Comprehensive Analysis of Gender Pay Gap in Apple UK: Business Report

This dissertation proposal and subsequent report focuses on analyzing the gender pay gap within Apple UK. The introduction highlights the issue of pay disparity between male and female employees, emphasizing its significance in the corporate sector. The research aims to identify the reasons behind the gap, which includes examining the impact of gender pay on employee performance. The objectives include studying the gender pay gap in business context, identifying causes within Apple UK, and assessing its influence on the company's performance. The literature review covers the concept of gender pay gap, reasons behind it in Apple UK, and its impact. The research methodology will involve a specific research design, approach, and type. The report also addresses data access, research ethics, and limitations. The core issue is that women are paid less than men by a significant percentage, leading to dissatisfaction among employees. The study aims to determine the causes and suggest possible solutions to address the issue, emphasizing the importance of fair pay and its impact on employee morale and company performance.

DISSERTATION
PROPOSAL

Table of Contents
TOPIC:- ...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
1.1 Identify a specific researchable topic area............................................................................3
1.2 Importance of problem..........................................................................................................4
1.3 Aim of project.......................................................................................................................4
2.0 Research Objectives and Questions...........................................................................................4
2.1 Research objectives...............................................................................................................4
2.2 Research questions................................................................................................................5
3.0 Literature Review.......................................................................................................................5
The concept of gender pay gap in context of business................................................................5
The reason behind gender pay gap in Apple UK........................................................................6
The impact of gender pay over the performance of Apple UK...................................................7
4.0 Research Methodology..............................................................................................................7
4.1 Research Design, Research approach and Research type.....................................................8
4.2 Rationale...............................................................................................................................9
5.0 Access to Data and Research Ethics..........................................................................................9
6.0 Limitations...............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

TOPIC:-
“An analysis investigating gender pay gap in Apple UK”
INTRODUCTION
A gender pay gap is refers to the difference between salary of men as well as women
within an organisation. This is generally a basic or most common concept throughout the world
as in corporate sector mainly discrimination is performed on the basis of gender which is
basically a major reason behind the gender pay gap among organisations. This report is based on
Apple UK which is a multinational organisation, headquartered California (Merluzzi and
Dobrev, 2015). It deals in manufacturing as well as marketing consumer electronic related
products in market and also best known for its high skilled and competent workforces. But apart
from this there is a major issue related with Gender pay gap is found within the organisation.
This issue is mainly about the pay disparity among employees in term of gender differentiation,
where women are being paid 26% less then men over some measures. So in order to evaluate
these measures as well as reason behind this gender pay gap in Apple UK this investigation has
been conducted.
1.1 Identify a specific researchable topic area
Main aim behind selecting this topic is that it is one of the current area of concern within
a corporate sector. This is because gender pay gap has a huge influence over the performance of
employees as no one want to being exploited. Hence a gender pay gap work toward creating a
dissatisfaction among employees toward organisation which directly affect their performance at
workplace. This research help researcher in enhancing knowledge in this area which support in
future projects of researcher. In addition to this it also help in determining what are the major
causes behind this gender pay gap among the employees of Apple. So that proper information
can be represented within the research in effective and efficient manner. Apart from that, this
research could also be used for academical purpose which support in developing an
understanding regarding the concept of gender pay gap within corporate sector (Oliveira, 2015).
Along with this it also help in learning about the main reason behind this which leads to pay gap
by getting real life examples.
This problem is also determined in Apple UK which is an American multinational
technology that deals in manufacturing as well as marketing of consumer electronic products.

