A lot has been done in recent years to raise awareness of the gender pay gap and lessen the difference in pay between sexes, however, a case being held in the next few weeks shows that there is still a long way to go.
About the Case
In a case being held at a tribunal in Manchester over the next two weeks, a former Human Resources Director, Sam Walker, is claiming discrimination and unfair dismissal against Co-Operative Group after asking questions about equal pay. The former director alleges she was sacked after raising an equal pay claim and warning the company that they should not be paying men and women differently for the same roles.
In her witness statement, she said she first raised questions about equal pay in 2015 after comparing her salary to other male executives who sat alongside her on the board. She was dismissed the following year.
Walker said she raised equal pay concerns three times with the group’s then chief executive, Richard Pennycook, between November 2015 and the following January.
She has been joined at the tribunal by BBC journalist Carrie Gracie. Carrie Gracie resigned as BBC China editor in January in a dispute over equal pay. She has since returned to her post after being given back pay.
Ms Walker added in her statement:
“I am committed to the promotion of transparency and fairness for women at work. […] I’ve grown up in a man’s world, I’ve had a 28-year career with mainly just men around the table once I reached senior positions, and all the time I have been conscious that they have been paid more.”
A Co-op spokesman said:
“We do not accept that Sam Walker was discriminated against or treated detrimentally, and intend to fully and robustly defend the various claims brought by Sam.”
Shining a Spotlight on Gender Pay Equality
In 2016, the UK gender pay gap was 9.4% for full-time workers, or 18.1% for all staff. As a result of new gender reporting requirements, this year the BBC has revealed women's mean hourly rate of pay was 10.7% lower than men’s.
Since April 2018, employers with 250 or more employees are required to publish mean and median pay information relating to the gender pay gap in their organisation. The full pay report information must be published on the employer's website every year and left there for at least three years, also it must be uploaded to the Government reporting website.
Assert Your Right to Equal Pay
Walker’s case continues in September. However, as we eagerly await to hear the result, if you would like to learn more about the laws regarding gender equality and pay, please get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable employment law solicitors today.
