Workers should have right to know colleagues' pay, watchdog says

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 12:29 · Archive

The UK's equality watchdog says employees should legally be able to find out what their colleagues earn.

The UK's equality watchdog has proposed giving employees a legal right to know what their colleagues earn. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says employers should be compulsory to provide information including colleagues' basic pay and hours worked, how employees' pay compares, and details of bonuses, overtime, shift premiums and performance-related pay within a specific timeframe. The watchdog argues this would help cut pay discrimination, particularly against women.

The EHRC also wants to ban employers from asking job applicants about current salary. John Kirkpatrick, the EHRC chief executive, told the BBC that when employers ask about salary history, it can 'embed a history of disadvantage or discrimination in future salaries'. While employers should be able to offer competitive pay, he said, this should not 'create a pattern that discriminates'. The Fawcett Society, which campaigns for gender equality, has previously warned that asking about salary history risks maintaining historic unfair differences due to gender, race and disability inequality.

How it is being reported

• Give UK workers right to know colleagues’ pay to prevent disparities, says watchdogEHRC says we need transparency if workers suspect other staff are being paid more for similar work Workers should have a legal right to know their colleagues’ pay to help prevent pay discrimination, particularly against women, the UK’s human rights watchdog has said. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) made the recommendation in response to government proposals to overhaul equal pay laws, saying workers deserve a right to transparency if they suspect other staff are being paid more for similar work. Continue reading...The Guardian · 28 Oct, 13:34
• Want to know what your colleagues earn? You may one day have a right to find outNew proposals would legally require employers to disclose details about colleagues’ pay, bonuses and working hoursThe Independent · 28 Oct, 12:44
• Workers should be able to know colleagues' salaries, rights body saysEmployees should legally be able to find out what their co-workers are earning, the UK's equality watchdog saysBBC Business · 28 Oct, 10:42

In this story: UK · Equality and Human Rights Commission · John Kirkpatrick · BBC · Fawcett Society

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