivise, enlighten, and equip business owners to drive change.
• The Victorian Government drew on our findings in its policy work, including its submission to the Fair Work Commission’s review of gender undervaluation in awards.

We made practical recommendations to the Victorian Government on ways to incentivise, enlighten and equip business owners to improve gender equality.