Eliminating the Gender Pay Gap: Gap Inc. Leads the Way

by Kellie A. McElhaney and Genevieve Smith


This case examines Gap Inc. as a trailblazer in gender pay equality with a focus on investing in gender equity in leadership. Since Gap Inc. made history in 2014 by becoming the first Fortune 500 company to announce that it pays female and male employees equally for equal work, attention towards equal pay by individual employees, companies and governments has continued to grow. This case provides a historic perspective of pay in the U.S., defines methods for accurately measuring it, identifies the barriers to equal pay, and describes practices and policies companies can implement to achieve equal pay and attain higher representation of female leadership. This case highlights how Gap has achieved equal pay and continues to ensure it, including through annual pay analysis, the prevalence of sponsorship, family-friendly policies and more.

Learning Objectives


1. Illustrate how one global company, Gap Inc., has and continues to close the gender pay gap. 2. Provide definitions of 'equal pay' and illustrate how to measure equal pay. 3. Explain the benefits to companies of providing equal pay to employees. 4. Investigate why and how investing in diversity and inclusion is good for business 5. Spark discussion and interest in closing the persistent pay gap.

Details

Pub Date: Jun 30, 2017

Discipline: Human Resource Management

Subjects: Corporate social entrepreneurship, Global collaboration, Management philosophy, Leadership, Teams, Employees, Organizational structure, Business ethics, Hiring & employment, Compensation, Executive compensation, Diversity, Women in business, Job satisfaction, Organizational culture, Values, Families & family life

Product #: B5892-PDF-ENG

Industry: Apparel, Retail trade

Geography: United States, California

Length: 17 page(s)


Berkeley Haas Case Series
Berkeley Haas Case Series The Berkeley Haas Case Series is a collection of business case studies written by faculty members at the Haas School of Business. Cases are conceived, developed, written, and published throughout the year, on subjects ranging from entrepreneurship and strategy to finance and marketing. Each case includes a teaching note for use in the classroom.

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