What's your organisation's gender pay gap? We're created an online calculator to help you find out, as part of our Move the Needle initiative to tackle gender equality in architecture and design.

We developed the simple tool so companies can work out whether they pay male staff more than female staff. The tool has been created as regulations requiring UK firms with more than 250 employees to report their gender pay gap become law.

Foster + Partners was one of the first major architects to release its figures last week. Other large firms have until 6 April to publish their figures. The UK is following countries including Sweden, Australia and Canada in introducing pay gap laws.

Dezeen's calculator (above) allows firms not legally required to publish their data to quickly and easily assess if there is a gender pay gap at their business. It is a quick and simple reckoner and is intended to start conversations and raise awareness. However companies should use more sophisticated methods to tackle pay inequality in their organisations.

Calculator computes mean gender pay gap

The calculator works out the percentage difference between the mean average salary of a firm's female and male staff – one of two key metrics used to identify any gender pay gap. The higher the percentage, the bigger the problem. A negative percentage means women are being paid more!

A more complex metric used to identify the gender pay gap is to use the median, which compares the wage of the middle male and female earner.

Under UK government regulations companies with over 250 employees have to calculate a range of figures, using both the mean and median methods. They are are also required to publish gender data for any bonuses paid out during the year, as well as the proportion of women in each quartile of the pay structure.

The government has set out guidance for making the calculations on its website.

Dezeen launched the Move the Needle initiative this week to coincide with International Women's Day. The project aims to improve gender equality in architecture and design.

Following the launch of the initiative many leading architecture and design conferences have promised to improve the gender balance of the speakers at their events and Foster + Partners pledged to take action on gender diversity.

Share the calculator using the link below!

www.dezeen.com/gender-pay-gap-calculator

We'd love to hear about your findings and any action you plan to take on the gender pay gap as part of our Move the Needle initiative. Please use the comments section below or email us: [email protected].