From the study it has been found that Apple pays up to 26% less to its female employees than
that of male in some part of UK. This is a biggest issues which is affecting the image of company
in marketplace as women employees are getting dissatisfied from this policy of organisation. The
main reason behind this is that there are around 6000 employees working within Apple UK
where women are being paid up to 5% less on an average (Apple pays its female staff up to 26%
less than men in the UK). The issues related to pay disparity is basically found with the Apple
UK Ltd which are distinct from the normal chain store of company (Downie, 2019).
1.2 Importance of problem
This problem is consider to be one of the most essential factor of consideration as an
organisational policies have an huge influence over the quality of employees performance. This
is because a favourable and satisfactory organisation help in fostering employees to perform
better and on the other side unfavourable practices create employees dissatisfaction which in turn
directly affect the performance of employees (Nwogugu, 2015). Therefore problem related with
gender gap pay within Apple UK is selected as a topic of research by determining its importance
in performance of company at marketplace. From the investigation it has been found that there
are around 26% pay gap is present within the employees where females are getting less salary
then male employees. In addition to this, it has also being determined from several sources that
the median females within Apple receives 57% less bonus than male colleagues and approx 50%
less than an average of all employees.
Apple has around three companies in UK and from all of them it has been found that
most severe pay disparity found in Apple (UK) Ltd which is different from its chain of retail
stores. From the data collected through these stores pay between the gender is comparable and
identified in negative percentage where women are getting less pay then male employees within
company. This gender pay gap have an huge influence over the market image or goodwill of
company as potential candidate will get affected by this information. In addition to this, it also
leads to increase in performance of women employees as they started demand for equal
opportunity as well as pay which they get at their workplace (Thind, 2017). In case these
expectation won't be fulfilled by organisation then employees get dissatisfied and problem
regarding employees turnover can be faced by organisation in future.
1.3 Aim of project

To determine the reason behind gender pay gap in UK Business: A study on Apple UK
Ltd.
2.0 Research Objectives and Questions
2.1 Research objectives
 To examine the study of gender pay gap in context of business.
 To identify causes prevailing in Apple UK that leads to gender pay gap
 To ascertain the influence of gender pay gap over the performance of Apple UK
2.2 Research questions
 Explain the study of gender pay gap in context of business?
 Describe several causes that leads to gender pay gap in Apple UK ?
 What is the influence of gender pay gap over the performance of Apple UK ?
3.0 Literature Review
Literature review is defined as the process of creating a comprehensive summary about
particular research topic from previously investigated or published reports. This help in creating
an understanding regarding the particular research topic so that further investigation can be
perform to explore current understanding so that proper research objectives could be
accomplished. Literature review is basically performed by adopting theoretical aspect that
support in determining the nature of study.
The concept of gender pay gap in context of business.
According to David Anderson, Margrét V. Bjarnadóttir, Cristian Dezso and David Gaddis
Ross, 2019, Gender pay gap has become an important point of dispute in many companies. Many
politicians as well as other public figures has spoked against gender pay gap.
The gender pay gap is the difference in the earnings of male and female, which is
generally expressed in terms of percentage of earning of male. The gender pay gap in UK in full
time as well as part time work is approx 20%. The factors that explain a persistent gender pay
gap are the following -

 Breaks from the labour market – It is when female take leave regarding maternity which
makes difficult in achieving promotion while rejoining the job market. This affects the
earning in the latter stage of the career.
 Education – Women living in countries of lower level lacks opportunities which unable
them to seek education, which is impacted by social norms.
 Patterns of employment – Females are mainly involved in part time jobs in developed
countries. In service occupations such as cleaning, catering etc. are paid less to women.
Many female works in schools as well as care field where they are paid lower wages.
Nowadays, women have started participating in jobs which has maximised the labour
supply which is also the reason why females are paid relatively low.
As per the view point of Downie, 2019, the gender pay gap is the difference between the
salary of hourly earnings of men and women working in an organisation. Usually men are paid
more than women. For instance, If in a company has 10% gender pay gap than it means that
women salary will be an average of 10% less per hour than that of men.
Media plays a vital role in influencing societal ideas, that is, stereotypes which create the
difference in the mind of people living in society about what types of work a women should do
and what type of work a men should do. Thus, gender enables the discrimination in work and
women feels low because it does not allow them to enjoy the same benefits, as that of male.
The reason behind gender pay gap in Apple UK
As per the view point of Andrew Griffin (2018), it has been stated by Apple that in term
of median difference within pay among male and female employees at the company where
female employees having 2% favour in term of their job. But still there is gender pay gap among
employees in mean average where men get 5% more then women at workplace. In addition to
this there is also a bigger difference between way in which men and women get rewarded over
their performance i.e. 22% of average difference in term of bonus. On this Apple said that gender
pay gap among male and female employees within organisation is due to their representation in
the workforce. This is because the majority of female employees prefer to work over retail stores
rather then working within the other areas of organisation which is main cause behind this
gender pay gap. In addition to this male employees are more in technical department of Apple
and mostly over higher position rather than female due to difference in their technical expertise.

