UK workers could get right to check colleagues' pay

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in the UK has proposed a major push for workplace transparency, suggesting that employers should be legally required to respond to inquiries regarding colleagues' pay to tackle pay discrimination.

Currently, UK employers are permitted to ask job applicants about their current salary, although candidates are under no obligation to disclose it. The new proposal aims to break a cycle where past compensation dictates future earnings, a practice that often disadvantages women.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

In addition to salary transparency among colleagues, the EHRC urged lawmakers to ban employers from asking about salary history when extending job offers. Under the proposed framework, employers would have to provide specific information within a designated timeframe, including:

• Basic pay and hours worked by colleagues
• How employee pay compares across the organization
• Details regarding bonuses, overtime, shift-premiums, and performance pay

"When they do, what tends to happen is that can embed a history of disadvantage or discrimination in future salaries"

John Kirkpatrick, EHRC Chief Executive

John Kirkpatrick, the EHRC chief executive, told the BBC that relying on salary history when setting pay tends to embed a history of disadvantage or discrimination into future salaries. While employers should be allowed to offer competitive pay, it should not create a discriminatory pattern.