LAUREN DAVIDSON PERSONAL ACCOUNT

Women in work are treated better than ever but firms and politicians can do more

Just as I turn 30, women now earn more in their 40s than they do in the preceding decade for the first time since records began. Typical. But of course, this is good news. The Office for National Statistics says it is because women aged 40 to 49 are now more likely to work as managers, directors and senior officials and less likely to work in administration, sales and customer service than in previous years.

This reflects the fact that women are having children later in life, building up more experience and seniority before they take time off. But it also suggests they are being offered better support both during their maternity leave and when they return to the workplace, making them less likely to have to settle for a job below their skill set after having children.

There has been tremendous progress on this front. Government legislation now forces all companies with 250 or more employees to disclose their gender pay gap, which skews in favour of men at 78pc of firms. Shared parental leave has allowed fathers as well as mothers to take time off with statutory pay – particularly helpful for the increasing number of families where the woman is the breadwinner.

A growing number of enlightened companies are going further, offering dads as well as mums months off at full pay to look after their newborns. Investment firm Standard Life Aberdeen this week became the latest to offer this valuable perk, following in the footsteps of fellow FTSE 100 stalwarts Aviva and Diageo, as well as this very newspaper.

But more – so much more – can and must be done. Women still earn 41pc less than men over their lifetimes. The gender pay gap, which measures the discrepancy between what the average male and female workers earn, worsened this year for the first time in six years.

From the Government we need better parental leave

Women can have it all – as long as others don’t stand in their way

policy and childcare support for children under three. From companies we need flexible working options and paid time off for fathers. Women can have it all – as long as others don’t stand in their way.

Last year marked a century since women were given the vote; 2020 will be 50 years since the Equal Pay Act. Let’s not wait another 50 for workplace parity.

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