The German Federal Bureau of Statistics reports that Germany has a gender pay gap of 21% - the second largest in Europe. Few people observe the annual Equal Pay Day and awareness of the 21% pay gap is low. Equal Pay Day has been around since 1988 but has always achieved very low visibility because it falls just after Women's Day. Traditionally, Equal Pay Day receives very little attention and media coverage.

BVG stands firmly for equality - so the company wanted to use its media power and influence to raise awareness around Equal Pay Day and to highlight to the 21% gender pay gap. BVG wanted to use March 18th to speak out against inequality and stand up for women's rights - drawing attention to its strict corporate policy of equal pay for equal work.

Despite Germany's reputation as a socially progressive country, it has the second largest gender pay gap in Europe. Women in Germany are paid an average of 21% less than men, according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics. Equal Pay Day was established in 1988 to draw attention to this inequality but has traditionally achieved low awareness. Because it falls just a few days after Women's Day, Equal Pay Day receives very little attention and coverage from the German media.

March 18th is Equal Pay Day in Germany - a day nobody really notices. Few realise that Germany has a gender pay gap of 21% - the 2nd largest in Europe. To highlight this inequality, BVG created the Frauenticket (Women’s Ticket) - the world’s first ticket allowing women to travel for 21% less. On Equal Pay Day, BVG brought the Women’s Ticket to over 600 ticket machines across Berlin and installed a special Women’s Ticket Machine in the city centre. The machine used gender recognition technology to identify women and offer a full range of 21% discounted tickets - even yearly tickets with savings of 160 euros. The Women’s Ticket brought the German equal pay discussion into global news on March 18th. But paying 21% less won't solve the problem - earning 21% more will. That's why BVG used the action as a recruitment drive promising Berlin women guaranteed equal

BVG wanted Germany to know that they are a brand that stands for equality. BVG sought to achieve this by addressing a sensitive and vital issue affecting German women and German households: the 21% gender pay gap. Using their power and influence, BVG aimed to stand up for women's rights and drive awareness around this inequality. And then provide the ultimate solution to the problem: equal pay for equal work. By announcing its strict equal pay policies, BVG would stand as an example to other businesses to address imbalances and close the gender pay gap once and for all.

In the week before Equal Pay Day, BVG announced the Frauenticket(Women’s Ticket) and the 21% discount for women on March 18th. The message reached commuters across the Berlin transit network via posters, billboards, platform signage, and digital screens inside busses, trams and trains. This was supplemented by a press release, radio spot, website and paid social ads. On March 18th BVG brought the Women’s Ticket to over 600 touch-points across Berlin and unveiled a special Women’s Ticket Machine inside the Alexanderplatz station in the center of the city. The iconic machine used gender recognition technology to identify women and offer a full range of 21% discounted tickets - including yearly tickets with savings of 160euros. The Women’s Ticket payment receipt carried a targeted message: Instead of paying 21%less - earn 21% more.” -encouraging Berlin women to apply for a career at BVG with guaranteed equal pay for equal work.

The BVG Women's Ticket story brought Equal Pay Day onto the evening news of every German broadcaster on March 18th. The initiative sparked a discussion on gender equality and equal pay all over the world.

- Over 1,500 articles and reports

- Featured in 66 TV news broadcasts in Europe

- 6.7 billion media contacts

- 107 equivalent million media value

- Ticket sales increased by 3,600%

- March 18th search queries for 'Equal Pay' on Google.de increased by 1,900% compared to previous years on Equal Pay Day.

(source: Google Trends, BVG, media tracking by Argus Data Insights)