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Being open about wages can help prevent suspicion in the workplace, according to the assistant general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Speaking to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, Kay Carberry said that there is a general 'culture of secrecy' in the British workplace that can lead to a 'level of suspicion', especially regarding the amount paid to men and women.

'It is very easy to hide discrimination if you are not open about your pay rate,' she comments.

Employers looking to recruit 'the best talent' should instead try to demonstrate they treat their employees fairly, she adds.

Karen Cole, acting head of equality at the Unite trade union, also believes that openness about pay is good for employers and their staff, saying that she is 'delighted' by a new study which claimed that almost two-thirds of employees would be comfortable revealing their salary.