Equal Pay

[Fandangle]

Hi. I have been with my company for 2 years now. I was taken on with a full time contract but it was not until my interview that I was told that I would be on 5k a year less than the other employees, doing exactly the same job and hours. The reason being was that it was in line with conditions at another factory 300 miles away and all new employees would be on this contract. so to conclude I am on less money than the majority of my colleagues doing the same job and hours. Is this legal?

[des8]

I would think that not only do you have a claim for equal pay under the Equality Act 2010, but so do those employees at the distant factory.
Tagging Ula

[ULA]

From what you have said have you been paid the £5k less for the full two years you have been working for the company is that correct?

Equal pay is your entitlement to the same wage as someone doing work of equal value to you, the same or broadly similar work as you or work rated as “of equivalent value” by a job evaluation study.
I am not sure of the circumstances but this issue is often but not exclusively, a gender issue - women are sometimes paid less than men for doing the same work.

I would therefore suggest you speak to either your HR department if you have one, or alternatively your manager to try to resolve the issue informally.

If you are unsuccessful, you should then make a claim for lost earnings via and Employment Tribunal who will assess whether there is sufficient grounds for a successful claim.