As a result of which male employees get more bonus as well as salary over their work and
performance in comparison to female employees.
But as per the view point of Murphy and Cross, 2017, there is a gender pay gap present
within the Apple UK but the main reason behind this policy or pay disparity within the
organisation is that there are more male employees that holds senior position rather than female.
As a result of which male staffs get more pay, stock as well as bonus in comparison of female
staff. The main cause behind this is that at earlier time female remain less interested toward the
technical work and apart from that more male staff try to started their working career. As a result
of which male employees are currently over higher position or at same position but with more
experiences. Hence it is a main cause behind that gender pay gap as male employees get more
salary, bonus and other benefits as compare to female due to their experience or seniority
(Kumar, 2019).
The impact of gender pay over the performance of Apple UK
As per the view point of JIM EDWARDS, 2018, unfavourable employees policies within
an organisation have a huge impact over culture, operations as well as performance of a company
at large scale. This can also be found in Apple UK as it is also facing a issue related with pay gap
biasness in term of female employees. From the report it has been found that there are three
organisation which is managed by Apple within UK i.e. Apple UK Ltd, Apple Retail UK Ltd,
Apple Europe Ltd. From all the three Apple UK Ltd has found involve in gender pay gap in
which female employees are getting 26% less pay in comparison with female employees. This
may left huge impact over the performance of employees as gender bias in term of salary and
bonus create dissatisfaction among employee specially in female workers. As a result of which
they may found less interest in organisational work which in turn lead to decrease in sales as
well as profitability of business which in turn directly affect its performance as company won't
be able to achieve its marketing targets (Ledford and Gast, 2018).
But as per the view point of Nieuwenhuis, Munzi and Gornick, 2017, Apple perform a
gender discrimination in term of payment regarding salary and bonus. Over this company has
answer that this biasness is due to the performance of employees and their experience but not due
to any sort of discrimination. The main fact behind this is that male employees get more pay in
term of seniority and their experience which is higher then female. But despite of this it has a
huge impact over the performance as Apple mainly hire female employees to work over the floor

of retail stores in order to attract its customers. Hence this information regarding pay gap can
lead to female employee turnover which in turn directly affect the sale and profitability of
business.
4.0 Research Methodology
The methodology consists of several toools and techniques that are going to used in
resaerch for presenting information. These tools and techniques are explained below:-
4.1 Research Design, Research approach and Research type
Research design
A research design is an approach which is used by the researcher to organise a scientific
study. It consists of numerous methodologies which can be found through different sources.
Research design is classified into three types namely experimental, descriptive and exploratory.
In this research, descriptive research is applied by the researcher as this will provide detailed data
regarding investigation problem in an effective and effecient manner (Ledford and Gast, 2018).
Research Approach
It is a plan which includes several steps about broad assumptions and detailed methods of
information. Research approach is used to carry out research in a proper manner. It is the
procedure which is used to collect information, and interpret the data effectively. The types of
approaches are deductive, inductive, work qualitative research approach. But, in this
investigation, inductive research as well as work qualitative research has be applied which will
help the investigator to collect reliable and correct results (Merluzzi and Dobrev, 2015).
Research type
This is an essential part of methodology which aims to select the best method of
investigation which ensures that the work is going in correct direction. The reasearch can be of
two types, namely, qualitative or quantitative. But, in this investigation, qualitative investigation
is used. This framework will help the investigator to have a critical analysis on the basis of
information in terms of qualitative.
Data collection
Data collection is an essential part of methodology as the research is fully dependent on
accurate data. This data are collected through various sources. Data collection are of two types,

namely, Primary source of data collection and secondary source of data collection (Kumar,
2019). Primary data are the collection of data for the first time. In this data has been collected via
organising surveys. Secondary data are used in providing detailed knowledge about specific
issue by knowing the different writers as well as author's perspective (Taylor, Bogdan and
DeVault, 2015).. The data in this tool is collected via journals, newspapers, online sites, books,
published research artical;s etc. In this investigation, secondary data is used by the investigator
so that problems can be properly analysed.
4.2 Rationale
In this report the secondary research are conducted to achieve the aims and
objectives of this report. The data are collected from the authentic sources such as online
sources, published research papers, articles etc.
In this particular research the qualitative technique is used by the researcher to collect
data in order to get in-depth knowledge of the research topic which will help in clear
understanding of research topic and reach to conclusion (Kumar, 2019). The qualitative
investigation helps to give accurate and reliable information regarding topic.
In this research the descriptive research is take into consideration because it will provide
proper and detailed information of research topic in an appropriate manner which helps in to
easily accomplish the aims and objectives of this study. There are two types of research approach
inductive and deductive. But in this research topic researcher is using deductive approach which
helps in generalize the research findings and also measure all the variables and concepts which
are considering in this research topic (Murphy and Cross, 2017).
In this investigation the secondary sources are applied because to analyse the problem
properly and get in-depth knowledge of the research topic. In this secondary source of data
collection the data are gathered from books, online surveys, journals, previous research projects,
previous research article etc. which will give perspective of another authors as well as a result
helps to gather much information about the research topic (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault, 2015).
The secondary source of data collection is also very much beneficial for researcher as it does not
required much cost as data are already available to conduct this report and also save times as
researchers did not have to depend upon sample size.

