January is back to being the bleakest month of they year after analysis claims top UK Fat Cats will earn more by lunchtime today than the average UK worker will all year. Join us in weeping into our cost-effective, cellophane-wrapped sandwich a little later.
According to recent analysis by UK think-tank High Pay Centre, the average FTSE 100 boss earns more than £1,000 an hour, calculating that they will to pass the average UK salary of £28,200 by around midday today.
The think-tank has estimated that top bosses earn 129 times more than their employees, with the head of the High Pay Centre Stefan Stern suggesting companies should be forced into publishing pay proportions.
"Our new year calculation is not designed to make the return to work harder than it already is," he said. "But 'Fat Cat Wednesday' is an important reminder of the continuing problem of the unfair pay gap in the UK.
"We hope the government will recognise that further reform to pay practices are needed if this gap is to be closed."
The alarming findings are aimed to prompt Prime Minister Theresa May to act on her vow to reform capitalism and redress economic grievances underlying last year's shock Brexit vote.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady also responded to the analysis, adding: "Working people deserve a fair share of the wealth they help create.
"But while the pay of top executives has been rocketing up, the average weekly wage is still worth less than it was nine years ago."
Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.
