Half of Brits fear Covid-19 will widen gender pay gap

The British public fear that Covid-19 will have a devastating impact on workplace equality, and undermine business efforts to address the gender pay gap, according to a new report. 

Research from survey platform Piplsay, which explores the pandemic’s influence on gender parity and workplace policies, has found that almost half of the British public (45%) fear that Covid-19 will widen the gender pay gap. According to the report, 55% of women are worried that the pandemic will widen it further, compared to 45% of men.

Overall, several surveys worldwide have shown that women have borne the brunt of the economic impact as a result of the pandemic, as businesses of all sizes have faced closures amid rising infection rates.

In the UK, many women said they have been discriminated against, and/or treated unfairly compared to their male counterparts when it came to promotions or pay cuts over the past months. Over a third (35%) of women claim they have faced discrimination amid Covid-related job losses and pay cuts. Additionally, around 42% felt that they have been more at a disadvantage of losing their job than their male colleagues during the pandemic. 

PROMOTING EQUAL PARENTING

Many women (68%) attribute the discrimination to being more burdened with childcare during the health crisis. What’s more concerning is that 58% of women believe that the ongoing situation will actually make it harder for them to get similar opportunities, or even return to work post pandemic. 

In short, the survey results reveal that the significant progress on gender equality made to date risks being reversed unless companies take action. The majority of Brits (70%) believe that policies which enable equal parenting will help. They want companies to adopt a flexible work culture, including work from home options, as well as paid leave for dads to allow for equal parenting post pandemic.

Earlier this week, the UK Government also confirmed that companies must file in their gender pay gap reports for 2020-21, which will also help to avoid widening the pay gap and further exacerbating workplace gender inequalities. See article below.