[UK] Women less likely to negotiate starting salary than men

Four in ten women (41 per cent) in the UK are likely to negotiate their salary when moving roles compared with 61 per cent of men, according to new research, SIA reports.

A study from Reed.co.uk polled 250 hiring managers and 2,000 jobseekers. Its results revealed that while many jobseekers feel awkward talking about money, women (27 per cent) are twice as likely as men (13 per cent) to express that they feel uncomfortable discussing salary with prospective employers.

More than half (51 per cent) of those surveyed have never negotiated wages when offered a job. The reluctance to talk about salary is more prevalent among women as 59 per cent admitted to not once negotiating salary when offered a new role compared to 39 per cent of men.

Yet, according to Reed’s study, 90 per cent of workers who negotiated their most current salary were successful in getting an increase.

The most common increase in salary was between £1,000-£2,499 (42 per cent), followed by over a quarter (27 per cent) receiving a raise between £2,500-£4,999. Men (42 per cent) were more likely to secure this higher pay increase when compared to women (31 per cent).

Simon Wingate - Managing Director of Reed.co.uk - said, “The latest Reed.co.uk data sheds new light on how the gender ‘ask gap’ is perpetuating unequal pay. While the government has taken important strides through the pay transparency pilot, the research shows that more needs to be done to address the disparity in confidence between men and women when discussing salary.

“At a time when the cost of living is rising, the study also shows the value in employees pushing their future employers for a salary increase when being offered a new role and confirms that finding a new job is one of the best possible ways to secure a pay rise,” Mr Wingate said.

Source: SIA

(Quote via original reporting)

Four in ten women (41 per cent) in the UK are likely to negotiate their salary when moving roles compared with 61 per cent of men, according to new research, SIA reports.

A study from Reed.co.uk polled 250 hiring managers and 2,000 jobseekers. Its results revealed that while many jobseekers feel awkward talking about money, women (27 per cent) are twice as likely as men (13 per cent) to express that they feel uncomfortable discussing salary with prospective employers.

More than half (51 per cent) of those surveyed have never negotiated wages when offered a job. The reluctance to talk about salary is more prevalent among women as 59 per cent admitted to not once negotiating salary when offered a new role compared to 39 per cent of men.

Yet, according to Reed’s study, 90 per cent of workers who negotiated their most current salary were successful in getting an increase.

The most common increase in salary was between £1,000-£2,499 (42 per cent), followed by over a quarter (27 per cent) receiving a raise between £2,500-£4,999. Men (42 per cent) were more likely to secure this higher pay increase when compared to women (31 per cent).

Simon Wingate - Managing Director of Reed.co.uk - said, “The latest Reed.co.uk data sheds new light on how the gender ‘ask gap’ is perpetuating unequal pay. While the government has taken important strides through the pay transparency pilot, the research shows that more needs to be done to address the disparity in confidence between men and women when discussing salary.

“At a time when the cost of living is rising, the study also shows the value in employees pushing their future employers for a salary increase when being offered a new role and confirms that finding a new job is one of the best possible ways to secure a pay rise,” Mr Wingate said.

Source: SIA

(Quote via original reporting)