Do I have an Equal Pay claim?

You may have an equal pay claim if one of the following applies to you:

• You receive a lower rate of pay, bonuses or less favourable terms than a male colleague doing the same or broadly similar job.  (Legal term - like work)

• Your employer has carried out a job evaluation scheme and your job has been given the same rating or grade as a man in a completely different job.  And you have been receiving lower pay or bonuses or less favourable terms.   (Legal term - Work rated as equivalent)

• Your job requires a similar level of skills, knowledge, and experience to a male colleague who does a completely different job. And you have been receiving lower pay, bonuses or less favourable terms.   (Similar to the above but no job evaluation has taken place)  (Legal term - Work of equal value)

Points to remember

• You can only compare yourself with a person who works for the same employer.

• You can only compare yourself with a person of the opposite sex.

• You may still have an equal pay claim if your salary is the same but the terms of your contract are less favourable.  The terms could include bonuses, sick pay, overtime.

• You do not have to have the same job as your colleague in order to have an equal pay claim.  Your job simply has to be of the same level and require the same skills
  

More information on the time limits to bringing a claim.

Click for ways to find out if you are underpaid.