More than one third of women in the UK (36%) believe they do not get the same pay as men at their organisation, according to a survey by workplace expert Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) commissioned YouGov to survey perceptions of pay equality.

The survey was published to coincide with International Equal Pay Day (18 September).

The survey also showed that 10% of men believed they were being paid more than women.

By law, men and women must get equal pay for doing ‘equal work’.

Acas’s individual dispute resolution service, early conciliation, which helps to resolve potential employment tribunal claims, saw a 34% increase over the two-year period between 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.

Acas Head of Inclusive Workplaces Julie Dennis said in a press release, “Having an equal pay policy can help bosses be open and clear with their staff about how they achieve equal pay and how they will resolve any pay issues.”

“This can help tackle any perceptions that men are being paid more than women and help ensure employers are not breaking the law,” Dennis said. “Women doing equal work to their male colleagues should not be paid less and employers should be consistent when deciding people’s pay and contractual terms and conditions.”