Equal Pay

[Theland]

My son works as a metal worker, but is on lower pay than colleaguesc, but same responsibilities. Is this unlawful? If so is it criminal or civil?

[Duncer]

Age increments perhaps?

Not excusing it, just looking for possible reasons.

[Prudie]

It would depend on their pay policy but almost certainly not unlawful. Pay is often related to length of service. Many of my colleagues do the same job for varying pay.

[factor-fiction]

No- unless there is a clear patter based on sex- e.g. if all males get less than females doing equivalent jobs.

[Buenchico]

It's perfectly legal. Unless there's a form of discrimination which specifically prohibited by law (such as on the grounds of race, gender, age, sexuality or part-time status), every employee's contract is entirely separate to that of all other employees. (The only other exceptions are where there are collective bargaining agreements in place or where pay is fixed by law, as with teachers).

In the City of London there are people working in the finance industry on, say, £25,000 p.a. (and with minimum holiday entitlements) sitting right next to others who are doing exactly the same job (or possibly even less senior jobs) earning over £100,000 pa (and with double the holidays). Such arrangements are commonplace within the finance sector, where it's clearly understood that one employee's contract of employment has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any other employee's contract. It's 100% lawful and (in my opinion) something to be welcomed.

Chris