Pay law

Pay law is the general name for the laws relating to compensation for employment. It is a subset of employment law and deals with specific areas such as equal pay, overtime pay and of course the minimum-pay law (also known as minimum wage).

The rules that are derived from pay law have been created over many years through both parliament legislation and common law. Traditionally, the laws relating to employment were focused on protecting the employer. Over the centuries, however, with the advancement of the industrial revolution and later, civil rights, the laws became more concerned with protecting the individual. In particular, under employment law, equal pay developed as an undisputable principle.

The UK’s partnership in the European Union means that the laws relating to employment are also affected by the decisions of the European Commission. The equal pay employment law (gender discrimination law) is an example of such a development. It is now illegal for an employer to pay a wage to women that is different from that which would be paid to men, if the position is of a similar nature. If the work being done by the employees is similar, the employer cannot circumvent this rule by, for example, having a different title or shift for the man and woman.

Many people think that equal pay is now a reality in all industries, however, this is not the case and is correlated to the 'glass ceiling' experienced by woman in the workforce. In employment law, equal pay claims are still common claims.

If you are in a dispute regarding pay, the first point of call should probably be the employment contract. However, as pay law has evolved through a complex series of legislation and regulations, certain terms in the employment contract may not be enforceable by law. A solicitor will be invaluable in helping you to understand your options.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on pay law, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local Employment Solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local Employment Solicitors please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.

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