PAY DISCRIMINATION
Changes to equal pay code
The Equal Opportunities Commission has urged employers, lawyers and unions to have their say in the consultation on the revised Code of Practice on Equal Pay.
The code originally came into effect in 1997 and is admissible as evidence in employment tribunal proceedings. It is a quasi-statutory document employers are not obliged to follow its recommendations, but an employment tribunal may take account of any failure to do so. The code aims to help employers, employees and their representatives by giving practical guidance on how to make sure pay systems are free of bias.
A final word
"Doing a pay review will uncover any hidden discrimination in your pay systems. It will demonstrate commitment to equality and help prevent expensive and time-consuming equal pay claims that can damage your reputation. And this will help you attract and retain the best people for your business and cut your recruitment costs.
We have updated the code to make it easier to understand and to incorporate our Equal Pay Kit to help you do a pay review. Now we need to know whether it meets your needs. This is an important tool for tackling unequal pay, so please help us get it right." - Julie Mellor, chair of the EOC.
Want to know more?
The consultation is available on the EOC web site at www.eoc.org.uk. Or call the EOC helpline, tel: 0845 601 5901.
The consultation period will end on 21 February 2003. Responses should be sent to Ms Debbie Tetlow, EOC, Arndale House, Arndale Centre, Manchester M4 3EQ.
S56-A of the Sex Discrimination Act empowers the EOC to produce codes of practice. Once in effect a code is admissible in evidence in any proceedings under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 or the Equal Pay Act 1970 (each as amended), before an employment tribunal. Any provisions of the code which appear to the tribunal to be relevant to any question arising in the proceedings shall be taken into account in determining that question. S56-A sets out the procedure for obtaining parliamentary approval for such a code.
The Equal Pay Act gives women (or men) a right to equal pay for equal work. The Equal Pay Act specifically deals with the pay of women compared to men, (or vice versa), and not same sex comparisons.
Posted 2 January 2003