Thousands of current and former Sainsbury’s store workers are involved in an ongoing equal pay claim against the supermarket.
The claim alleges that some store workers may have been paid less than distribution centre employees doing work of equal value. Equal pay law allows workers to bring claims where they believe they have not received equal pay for equal work.
Here is a quick summary of this case.
What is the Sainsbury's equal pay group action about?
Equal pay has become a hot topic in recent years, with many major supermarkets facing legal challenges. Sainsbury’s is one of the supermarket chains involved.
The Sainsbury’s equal pay claim centres on allegations that some store workers may have been paid less than colleagues working in distribution centres, despite the roles being of equal value.
Equal pay law is designed to ensure that men and women receive equal pay for equal work or work of equal value. Many of the claims focus on the fact that store roles have traditionally been carried out predominantly by women, while distribution centre roles have historically been carried out predominantly by men.
Claimant lawyers argue that the difference in pay cannot be justified. Sainsbury’s disputes the allegations.
Who may be affected by the claim?
The claim may be relevant to you if:
- You currently work as an hourly-paid Sainsbury’s store worker
- You worked as an hourly-paid Sainsbury’s store worker within the last six years.
Both current and former employees may potentially be affected.
The claim is not limited to women. Men working in eligible store-based roles may also have an interest in the litigation.
What if Sainsbury's has increased pay?
Sainsbury’s has increased pay rates for store workers in recent years.
However, the equal pay claim concerns allegations about historic pay differences. A pay increase today does not automatically resolve questions about whether workers may have been underpaid in the past.
As a result, current and former workers may still wish to follow developments in the claim.
How much compensation could I receive?
It is not possible to say how much compensation an individual claimant may receive.
Any compensation would depend on a range of factors, including individual circumstances and the outcome of the litigation.
Could Sainsbury's treat me differently for getting involved?
It is unlawful for an employer to treat someone unfairly because they have brought an equal pay claim or exercised their legal rights. If you have concerns about your position, you should seek independent legal advice before deciding whether to take part.
Can I be involved in more than one supermarket equal pay claim?
Potentially, yes. Equal pay claims are brought against individual employers. If you have worked for more than one supermarket facing an equal pay claim, you may wish to explore whether more than one claim could be relevant to your circumstances.
For example, someone who previously worked at Sainsbury’s and later moved to another supermarket involved in similar litigation may potentially be affected by more than one claim.
How can I find out more?
If you think the Sainsbury’s equal pay claim may be relevant to you, you can check out the claim page for updates and further information.
Join the Claim connects consumers with SRA-regulated lawyers. Visit the claim page to check your eligibility if a claim is open with one of our trusted legal partners. If a group action has not yet been launched, you can register your interest and we’ll keep you informed if a partner firm decides to take a claim forward.
