The results of its first global salary survey, which measures employee sentiment around issues related to the gender pay gap, have just been released by Glassdoor. The survey found that employed Americans believe that employees at their company receive equal pay.
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“While wage disparities do exist, this survey reveals that the majority of employees do not believe their workplace has a gender pay gap,” said Andrew Chamberlain, Glassdoor chief economist, in a press release about the Glassdoor Global Gender Pay Gap Survey.
An overwhelming majority (89%) of employed adults surveyed believe that men and women should be paid equally for similar work and experience levels, including 93% of adults in the United States.
Glassdoor surveyed more than 8,000 adults employed full-time and part-time in seven countries: The United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Switzerland.
In stark contrast to studies that show how much less women make than men. Glassdoor’s survey found that 70% of U.S. employees believe men and women are paid equally at their company, though fewer women (60%) than men (78%) believe this to be true.
In addition, nearly all (93%) of Americans surveyed support fair pay—agreeing men and women should be paid equally for similar work and experience levels. By comparison, 83% of employees in the Netherlands believe men and women are paid equally at their company, as do 77% in Canada, 76% in the UK, 73% in Germany and Switzerland, and 65% in France.
Fair compensation relative to a coworker, regardless of gender, is also an issue. While more than two-thirds (69%) of U.S. employees agree they are compensated fairly relative to their coworkers, women are less likely (65%) than men (73%) to view their compensation as fair.
Also, more than two-thirds (67%) of U.S. employees are not likely to apply where they believe there is a pay gap between men and women for similar work, and significantly more women (81%) than men (55%) feel this way.
Solving the gender pay gap
With regard to the solving the gender pay gap, employed Americans believe new company policies are the best way to reduce gender pay disparities, while employees in Canada and Europe say government legislation is the best way to reduce the gap.
“Across the geographies we surveyed, the support for equal wages is there. And there is general consensus that the best courses of action to ensure equal pay are new company policies around pay and compensation, government legislation requiring employers to pay people equally, and more transparency into salary at all levels,” said Chamberlain.
New company policies, government legislation, clearer communication from senior leaders, and greater internal pay transparency are top contenders for making an impact on the gender wage gap.
Among U.S. employees who believe there is a gender pay gap at their current company:
- 45% believe new company policies around pay and compensation will improve this issue.
- 39% feel that government legislation requiring employers to pay all people equally for equal work and experience will improve the gender pay gap.
- More than one-third (36%) believe clearer communication from senior leaders and human resources about how pay raises, bonuses, and cost of living increases are determined will improve the gap.
- About one-third (34%) are of the opinion that greater internal pay transparency for all roles will help close the gap.
- Nearly one in five women (19%) believe that females should demand pay raises more frequently to make an impact in improving the wage gap, compared to just one in 10 (11%) of men.
Check out the complete results of the Glassdoor Global Gender Pay Gap Survey here.