The Guardian reported that a proposal from the Equality and Human Rights Commission could give employees access to the earnings of people they work alongside. Under the plan outlined by the agency, staff would be able to ask for specific details covering salaries, bonuses and additional benefits received by colleagues. The Commission argues that greater openness about remuneration could help narrow the difference in earnings between men and women. The Guardian noted, however, that other countries which have adopted a similar approach have also experienced negative effects. Those possible drawbacks include reduced motivation among staff, feelings of resentment, and a greater tendency for employees to leave their jobs. The Guardian provided historical context, noting that the earnings difference between men and women in Britain began to shrink after equal pay laws were introduced in the 1970s. It added that the gap narrowed further as more women entered occupations previously dominated by men during the 1980s and 1990s. At present, women in the UK earn roughly 6.8% less than men on average. The article was written by André Spicer, a professor of organisational behaviour at the Bayes Business School at City, University of London, and author of the book Business Bullshit.
Source: The Guardian.
