Gender pay gap - the most female–friendly companies to work for

Find out who has made the cut in our list of the most female-friendly companies to work for using gender pay gap data - trust us, you will be surprised

Words by Victoria Fell

New regulations as part of the 2010 Equality Act mean that companies with over 250 workers must publish their gender pay gaps (by the 30th of March for the public sector and 4th April for the private sector FYI), so we've crunched those numbers to find the best companies to work for if you're a woman.

Quick disclaimer: despite this duty to report being an actual *legal requirement* (with the Equality and Human Rights Commision warning of the potential of 'unlimited fines' and possibility of 'serious reputational damage' afforded those who don't), at the end of March, there were still around 20% of companies who hadn't yet reported their gender pay gap.

At Marie Claire, we are passionate about the rights of women all around the world. This year, we launched our #NotMyJob Campaign, which is calling out workplace sexism, discrimination and bullying. Along with the Fawcett Society, we’re working to protect our hard-won workplace rights in the face of Brexit.

The new legislation means that companies have to make the following public:

• Gender pay gap (mean and median averages)
• Gender bonus gap (mean and median averages)
• Proportion of men and women receiving bonuses
• Proportion of men and women in each quartile of the organisation’s pay structure

We're using the difference in mean average hourly pay and the difference in mean bonus pay to calculate our results and, quick recap, gender pay gap refers to the discrepancy between the average wage earned by men and women at a company regardless of their position. For more information, see our guide to the gender pay gap and equal pay here.

Without further ado, let's introduce the companies that we are LOVING right now (although we still have major issues with the bonus policies...)

Companies with no gender pay gap (>1%)

Rentokil Initial

What they do: Rentokil Initial provides services that protect people from the dangers of pest-borne disease and the risks of poor hygiene. Percentage that men get paid more than women: 0 Women's average bonus pay is: 4% less than men

Endemol Shine

What they do: Endemol Shine is a global production company, creating programmes such as Masterchef and The Biggest Loser. Percentage that men get paid more than women: 0.1% Women's average bonus pay is: 22% less than men

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)

What they do: This charity saves lives at sea through lifeboat search and rescue, lifeguards, water safety education and flood rescue. Percentage that men get paid more than women: 0.7 Women's average bonus pay is: 21% less than men

The Press Association

What they do: Press Association are the UK's leading provider of multimedia content and services. Percentage that men get paid more than women: 0.8 Women's average bonus pay is: 28.5% less than men

Armed Forces

What they do: The Armed Forces protect the United Kingdom's interests at home and abroad, comprised of the British Army, the Naval Service and the Royal Airforce Percentage that men get paid more than women: 0.9 Women's average bonus pay is: 7.9% less than men

Companies where women are paid more than men

Tesco Maintenance

What they do: Tesco Maintenance is one of the leading retail maintenance service providers, which supports over 3000 Tesco stores and head office sites across the UK. Pay percentage difference between men and women: -47.2 Women's average bonus pay is: 42.1% more than men

Walkers Snacks (Distribution) Limited

What they do: This arm of Walkers is responsible for the warehousing and distribution of Walkers snacks. Percentage that men get paid more than women: -22.2 Women's average bonus pay is: 29.7% less than men

Unilever UK

What they do: Unilever is a consumer goods company that seeks to meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. Percentage that men get paid more than women: -8.8 Women's average bonus pay is: 52% higher than men

Formica Limited

What they do: Formica is the world's largest manufacturer of the construction material High Pressure Laminate (HPL). Percentage that men get paid more than women: -5.6 Women's average bonus pay is: 29.8% less than men

Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare

What they do: GSK create consumer healthcare products in four main areas: Wellness, Oral Health, Skin Health and Nutrition. Percentage that men get paid more than women: -4.5 Women's average bonus pay is: 26.8% less than men

Kwik-Fit (GB)

What they do: Kwik-Fit are the leading fast-fit specialists in the UK for tyres, exhausts, batteries and brakes. Percentage that men get paid more than women: -4.5 Women's average bonus pay is: 6.7% less than men

Europcar Group UK Limited

What they do:  Europcar offer car and van rentals, both in the UK and worldwide. Percentage that men get paid more than women: -4.2 Women's average bonus pay is: 5.1% higher than men