Workplace discrimination against young women is on the rise in the South East, according to new research from the charity Young Women’s Trust.
The study reveals that rates of discrimination have hit a three-year high, with 49% of young women experiencing it in 2024, compared to 38% in 2022.
The survey also included managers involved in recruitment and HR decisions, over a quarter admitted to being aware of young women facing discrimination in the past year.
The research found that discrimination is multilayered with young women reporting prejudice based on age (25%), sex (15%), appearance (15%), and because of a long term mental health condition (17%).
Evidence of pay discrimination continues and despite it being illegal, a quarter (25%) of young women said that they have been paid less than male colleagues who do the same or similar work. This has been disappointingly consistent for the last three years (25% in 2022 and 27% in 2023).
From an employer perspective, 6% of HR decision makers surveyed admitted that they were aware of women being paid less than men for jobs at the same level. When asked about gender pay gap reporting, 14% don’t think that their organisation takes the reporting seriously enough.
Furthermore, more than 3 in 10 (31%) young women said that women and men are not given the same opportunities to progress in their organisation. This was mirrored by feedback from HR decision makers with a slightly lower proportion (24%) agreeing that it is harder for women to progress in their organisation than men.
Sexual harassment is still a devastatingly common feature of working life - over a quarter (26%) of young women said they had experienced this. More than 3 in 10 (31%) HR decision makers agreed that sexist behaviour still exists in their organisation.
Whilst discrimination is spiralling, almost a fifth (19%) of young women say that they don’t know their rights in relation to workplace discrimination. Almost a quarter (23%) say that if it did happen they wouldn't feel comfortable to challenge or report it and almost 2 in 5 (38%) would not feel confident to challenge pay inequality.
This new data highlights the need for more protection for young women in the workplace and stronger enforcement. As the Government looks to strengthen and simplify enforcement of worker’s rights as part of its Employment Rights Bill and plan to Make Work Pay, Young Women’s Trust are calling for young women to be part of the design of the enforcement system to make sure it’s accessible and effective.
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