// Over 2,000 Next staff have won the second stage in their equal pay legal case
// Next must now prove that although the work is equal there is a non-discriminatory reason allowing them to pay their sales consultants and warehouse staff differently
Over 2,000 Next store staff taking legal action for equal pay have won the second stage in their battle, which has ruled that their jobs are equal to the warehouse jobs they are comparing themselves too.
The staff, who are all current or former sales consultants for the high-street giant, argued that their work was of equal value to the work of Next’s warehouse operatives and so should be paid at the same rate.
Next disputed their work was equal.
On May 22nd, the Employment Tribunal in Leeds ruled unanimously that the three women who act as “lead claimants” for all the sales consultants in the action did work that was of equal value to the jobs of the men in the warehouse that they compared themselves to.
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Next employs more than 15,000 sales consultants across its 400 plus stores in the UK.
The number of current and former sales consultants joining the legal claim increases week on week. The final compensation value of the claim if successful will likely run into the tens of millions.
Leigh Day said “the victory today marks a significant milestone in the legal case, which began in May 2018. It also means that the women have now won the right to take their fight for equal pay on to its final legal stage.”
Next conceded the comparability stage of the case in 2021 and today’s victory means that the burden now shifts to Next to provide evidence to the Employment Tribunal to justify that although the jobs are equal, the store staff are not entitled to have their pay and terms automatically brought into line with warehouse pay and terms.
That hearing is likely to take place in March 2024.
Leigh Day barrister and partner Elizabeth George said: “We are delighted that our Next clients have won this crucial battle. It is a legal win, obviously, but it means a great deal more than that to the people bringing these claims.”
“The sales consultants, overwhelmingly women, had been told by Next that their work is not as demanding as the warehouse operative’s work and so does not attract equal pay and other benefits currently denied to them. The Employment Tribunal has found, unanimously, that the work is equal. The end is now in sight for the sales consultants after a battle lasting five years.”
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