Council officer wins 37k at employment tribunal after being paid less than male predecessor. Alan Lewis comments to People Management

A female planning enforcement officer for Kent County Council has been awarded more than £37,000 at an employment tribunal, after partly winning an equal pay claim.

The employee raised concerns after being placed on a lower pay band than her male predecessor, despite undertaking the same responsibilities within Kent County Council's two-person planning enforcement team. A tribunal found that the council had breached the sex equality clause and that its assessment of the employee's role had been influenced by sex.

They reported the council failed to recognise the employee's "more modern way of working" and key strengths - such as emotional intelligence, people skills and team building - compared to the traditional “police-style" skills of her male comparator.

Commenting to People Management, Constantine Law Employment Partner Alan Lewis stressed the importance of employers providing written job descriptions that accurately reflect the work being done and ensuring that job roles are “correctly aligned to grades”.

Alan also warned of how “informal pay drift and inconsistent starting salaries can create equal pay risks”.

You can read the full article - and Alan's insights - here: Council officer wins £37k after being paid less than male predecessor.