Are salaries taking the rise out of women?

THE idea that women get paid lower salaries than their male counterparts because they are less willing to ask for a raise is a myth, claims a new report. Women ask for pay rises just as often as men, but men are 25% more likely to get them, said the research. We asked our Email Jury for their views.

As I was a proprietor of a business, most times when I asked for a raise I told myself I couldn’t afford it! David Collins, Yorkshire.

Years ago when the equal pay act was made law, I represented female staff asking for a rise as we did exactly the same work as men. We got our rise but the next week I was paid off with the excuse of cutbacks. Not one worker stood up for me but they all accepted the rise. I was taught a lesson to see to things on my own. Nancy

Taylor, East Ayrshire.

I retired more than 20 years ago and in most workplaces back then women were paid less than men. I managed to get myself into a job that paid equal but had to fight to get the annual salary increases due to the grade I was in. Liz Kelly,

Glasgow.

If people are doing the same job they should be getting the same remuneration but, on the other hand, using gender as an excuse for backing out of some tasks should be unacceptable.

Hugh McHardy, Keith.

I have asked several times, with mixed fortune. I was not impressed when I found out a male colleague was being paid more for doing the same thing.

Bea Smith, Doncaster.

Go into your boss’s office confident, list why you should get a pay rise, let him respond and see what happens. David Tulanian, Los Angeles.

I remember many years ago when wages were very low and we asked our boss for a rise. He talked us into staying, telling us we would receive a rise at the end of the month. We were shocked but had a laugh when he gave us another halfpenny an hour. Margaret Brown, Rutherglen.

I have never asked for a raise. I worked in the dark ages when men were paid more because they paid the mortgage and women were not long term because they left to have babies. If you were young and married it was quite difficult to get a job because you would soon be pregnant. Elizabeth O’Regan, Lincoln.