Only eight per cent of men believe female pay disparity exists despite all the evidence to the contrary, the Association of Corporate Counsel has revealed. In a survey of 1800 global inhouse lawyers from 53 countries, the research found that female corporate counsel were getting a raw deal compared to their male colleagues - discriminated against in promotions and salary. The findings revealed that a higher percentage of women than men occupy lower salary categories, and men are more likely than women to occupy higher salary categories - a higher proportion of men in six of seven tiers earn beyond $199,000.

Promotions

Furthermore, over a third of female respondents have trouble finding satisfactory jobs after an absence of six months or less. Women were significantly more likely than men to have taken temporary leave of three to six months. One in four women have taken leave to provide dependent care compared with one in 20 men. The percentage of women who say it was difficult to find a new position after an absence from the workforce doubles from three in 10 to six in 10 if the leave extends beyond one year. The percentage of women who report taking a desirable job also shrinks considerably for those out of the workforce for a year or more.