Pay Transparency Act
The new Pay Transparency Act, passed by the BC Government on May 11, 2023, places new requirements on employers to address systemic discrimination in the workplace. SFU is required to collect gender data from their employees according to the new Gender and Sex Data Standard to prepare a Pay Transparency Report, a requirement of the Pay Transparency Act.
When employees can self-identify their gender, employers can engage with them in an inclusive, safe and respectful way. The Gender and Sex Data Standard clarifies the difference between gender and sex by providing definitions that recognize all genders and serve our diverse population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pay Transparency Act
What is the Pay Transparency Act?
The Pay Transparency Act, passed on May 11, 2023, in British Columbia, aims to reduce systemic pay discrimination by requiring employers to collect, report, and publish pay data by gender.
What are the requirements for the Pay Transparency Act?
As a public institution, SFU is required to publish a Pay Transparency Report on our website by November 1st each year.
What is included in the Pay Transparency Report?
The annual Pay Transparency Report outlines the mean and median differences between genders for hourly pay, overtime pay and bonus pay and will be shared on the SFU website when complete. Examples from large crown corporations who were required to submit a 2023 report are shared on the B.C. website.
Why does SFU need to collect gender from its employees?
SFU is required to collect gender from its employees to comply with the Pay Transparency Act. Your data is collected only for the purposes of analysis for the Pay Transparency Report. This data helps create a more equitable work environment and will allow SFU to qualify for select government-funded programs that support equitable pay initiatives.
Who can access the Pay Transparency Report?
The Pay Transparency Report will be published on the on the SFU website where anyone can access it.
What is the difference between sex and gender?
Sex is assigned at birth and most often based on physical attributes. Gender is how a person identifies as being a boy/man, girl/woman, a blend of both or neither. Gender involves a personal, internal sense of self.
The Gender and Sex Data Standard defines the difference between gender and sex.
Data Collection and Privacy
How will my gender data be used by SFU?
Your gender will only be used to prepare the Pay Transparency Report, which aims to identify and address any gender-based discrepancies in pay within the university.
Will my personal identifying information be included in the report?
No personal identifying information will be included in the report. When completing the gender update, a collection notice confirms that your data is only being collected for analysis purposes to complete the Pay Transparency Report.
What if I don't want to provide my gender?
Providing gender data is optional. If you choose not to disclose it, your pay information will still be included in the report, but your gender will be indicated as "unknown" in line with B.C.’s Gender and Sex Data Standard .
MyINFO
How do I access MyINFO?
MyINFO is SFU's employee self-service system for faculty, staff and student employees. There, you can access employment information such as pay statements, vacation balances, T4/T4A statements and update important personal information such as your emergency contact, address and personal phone. MyINFO can be accessed at https://myinfo.sfu.ca.
*Please note, if you are off campus, you will need to log into VPN before logging into MyINFO.
How secure is the MyINFO platform?
SFU is committed to protecting your sensitive personal information. The MyINFO platform has been used at SFU for over 20 years and has strong security measures to protect your data.
How do I update my gender and other information on MyINFO?
Log into your MyINFO account and click on the new "Gender” icon to make your update. While you are in the MyINFO system, you can also update your emergency contact information, address and personal phone number if those have changed.
Questions
If you have any further questions, please contact compensation@sfu.ca.