Next employees have made significant strides in equal pay claims against the company.
- 3,540 current and former staff members won their equal pay tribunal case.
- The case involves disputes over pay equivalence between store and warehouse workers.
- The tribunal granted back-pay compensation for six years to the claimants.
- Next plans to appeal as the company disputes the tribunal’s decision.
In a significant legal milestone, staff members of Next Retail Limited and Next Distribution Limited have garnered success in their prolonged fight for equal pay. After an arduous six-year tribunal process, 3,540 individuals, both current and former employees, have now secured a favourable ruling.
The crux of the dispute centred around pay disparity, with store workers, predominantly women, advocating for salary parity with their counterparts in the warehouses, who are mostly men. The tribunal concluded unanimously that it was unjust for store staff to receive lower compensation than warehouse employees.
In what is seen as an unprecedented move in the private sector, the tribunal’s decision offers the claimants deserved compensation in the form of back-pay extending up to six years. The legal representation from law firm Leigh Day hailed this as a historic triumph for the workers.
Helen Scarsbrook, one of the lead claimants, encapsulated the emotional weight of this decision succinctly: “We did it! We have achieved equal pay for Next sales consultants…” She highlighted the demanding nature of retail work and expressed gratitude towards the tribunal for recognising their contribution as equal.
Despite this landmark victory for the employees, Next has expressed its intention to challenge the ruling. According to a spokesperson, the decision presents complex legal principles and intends to appeal, citing a rejection of most claims, including those concerning direct discrimination and bonus pay.
The tribunal’s ruling marks a significant but contested achievement in the realm of employment equality.
