Imagine two customers entering the same store and purchasing the same items. At checkout, one of them is charged a 20% premium. All external factors being equal, could there be any reasonable justification?

Now imagine that this price difference is based on race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Would any of these reasons seem acceptable?

Retailers recognise that there are no justifiable reasons for differentiating prices based on personal characteristics.

Just as we wouldn’t tolerate unjust pricing structures in retail stores, we should be equally outraged when people doing the same job in the same workplace are paid differently simply because of their gender. This is not just unfair – it’s indefensible.

For such discrimination to be brought to an end, we all have to be willing to step up and act.

If you work in, or do business with, an organisation that is not equal salary certified, or that cannot demonstrate that it operates an equal salary policy, ask for it to happen.  Use your voice.  Demand change. If your voice isn’t heard, search for opportunities with organisations that are committed to paying equal salaries. 

We wouldn’t tolerate retailers operating pricing structures that are discriminatory. We similarly shouldn’t tolerate remuneration structures that reinforce gender inequality.

MCB recently became the first bank in Africa to become equal salary certified.  We’re proud of every member of our team.  We have some of the best financial services talents on the continent.  We have enormous ambitions and know that winning in the marketplace requires us to win in the workplace.

Delivering on our ambitions will require our people to give their best, and in order to do that they need to know their organisation values fairness. At MCB we’ve created a workplace where equal pay is the norm, not the exception.