Women still paid unfairly, according to poll

Women are still finishing second when it comes to salaries, according to a poll of 250 entrepreneurs conducted by SmallBusiness.co.uk, a sister title of Business XL.

Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents state that women are paid fairly, while a majority (63 per cent) believe they are not. The remainder feel the issue is not important.

Some 11 per cent of all respondents looked on the bright side, saying unfair
pay had motivated them to start up on their own.

Karen Gill, co-founder of business website Everywoman, comments: ‘It’s absurd that men earn more than women, especially considering that more women complete university than men.

‘Yet despite this – and women’s increasing prominence in the workforce – they are not holding as many senior or high-paid positions.
The old issues of childcare and family commitment are still cited as reasons for this.’

Kamel Hothi, Asian markets director at Lloyds TSB, says that while the salary gap is improving, there are nevertheless still issues that need to be addressed, especially around maternity leave.

‘It’s during the period of absences, such as when women take time off to look after children, that the differences occur,’ she states. ‘While you’re being the homemaker, you do miss out on opportunities.’

Gill believes there is a long way to go to achieve gender equality in the UK: ‘Even with advances in technology, which have facilitated more flexible working hours, companies still need to do more to accommodate women.’