Unfair sex pay
Updated on 27 February 2006
The scandal of why women are paid so much less than men laid bare, with schools and businesses in the firing line.
The scandal of why women are paid so much less than men laid bare, with schools and businesses in the firing line.
Up to a million pounds over the course of a working life. That's the possible financial gap between men and women in the same job according the Equal Opportunities Commission.
This morning the government-appointed Women and Work Commission published 40 recommendations aimed at reducing the wage gap.
However companies won't be compelled to carry out pay audits to make sure women employees are not being short-changed.
Joanna Simpson reports: >>Watch her report
What to do if you think you're a victim of unequal pay?
So, if you think you are being unfairly paid, simply because of your gender, what can you do to try to fix the problem? Well the Equal Opportunities Commission says there are practical steps that people can take, and to help explain we were joined by the EOC's Chief Executive Caroline Slocock who raised the following points:
- Ask your employer whether they've done an equal pay review and ask them about the pay situation.
- You can ask your employer to fill out a formal questionnaire, called an Equal Pay Questionairre. (Available from the EOC website here: >>Equal Pay Questionairre
- Once you have that information than hopefully you can get your employer to make sure you are paid fairly.
- If not, seek advice (EOC helplines, Citzen's Advice Bureaux, Unions)
- Finally, there is always the possibility of an employment tribunal case
Or you can watch Channel 4 News at Noon interview with Carlone Slocock in which she discusses the options, here: >>Watch the interview
