Campaigner calls for action on workplace inequality

Action needs to be taken to combat gender discrimination in the workplace despite complaints from company bosses, the founder of everywoman has said.

Karen Gill noted that although there may be a facade of equality, there is still a 'massive under-representation' of women in senior executive positions, as well as a significant disparity between male and female pay.

To address this problem, she suggested that business leaders need to be made aware of the benefits of employing a diverse workforce that more accurately reflects their client base.

Ms Gill also touched on the fact that many women would like to have the opportunity to work flexibly, but said this is often ignored by employers who are unwilling to break with tradition.

'I hope that this culture will start to break down because there is still a culture of long hours and confrontational and aggressive behaviour in the boardroom and women are locked out of it,' she commented.

Her remarks follow the announcement of a new Equality Bill by the government last month, which was criticised by some recruiters.