More than a third of women (36%) believe they are not paid the same as men within their organization, according to a recent survey commissioned by Acas ahead of International Equal Pay Day on September 18.
The research, conducted by YouGov, highlights the persistent perception of pay inequality, despite legal requirements for men and women to receive equal pay for equal work.
The survey found that only 10% of men thought they were paid more than their female colleagues. However, the persistent gender pay gap remains a concern for many women across sectors.
Acas, which provides a dispute resolution service to assist with potential employment tribunal claims, reported a 34% increase in early conciliation cases between 2022/23 and 2023/24, indicating that pay disputes are still a major problem in the workplace .
Julie Dennis, Head of Inclusive Workplaces at Acas, emphasized the importance of a clear pay policy: “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 dissolve. This can help tackle the perception that men are paid more than women and ensure employers are not breaking the law.”
Acas advises employers to carry out equal pay audits or assessments, especially for companies with more than 50 employees, to identify and resolve any discrepancies. Employees who suspect they are being paid less than their male counterparts for the same work are encouraged to raise the issue with their employer or initiate a formal complaints procedure.
Equal pay remains a critical issue as organizations strive to promote transparency and fairness in the workplace and ensure that all employees, regardless of gender, are rewarded equally for their contributions.