Employee motivation: Government cuts will increase gender inequality in the workplace, says expert

Date: 11/02/2011

Government cuts may increase gender inequality in the workplace, leading to a lack of employee motivation among women, the Fawcett Society has warned.

Anna Bird, head of policy and campaigns at the society, said that public sector cuts would result in twice as many women as men losing their jobs.

This is because 65 per cent of the public sector workforce is made up of women, meaning that when cuts are made, women will be harder hit, Ms Bird said.

"Those that are lucky enough to get work in the private sector will find themselves working in a sector where the gap in pay between women and men has historically been larger.

"The persistent gap in pay between men and women is one of the starkest examples of inequality in the UK today, but cuts to public spending may actually increase inequality," she added.

Last week, the Institute of Employment Studies warned that government cuts, banking bonuses and youth unemployment were having a direct impact on employee motivation in the UK, as workers feel undervalued and de-motivated.

Posted by David Farrior 

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