The BBC was exempted from the wage discrimination of its female employees following complaints from several presenters.
The Equal Opportunities and Human Rights Commission set up in March 2019 did not find any illegal acts discriminating against women in terms of their wages. However, it was recommended that “improvements be made to increase transparency and restore women’s trust in the organization”.
In response to the news, BBC Director General Tim Davie said the organization “needs to work even harder” to implement these recommendations.
The ruling does not absolve the BBC of its guilt, however, as the committee also accepted that the BBC’s “historical practices were not expedient” but claimed the organization had “made significant changes since 2015”.
The BBC has been forced to tackle several high profile cases of wage differentials in the recent past. Points Of View presenter Samira Ahmed successfully brought the BBC to a staff court for being paid six times less than Jeremy Vine for similar work. Carrie Gracie stepped down from her role as editor in China after discovering she was paid less than male colleagues. She received a bay pack and an apology. Radio 4 host Sarah Montague also received compensation after paying less than male colleagues.
More than 500 female employees at the BBC have increased after complaints since 2017. The organization’s top earners continue to be mostly men, with only two women in the top 14 earners.
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