New research on behalf of the Fawcett Society to coincide with Equal Pay Day on the 10th November reveals that three fifths (61%) of workers would be uncomfortable asking a colleague about how much they earn.

52% of workers surveyed said their managers would respond negatively if people talked openly about their pay, while nearly a third (31%) of respondents believed their contracts banned people from talking to each other about their pay which could explain the high percentage saying they would be uncomfortable asking a colleague.

When asked whether it was true or false that it was illegal to pay a woman less than a man if they are doing equal work, a third of respondents (34%) either said this was false or that they did not know. This despite it being nearly 50 years since the Equal Pay Act.

The majority of respondents (60%) were also unaware that it was true that a person has a legal right to ask their colleagues how much they are paid, if that person thinks they might be experiencing discrimination because of their gender.

Although half (50%) of respondents would be uncomfortable telling a colleague how much they earn, 59% said they would be likely to tell a colleague in their team they know well how much they earned if they asked because they thought they might be experiencing discrimination. If it was a colleague they did not know that well, 50% would still be likely to tell them.

Survation polled 1209 people who are currently in work online aged 18+ in the UK who are currently in work on behalf of the Fawcett Society. Fieldwork was conducted between 18th September – 10th October 2018.

Data tables and methodology can be found here.

Survation is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

To learn more about Survation’s polling capabilities or to commission a poll, contact Harry Mason or John Gibb on 020 3818 9661 or email researchteam@survation.com.

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