Labour Research May 2000

Features: Law Matters

Equal pay limited

Women who win equal pay claims only have the right to be paid at the same level as their male comparator even if they have worked many more years and would have entitlement to service increments. This ruling from the Court of Appeal is a timely reminder of just how important the selection of the comparable worker is in equal pay cases. Where there are service increments it is important to try and select a comparator who most matches the employee in length of service, as well as in the nature of the work that they do.