GENDER PAY GAP Report 2024
FÁILTE
Family means being part of our wider company family. We are inclusive in our approach and everyone is respected as an individual.
Family Lead by Example Accountability Trust
We take personal responsibility for our actions and the results of those actions.
We encourage the mindsets of those who take initiative, and applaud departmental champions.
We trust everyone in their role and we aspire to a culture of complete trust.
Innovation Excellence
We are open to new and innovative ideas that will continue to help us evolve, and remain as market leaders in Irish gift solutions.
We strive for excellence in everything we do from standards to product range, from environment to culture. We want the best for each other.
Gender Pay Gap: Data Capture
The snapshot date that was chosen to calculate the gender pay gap for Carrolls Irish Gifts was 23rd June 2024. On this date there were 339 employed by the company in the Republic of Ireland.
92 colleagues full time part time
Colleague Demographic
Conclusion
The focus of the findings is the pay gap on the mean hourly rate for our colleagues which is 5.60%, a significant reduction on the same period in 2023, when it was 11.20%. The main reason for this gap is due to the composition of the company directors. The current board is all male. The second reason for the pay gap is the composition of the Senior Leadership Team. At the snapshot date, this team was 86% male.
The largest contributing factor for the decrease in the pay gap this year is that we now have more female colleagues I managerial/supervisory roles in the stores. At the snapshot date, 68% of our store managers were female.
What We’ve Done Since Last Year & Further Measures To Close The Gap
We are delighted with the substantial reduction in the gender pay gap this year. We have had a fantastic year at Carrolls Irish Gifts, and we are so proud of our colleagues who have been the driving force behind our success. Being awarded the accolade of Great Place to Work in March was a milestone moment for all of us, and this has positioned us as an employer of choice. The fact that our highest scoring area was in diversity, means that we have reached a new level in terms of understanding and appreciation. Whilst
we have the award, our journey towards excellence continues.
In 2024 we recruited a specific Learning and Development professional to focus on dedicated programmes of development for our teams. In the first quarter of the year, we implemented company-wide workshops on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, which saw various areas of the business come together to talk about views and values. This has become ingrained in our day-to-day business as usual now. All people managers attended bespoke training on interview techniques and recruitment skills, and as a result are making more informed hiring decisions. There is transparency across the business in terms of our processes.
Three of our female managers are benefitting from the newly implemented Educational Bursary, as we support them on their professional journey. Our commitment to education will remain a key focus for 2025, as well as our focus on strategic performance management. We will continue to harness our diverse culture to deliver results through our people and to enrich our working lives through values appreciation and awareness.
I am personally very proud of the steps we’ve taken this year and the progress we have made.
Michele Ryan Head of People
About Carrolls
For the last 41 years, we’ve been connecting with people from around the world. We are very proud of our modest beginnings back in 1982, as well as the determination that has gone into making Carrolls the tradition that it is today. We now have 20 stores based in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Kilkenny and Galway.
As an Irish craft and heritage gift supplier, we export all over the globe. But our loyal domestic customer base is as strong as ever. We love to share homegrown craft locally, and customers love the fact that over 80% are sourced from Irish local businesses. Carrolls is the centre for Irish craft that champions Irish heritage, creativity, and design. Not bad for what was once a small family business!
Gender Pay Gap: Data Capture
The snapshot date that was chosen to calculate the gender pay gap for Carrolls Irish Gifts was 25th June 2023. On this date, there were 308 colleagues employed by the company in the Republic of Ireland.
308 202 106 colleagues full time part time
Colleague Demographic
Conclusion
The focus of the findings is the pay gap on the mean hourly wages for our employees which is 11.20%, is 1% lower than the same period in 2022. The main reason for this gap is due to the make up the company’s directors. The current board of directors is all male. The second reason for the pay gap is the make up of the Senior Leadership Team. At the snapshot date, this team was 87.5% male.
The most notable increase between the findings in 2023 compared with 2022 is in relation to the percentage of employees who were paid a bonus during the period under review. The main reason for this increase is due to the implementation of a sales-based commission which was introduced for all store colleagues at the beginning of the year.
What We’ve Done Since Last Year & Further Measures To Close The Gap
We achieved a greater balance through the introduction of specific training on interview technique for all hiring managers across the business. A number of our store manager and business managers are now more than halfway through leadership development and this has resulted in a more robust succession talent pool. We introduced a commission structure for all store
colleagues creating opportunities to increase income and contribute meaningfully to business success. All store roles were benchmarked to ensure fair compensation, and this year we will benchmark all remaining roles.
Carrolls Irish Gifts made a significant difference to the Gender Pay Gap from 2022 to 2003. We continue our commitment to ensuring that all colleagues are respected as individuals. Last year’s initial measures set us off on the right path and we will continue that journey through enhancing the current measures and adding a few more.
We will implement company-wide DE&I learning initiatives across the business. We will continue to ensure that all recruitment is fair, using transparent tools and processes. As our pathway to a Great Place to Work progresses, we will build stronger feedback and communication structures to ensure everyone’s voice is heard.
Michele Ryan Head of People
About Carrolls
For the last 40 years, we’ve been connecting with people from around the world. We are very proud of our modest beginnings back in 1982, as well as the determination that has gone into making Carrolls the tradition that it is today. We now have 19 stores based in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Kilkenny and Galway.
As an Irish craft and heritage gift supplier, we export all over the globe. But our loyal domestic customer base is as strong as ever. We love to share homegrown craft locally, and customers love the fact that over 80% are sourced from Irish local businesses. Carrolls is the centre for Irish craft that champions Irish heritage, creativity, and design. Not bad for what was once a small family business!
Gender Pay Gap: Data Capture
The snapshot date that was chosen to calculate the gender pay gap for Carrolls Irish Gifts was 26th June 2022. On this date, there were 285 colleagues employed by the company in the Republic of Ireland.
Colleague Demographic
285
111 colleagues full time part time
174
What We’ve Done Since Last
Year & Further Measures To Close The Gap
Carrolls is committed to ensuring that all colleagues are valued and respected as individuals, and we are taking the following initial measures to close the gap:
Hiring Practices
Whilst Carrolls already has in place a robust recruitment process, we will work towards achieving balance through a blended approach, including skills-based assessments, which has been shown to improve diversity. There will be training for all hiring managers across the business on this process, as well as a specific training programme on diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace.
Learning & Education
In 2022 we made a significant investment in our people by delivering company-wide values workshops. We commence a series of leadership training in the second quarter of 2023, and participants are being chosen from all departments across the business.
Creating a Culture of Inclusivity
We are creating flexible ways of working for our colleagues, which includes a hybrid model in our new support office as well as exploring opportunities for
We’re proud to have strong female representation in senior leadership
