The number of young women being discriminated against at work is on the rise in the East Midlands according to new research from the charity Young Women’s Trust. Rates of discrimination are at a three year high (56% of young women said they have experienced this in 2024, up from 44% in 2022).
Managers responsible for recruitment and HR decisions were also surveyed and almost a third (33%) confirmed that they were aware of instances of young women being discriminated against in the past year.
The research found that discrimination is multilayered with young women reporting prejudice based on age (29%), sex (15%), appearance (18%), and because of a long term mental health condition (18%).
Evidence of pay discrimination continues and despite it being illegal, over a fifth (22%) 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 (23% in 2022 and 18% 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, almost a fifth (19%) don’t think that their organisation takes the reporting seriously enough.
Furthermore, more than 3 in 10 (31%) young women told us 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 even more (36%) 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 – almost 3 in 10 (28%) young women told us they had experienced this. Almost 4 in 10 (38%) HR decision makers agreed that sexist behaviour still exists in their organisation.
Whilst discrimination is spiralling, almost a fifth (17%) 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 over a third (35%) would not feel confident to challenge pay inequality.
Sarah*, who started working at 18, has faced ongoing discrimination in the workplace due to her age, race, gender, and health. Reflecting on her experiences, she said: “I was treated differently from everyone else because of my race and education. In my first job, I was given fewer hours, and colleagues would leave the store untidy when they knew I was on shift. Later, at a call centre, I disclosed my mental health and health issues, but my request for reasonable adjustments was ignored, and I was let go after three months. I now know I should have gone straight to HR, but back then, I was scared of losing my job or getting a bad reference. The discrimination wasn’t always explicit, but I could feel it – whether it was complicated interview questions or being treated unfairly. Employers need to truly believe in what they promote and provide real support for employees, especially women and those with disabilities.”
This new data highlights the desperate 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.
Young Women’s Trust are also urging employers to act now and address discrimination – creating workplace cultures where unfair treatment is not tolerated. Resources for employers are available here.
Claire Reindorp, Chief Executive at Young Women’s Trust, said: “Discrimination should have no place in our workplaces but the reality is that as a young woman in 2024 you are more likely than not to be experiencing it. We cannot accept that this is just a normal part of working life. Its harmful effects will scar young women well into their futures, from shattered confidence and poor mental health to a lifetime of lower pay. Most urgently, we must address the deeply alarming rise in racial discrimination that Black and Asian young women are facing at work. Only then will we have a workforce with equal chances to contribute and succeed, for the benefit of everyone.”
Read the full report here. We can provide key data and insights to journalists on request prior to its release.
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