Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Latest NewsEquality, diversity and inclusionSex discriminationEqual pay

Gender pay gap should be fixed by government, poll shows

by Gareth Vorster 10 Mar 2008
by Gareth Vorster 10 Mar 2008

Most people believe it’s the responsibility of government to close the gender pay gap, research shows.

A poll of more than 1,000 people, commissioned by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), found that 88% of respondents believe it to be government’s job, while 94% believe that men and women should be paid the same amount for doing the same job.

The gender pay gap currently stands at 19% in the civil service and 17% in the rest of the economy.

The poll also found concern about equal pay, with 67% believing that women aren’t always paid the same amount for doing the same job as men.

The union calls on the government to do more to tackle pay inequality in the civil service by addressing low pay and ensuring departments take necessary action.

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “This poll, coming on International Women’s Day, shows that the public know equal pay is still a problem and that it’s the government’s job to do something about it.

“It is scandalous that the gender pay gap stands at 19% in the civil service.

“The government needs to address the gender pay gap, especially in its own workforce, where pay inequality is rife,” he said.


A civil service spokesperson said: “The 19% median pay gap in the Civil Service is not relevant in the context of equal pay legislation in that it does not compare like-for-like work – there are more women than men at the lower responsibility levels within the Civil Service, hence median pay levels for women across the board will be lower than men. When the gender pay gap within the civil service is compared by responsibility level it varies from 2% to 6%.


“Equality and fairness of pay continues to be a key priority for the Civil Service. For instance, the Guidance on Equal Pay for Government Departments and Agencies and the Civil Service Reward Principles set out guidelines on how to deter any form of discrimination when setting pay.”

Avatar
Gareth Vorster

previous post
Off Message: The Brown ultimatum
next post
UK recruiters hit by bogus temporary worker scam

You may also like

Top earners’ pay soars by 10% while lowest-paid...

8 Aug 2022

National Payroll Week: A compliance guide for SMEs...

8 Aug 2022

‘Pushy’ lawyer awarded £152k for sex discrimination

8 Aug 2022

Something new to get stressed about: hello Premier...

5 Aug 2022

Economic outlook slows hiring despite skills shortfalls

5 Aug 2022

ESG for HR: Emma Burrows talks to Oven-Ready...

5 Aug 2022

How introverts can become brilliant leaders

5 Aug 2022

EU member states to make carer work-life balance...

5 Aug 2022

Office could be sanctuary for workers fearing winter...

4 Aug 2022

Inflation forecast to hit 13% in autumn says...

4 Aug 2022
  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...Read more
  • Preventing Burnout: How can HR help key workers get the right help? PROMOTED | Workplace wellbeing may seem a distant memory...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+