A majority of women still experience sex discrimination in the workplace, a damning UK audit reveals.

The extraordinary findings of a nationwide poll shows most have fears about personal safety and harassment at offices and factories across the country.

More than two thirds said they still experience gender-based discrimination while 70% of said they did not feel safe in the workplace with the most common reasons given as personal security, including lone working, a lack of protection from bullying and harassment, and physical safety.

The state-of-the-nation snapshot, which saw 101 business titans surveyed, was commissioned to mark International Women’s Day by UK personalised workwear provider MyWorkwear.

Gayle Parker, Commercial Director at MyWorkwear, said: “Workplace equality isn’t just about pay.

“It’s about safety, inclusion and ensuring women feel safe when they go, attend and come back from work. The results are clearly telling us that this is not the case, and firms need to take action to turn this worrying trend around.

“We want to encourage the next generation of female leaders to believe they can achieve anything, and this must start with ensuring the workplace is safe, inclusive and that staff are fitted out with the right clothing. It’s the basic things that can make such a huge productivity difference.”

Asked what factors made them feel like an equal member of the team, respondents ranked equal pay for equal work as the most important, followed by opportunities for training and career progression.

Data shows 62% of women have been expected to wear men’s fit or unisex fit items in the workplace at some point in their career in what was described as a “shocking” indictment of sexism that still exists.

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Last year Baroness Harriet Harman was appointed the new role of UK special envoy for women and girls in a bid to ensure women and girls are empowered and their rights protected.