One In Five Brits Say It's 'Reasonable' To Pay Women Less Than Men For Doing The Same Job

One In Five Brits Say It's 'Reasonable' To Pay Women Less Than Men For Doing The Same Job

*A shocking new survey by an equal-pay campaign group has revealed one in five Brits think it's 'reasonable' for a man to be paid more than women, even if their jobs are the same.*

The survey of 2,000 Brits, conducted by Fair Pay UK, has reignited debate on inequalities women face in the workplace, particularly around pay, promotion and representation in senior roles.

According to the survey data, one in five (19.5%) said it's "reasonable" to pay a man more than a woman for the same or a similar role - but this grows among under 35s, with more than one in three agreeing (34%).

The polling, carried out in the run up to Equal Pay Day today, Friday, September 18, expose a stark divide in attitudes around equality in the workplace, with the results raising fresh questions about how far Britain has really come with tackling sexism in the workplace.

Almost a fifth (18%) cite a man working more unsociable hours, while the same proportion point to a man's role involving more physical work would justify being paid more. Nearly one in six think it is fair for women to face a pay penalty if "she works part-time".

The data comes more than five decades after landmark equal pay protection came into law, and highlights why some believe differences in pay can be justified, even for work judged to be of equal value and importance.

Campaigners at Fair Pay UK, which represents thousands of hourly paid supermarket shop floor workers in equal pay claims against Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, said the data shows the fight for pay equality is far from over and prejudice may be far more widespread than people think.

Speaking today, Nate Barber, lead lawyer at Fair Pay UK, said: "These findings are a stark warning that progress on equal pay cannot be taken for granted. Decades after equal pay protections came into force, it is deeply troubling that younger people are more likely to accept women being paid less than men for work of equal value.

"The supermarket equal pay claims show why this fight still matters. Some of the UK's biggest employers are accused of underpaying shop floor workers, in roles traditionally done by women, compared with warehouse workers doing work of equal value.

"Equal pay is a legal right, not a privilege. We are encouraged by so many supermarket workers joining our legal action - this makes a difference and forces employers to take note.

"Where employers break the law, they must be held to account. Rights on paper mean little unless people can enforce them."

Fortunately, a closer look at the data offers some reassurance, showing that the overall picture is more encouraging than the headline figures suggest.

A clear majority of those surveyed rejected the idea that men should be paid more than women for the same or a similar role, with 63% saying it would not be reasonable.

While the findings reveal that outdated attitudes towards women in the workplace remain, the wider results suggest that most Brits still believe a person's sex should not determine their value or opportunities at work.

Legal cases are underway against Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, seeking to reclaim billions of pounds for in-store workers who they argue were underpaid throughout their employment.

In the last month alone, thousands of former and current employees have signed up to the cause, joining together to claim what they feel is rightfully theirs.

Nate said: "We have reached a pivotal moment in the fight against larger corporations and the way they can take advantage of people who are just trying to earn an honest living.

"Supermarket workers have been, in our view, taken advantage of and that has a ripple effect across the job market which needs to be corrected before trust can begin to be rebuilt.

"We would encourage anyone on the shop floor who feels that they have not been paid equally by Morrisons, Sainsbury's or Asda to get in touch so we can seek justice on their behalf."

"I am shocked that in 2026, one in five people think a man should be paid more than a woman for doing the same job, or a job of equal value, and we want to be at the forefront of changing those attitudes."

ENDS

Fair Pay UK Research

• The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 2000 Nationally Representative UK Respondents (Aged 18+). The data was collected between 08.09.2026 - 10.09.2026.
• Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council.

About Harcus Parker & Fair Pay UK

• Harcus Parker is a leading UK law firm specialising in group litigation and collective legal actions. The firm represents consumers, employees, investors and businesses in complex claims against major organisations, including equal pay, competition, consumer and financial services litigation.
• It has launched FairPayUK.co.uk to help current and former supermarket shop floor workers understand their rights and check whether they may be eligible to join an equal pay claim to recover back pay they maybe owed. It is designed to make a complex legal process clearer and more accessible, so workers can stand together in a landmark fight for fair pay.
• Head Office: 80 Strand, London, WC2R 0DT
• Website: https://harcusparker.co.uk
• Fair Pay UK: https://claim.fairpayuk.co.uk/T5TM