More than one-third of women (36%) believe they are not paid the same as men within their organisation, according to a recent survey commissioned by Acas ahead of International Equal Pay Day on 18th September.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, highlights ongoing perceptions of pay inequality, despite legal requirements for men and women to receive equal pay for equal work.
The survey revealed that only 10% of men believed they were being paid more than their female colleagues. However, the persistent gender pay gap remains a concern for many women across various sectors.
Acas, which provides a dispute resolution service to assist with potential employment tribunal claims, reported a 34% increase in early conciliation cases from 2022/23 to 2023/24, indicating that pay disputes are still a significant issue in the workplace.
Julie Dennis, Head of Inclusive Workplaces at Acas, stressed the importance of having clear pay policies: “Having an equal pay policy can help bosses be open and clear with their staff about how they achieve equal pay and how they will resolve any pay issues. This can help tackle any perceptions that men are being paid more than women and ensure employers are not breaking the law.”
Acas advises employers to implement equal pay audits or reviews, especially for businesses with more than 50 employees, to identify and resolve any disparities. Employees who suspect they are being paid less than their male counterparts for the same work are encouraged to address the issue with their employer or seek formal grievance procedures.
Equal pay remains a critical issue as organisations strive to promote transparency and fairness in the workplace, ensuring that all employees, regardless of gender, are compensated equally for their contributions.