Sky reveals gender pay gap of 11.5% and bonus gap of 40%

The broadcaster said the gap exists because most of its higher paying roles are held by men

Sky has set out targets to increase the number of women in higher paying roles (AFP/Getty)

Sky has announced its female employees are paid, on average, 11.5 per cent less than its male employees, with a bonus gap of 40 per cent.

The broadcaster said this was because there are more men than women in the group’s most senior positions, and also more men in higher paying “role types” such as tech or digital.

In both the upper and upper middle pay quartiles at Sky, 73 per cent of roles are held by men.

Sky revealed 39 per cent of its leadership roles, 21 per cent of tech roles and 2 per cent of its home service roles are held by women. The firm is targeting 50 per cent representation in leadership, 30 per cent in tech and 20 per cent in home service by 2020.

“Fairness and equality are values that sit at the very heart of our business and we ensure we pay our men and women equally for doing the same role with the same level of experience,” said Stephen van Rooyen, Sky UK chief executive.

“However, as with many big organisations, we have more men than women in senior, digital and technology roles and this is what is driving our current gender pay gap. We know that when we achieve gender balance across these areas our gender pay gap will be eliminated.”

Mr van Rooyen added: “We’ve already initiated a number of programmes aimed at improving gender representation across our many different teams and whilst we’re seeing improvements, we know there is more we can do.

“We have ambitious targets in place - such as aiming for 50:50 gender balance amongst our most senior roles by 2020 - which demonstrates the importance we’re placing on improving gender balance across all levels of our organisation.”