Usually researchers take sample size in primary research but in this research secondary
research is take into consideration. Therefore, here researcher is not taking any sample size and
collects data through secondary sources.
5.0 Access to Data and Research Ethics
In order to conduct this research effectively all the ethical norms and consideration would
be considered to perform investigation in more reliable and ethical manner. Hence for
conducting this investigation secondary data collection method has been used where information
gathered from authenticated sources where information is published by some known institutes.
Apart from this only accurate information will be provided and no manipulation would be
performed with the organisational data to represent in research. In addition to this it will also be
ensured that permission would be taken from the company before publishing the research report.
6.0 Limitations
This is one of the most prominent topic which is currently more popular and number of
articles are present to provide information regarding this area of study. But apart from this there
are several issues that research has found throughout whole investigation. On of the major
limitation is that information gathering through secondary sources is very time consuming as
information is available but to find authenticated source regarding particular topic is not an easy
task. In addition to this some information available over internet was seems important to
consider in research but the information was not current (Thind, 2017). But despite of all these
issues proper investigation has been performed to collect more authenticated and reliable data to
avoid presentation of any sort of false information.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Downie, M., 2019. Preferential pay protection: Does UK law provide poorer protection to those
discriminated against on grounds of protected characteristics other than gender?.
International Journal of Discrimination and the Law, p.1358229118817163.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications
Limited.
Ledford, J. R. and Gast, D. L., 2018. Single case research methodology: Applications in special
education and behavioral sciences. Routledge.
Merluzzi, J. and Dobrev, S.D., 2015. Unequal on top: Gender profiling and the income gap
among high earner male and female professionals. Social science research. 53. pp.45-
58.
Murphy, C. and Cross, C., 2017. Gender, Age, and Labour Market Experiences. In The Palgrave
Handbook of Age Diversity and Work (pp. 561-582). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Nieuwenhuis, R., Munzi, T. and Gornick, J. C., 2017. Comparative research with net and gross
income data: An evaluation of two netting down procedures for the LIS Database.
Review of Income and Wealth. 63(3). pp.564-573.
Nwogugu, M. C., 2015. The Case Of Apple, Inc., and Fintech: Managerial Psychology,
Corporate Governance and Business Processes. Corporate Governance and Business
Processes.
Oliveira, J. O., 2015. Corporate performance and the pay gap (Doctoral dissertation).
Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research methods: A
guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.
Thind, R., 2017. Strategic Fashion Management: Concepts, Models and Strategies for
Competitive Advantage. Routledge.
Online
Anderson. D., Bjarnadóttir. M., Dezso. C., Ross. D. G., 2019. Why Companies’ Attempts to
Close the Gender Pay Gap Often Fail. [Online] Available through:
<https://hbr.org/2019/01/why-companies-attempts-to-close-the-gender-pay-gap-often-
fail>./
Apple discloses gender pay gap at UK operations. 2019. [Online] Available through:
<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-pay-gender/apple-discloses-gender-pay-gap-
at-uk-operations-idUSKCN1HA2GS>./
Griffin. A. 2018. APPLE REVEALS GENDER PAY GAP. [Online] Available through:
<https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/apple-gender-pay-
gap-figures-uk-diversity-inclusion-latest-technology-iphone-a8286646.html>./
EDWARDS. J. 2018. Apple pays its female staff up to 26% less than men in the UK. [Online]
Available through:<https://www.businessinsider.in/apple-pays-its-female-staff-up-to-
26-less-than-men-in-the-uk/articleshow/63611678.cms>./