Should the working class get paid less?

Poll

Should the working class get paid less than those from higher class backgrounds?

A story on the BBC today has shown that individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds are paid £6,800 less on average each year than those from more affluent families :confused:

The class pay gap was highest in finance at £13,713, followed by the medical profession at £10,218 and then by information technology at £4,736.
The study, featuring over 90,000 respondents, found the gap was partly caused by differences in educational background, along with the tendency of middle-class professionals to work in bigger firms and move to London for work.

The research also highlighted that black and ethnic minority professionals earnt less than similar white colleagues.

Are you surprised by the Social Mobility Commission's findings, or did you expect it?

Do you know anyone affected by the pay gap?

How do you think it could be decreased/addressed?

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

Welshstig

So people who came from richer backgrounds got a better education and therefore better job prospects and are therefore paid better? Makes sense tbh. Nonetheless, if this is the case, then surely, we should be addressing the quality of education provided to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds as apposed positive discrimination.

Reply 2

Fadel

Society shouldn't be divided into classes. That's the first problem.

Reply 3

midnightice

It's mainly about social capital.

I come from a working-class background but have a strong academic record with solid work experience, on par with many privately educated students in my year group. From my experience they find it easier to network in a professional environment, and in general have better social skills. It seems to come naturally to them given their background, so such disparities aren't that surprising.

Reply 4

PrinceWilliams

Original post by Fadel

Society shouldn't be divided into classes. That's the first problem.

Agreed.

Also, I have friends who interned at the BBC and one who is now a researcher there. They're classist too, heavily prefer middle class :rofl:

Reply 5

Len Goodman

I don't see what the problem is. The working class are, on the whole, less intelligent and therefore are more likely to end up in lower paying jobs.

This is exactly why all this socialist equality tripe makes no sense. Why should a supermarket shelf stacker be worth the same as a doctor? Supermarket workers are a dime a dozen and can be replaced at the drop of a hat, whereas doctors have years of education and specialist training, and actually contribute something to society.

Reply 6

Pigster

Original post by Len Goodman

I don't see what the problem is.

One of us has missed the point.

I understand the OP is drawing attention to the difference between two people who come from different backgrounds, but are in the same jobs - but get paid differently.

If I'm right, it's wrong.

Reply 7

gshock

People tend to miss out that, those with wealth tend to send their kids to private schools which have crazy fees of like 12k a year, of course their standard of teaching may or not be better, but on a cv those schools stand out and especially when applying for top universities. some boy who lives across the road from me (east london, real poor and bad area) however his parents saved up and sent him to private college to sit his a levels, he went previously to a state school and said the teaching was about 10x better than state school teaching. he also said in university interviews it made a difference as nearly all candidates he met at uni also went to private school, hes at oxford btw.

Reply 8

IreneG

Education, wealth, social capital, nurture... All of them are morally arbitrary, yet set to give some children a head start over others and bring about tangible inequalities of outcome between classes. Now, some of these things are impossible to combat; others would impose too high an economic, political, and social cost; but certainly some degree of governmental meddlesomeness in the sustainment of wealth and power by the same social strata can be feasible.

As the OP suggested, the amount and quality of education rank people in the queue for the better-rewarded jobs. There’s a vast room for manoeuvre in this field, from banning private schools altogether to boosting public spending on the state sector, passing through the introduction of “meritorious admissions procedures” -as it were- to the best-funded and most prestigious state schools…

Overpaying workers would only bring about unnecessary inefficiencies and harm the very social group it pretends to ail. One must tackle the root of the problem, not its symptoms.

Reply 9

cherryred90s

Original post by Len Goodman

Did you even read the article?

'But even when professionals had the same educational attainment, role and experience, those from poorer families were paid an average of £2,242 less, the Social Mobility Commission's study found.'

Reply 10

Allie4

Why on earth should they?

You should be paid for how hard you work, not your background

Reply 11

RF_PineMarten

Original post by Len Goodman

Why should a supermarket shelf stacker be worth the same as a doctor?.

They shouldn't, and they're not, and no one is saying they should be so your statement is pointless. Don't just take arguments to the extreme for no reason.

Reply 12

username2172501

This is a horrific idea. It is discrimination, the fact that this is even a thing is dreadful.

Reply 13

Drewski

Original post by Len Goodman

When your mental age is the same as the number shown in your profile picture, it's better for everyone if you don't speak.

Reply 14

AperfectBalance

"differences in educational background, along with the tendency of middle-class professionals to work in bigger firms and move to London for work."

Ok so middle class people have a tendency to do things that can lower their pay by working in london and in bigger firms seems fine to me.
Upper class people probably have had a better education than middle class people (Mostly) and might have more qualifications so companies are willing to pay more to keep them in the job than someone who is middle class and happens to also be a bit more disposable.

It is like the gender pay gap it is a gross manipulation of statistics as there are tons of reasons why there is a difference, and anyway welcome to a capatalist society the best society at this time.

Reply 15

cambio wechsel

Original post by AperfectBalance

the distinction being drawn in the article is between the working class and the middle class. The upper class in Great Britain is so small as to be irrelevant here.

I simply cannot imagine how you think moving to London or working in a bigger firm is a factor which lowers pay, as you seem to.

Reply 16

cambio wechsel

The thread header and the poll, both suggesting that this might by a matter of taste, are preposterous. You'd think it was near impossible to cock-up only retreading a BBC article but it would seem not.

Reply 17

BigYoSpeck

There are elements of peers, confidence and negotiating power to consider in this as well. If you're coming from a working class upbringing into a professional/graduate level job that salary is paying more than your parents had, is in line or more than your social peers earn then you are going to be more accepting of an offer. Someone coming from an affluent background, with a social group typically in a high pay band is going to have higher expectations and thus negotiate harder for pay, out of a perceived necessity.

This is before we even contemplate potential merit factors owing to a better education and parental guidance.

If you're a graduate or professional who has made a step up in achievement from your parents don't let side issues like social mobility distract you. Maybe it's not fair, but your energy is still better spent towards goals of being rewarded on merit rather than the issue being corrected by policy. And be happy that your children can build upon the foundations you've laid. Assuming of course that you buck the trend of middle-class people not having children at the rate of the working class.

Reply 18

l'etranger

This is one of those emotive issues where you'll never get a sensible answer. It's not really unfair, middle class people are better workers and make decisions which allow them to provide more value and thus earn a higher salary, on the other hand most class issues in this country stem from culture rather than material wealth. What bright working class kids need is someone who knows the game to just lean in and set them straight so they can apply themselves and make better decisions.