In an encouraging move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced that Indian women and men cricketers will receive the same match fee. The move is a big step towards setting an Indian example in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness (DE&I) in the world of sports and beyond. The change is for good. Even the Indian Air Force has made the induction of women fighter pilots a permanent measure.
While this is not the first instance of equal pay in sports, it is still a significant development. The change has been gaining momentum this year with NEW ZEALAND CRICKET, the Table Tennis Federation Of India (TTFI), and the U.S. Soccer Federation making similar announcements that promote equal pay.
Evaluating performance correctly
The subject of equal pay often prompts the wrong kind of conversations around feminism. While the comparison is inevitable in any competitive environment, the discourse usually takes an unfortunate turn — debating which gender is better and who does more. Instead of complicating the issue by engaging in needless comparisons, the volume of work delivered must be the only metric by which men and women professionals are evaluated.
Additionally, with the larger society having a greater distance to travel with regard to gender equality, it will benefit the corporate world to adopt a more conscious view of the challenges women face to complete the same volume of work as men. It is worth noting that while women have joined the workforce, they may not necessarily be free of their domestic duties. For instance, many working women are still expected to be responsible for caregiving in addition to their full-time jobs.
A win-win for everyone
What naysayers of equal pay do not recognize is that gender roles are blending — slowly but steadily. Men are no longer primary breadwinners and women sole caregivers. Holding on to polarized viewpoints in an evolving cultural backdrop often negatively impacts the progressive conversation and action toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness (DE&I) According to research, worldwide, women make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men which leads to a lifetime of income inequality.
Those against equal pay need to realize that in a world of blending roles, DE&I strategies benefit them too — there are no losers. This is because while an approach of equality is about providing equal opportunities to everybody, an approach of equity understands that reality is more complex than simply applying a blanket solution for all. DE&I policies are effective when they account for both the privileges and disadvantages of an individual.
Healthy competition and better productivity
An equitable work culture goes beyond the gender of a candidate. It successfully encourages healthier participation of employees, more contentment, and a sense of equal responsibility towards work. A good equal pay policy, therefore, eliminates insecurities and boosts healthy competition amongst employees. It is one of the reasons why organizations around the world take the effort to maintain pay grades.
The corporate world can learn from BCCI’s decision and relook at its policies to take the route of equal pay. Indeed, devising a good equal pay policy is more complex in a company with a diverse work profile. But the step will certainly attract more quality talent and help organizations build a diverse workforce. Corporate Boards and leadership teams are focusing on recruiting more women across organizations.
BCCI’s decision is a strong move in the right direction. It’s a change at the top in an important and noticeable sphere that sets the right example. The way forward would be to determine the diverse roles down the hierarchy, for instance, the support staff, etc. and ensure they too benefit from a similar policy that guarantees equal remuneration for equal work.
The BCCI’s move is more than a conversation starter. It is a display of intent and a step toward the future.
*Header image credit: @Amul GCMMF https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gcmmf_amul-activity-6991975726497345536-x2im?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
