Nearly half of employers believe that publishing gender pay differences will not lead to organisations taking action to close the gap.
Research commissioned by the charity Young Women’s Trust also found that one in 10 employers admit to paying women less than men for the same role.
Chief Executive of the charity, Dr Carole Easton, argues that the legislation will only be effective if enforcement penalties are put in place for firms that fail to accurately report their pay gaps.
“Where pay gaps do exist, like at the BBC, Young Women’s Trust would like to see that companies are obliged to put in place plans to reduce them,” she said.She also called for action to support women in male-dominated industries and professions to help achieve equal pay.
The current full-time gender pay gap is 14% and at its current rate of decline it will take another 50 years before it is completely closed. However, 18% of the 800 HR-decision makers who responded to the survey believe that women’s average earnings will never be as high as men’s. A further 10% thought it would take more than 25 years to achieve pay equality.
