Introduce a maximum pay ratio
Executive pay has become divorced from reality. A pay ratio will spread wealth and reduce inequality.
CEOs continue to enjoy pay awards 117 times larger than the average worker. This has contributed towards unacceptable and toxic levels of inequality which damages people and imposes significant costs on society.
Legislation is needed in order to introduce a maximum pay ratio of 20:1. This is in accordance with the same ratio advocated in the CWU’s New Deal for Workers. The ratio should be a bottom-to-top pay ratio and include all contracted staff – covering self-employed workers and not just employees.
In addition, any organisation with a pay ratio over 10:1 would need to show how the economic and social benefits of doing so outweighed the costs.
The maximum pay ratio of 20:1 should be viewed as a baseline, and workers should be able to negotiate with their employer through their workplace union in order to decide on a pay ratio considered suitable by the majority of workers. For example, the New Economics Foundation has agreed a maximum pay ratio of 5:1 with their workplace union.
Tags Better work, more leisure
Find out more
Key documents
- The ratio: Common sense controls for executive pay and revitalising UK business. New Economics Foundation, 2011
- Reform agenda: How to make top pay fairer. High Pay Centre, 2014
Further reading
Policy in practice
Projects that demonstrate the benefits or may be helped by polices like this.
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Space4
Space4 is a co-working space for social enterprises and worker co-operatives in the digital tech sector. -
Equal Care Co-op
Co-op matches those seeking care with care workers and professionally trained volunteers. -
YnNi Teg
YnNi Teg develops and builds renewable energy generators in Wales, funded by community shares. -
The Larder
This workers' co-operative connects local growers with businesses in the fightback against food poverty. -
Schools’ Energy Co-operative
Schools’ Energy Co-operative has installed solar panels on schools across the country, working with a network of local groups. -
Suma Wholefoods
Suma, Europe’s largest equal-pay co-op, recently celebrated its 40th birthday.