A survey of 320 senior executives around the world reveals 76% are opposed to legislating equal pay for women. The survey was conducted by BlueSteps.com, the career management service of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC).

“Pay inequality remains a powerful disincentive to women and ultimately deprives business of top talent,” noted AESC president Peter Felix.

“Businesses must self-regulate fairness in pay to ensure that top talent can ascend to the top C-suite [senior executive positions] regardless of gender or any other differences. If the gap doesn’t close, it will negatively impact diversity at the top level – and every level – of business. It shrinks the talent pool and ultimately hurts business. This is why top search firms have been aggressive in deploying diversity programs – to assure the best talent is brought to the negotiating table for the top jobs.”

Respondents were from the following regions: North America (66%); Europe (16%); Asia Pacific (12%); Latin America (4%); Africa (1%); and other (1%).