Around 60,000 current and former Tesco store workers are involved in an ongoing equal pay claim against the supermarket.
The claim alleges that some Tesco store workers may have been paid less than distribution centre workers doing work of equal value. According to reports, the alleged pay differences may range from £1.72 to £6 per hour, depending on the role, period and individual circumstances.
If you currently work at a Tesco store, or worked there within the last six years, it is not too late to join the claim.
What is the Tesco equal pay claim about?
Equal pay law allows workers to bring claims where they believe they have not received equal pay for equal work.
The Tesco equal pay claim alleges that some store workers may have been paid less than distribution centre workers doing work of equal value. The claim has been progressing through the courts and is now one of the largest equal pay cases currently underway in the UK.
The claim has been reported as worth up to £4 billion overall.
Where is the Tesco equal pay claim up to?
A major tribunal hearing began on 1 May 2026 in relation to the Tesco equal pay claim.
Tesco is attempting to defend the alleged pay differences by referring to market rates and operational needs. The company argues that there are legitimate reasons for differences in pay between store and distribution centre roles.
In May, the Court of Appeal said Tesco’s equal pay case could rely heavily on Tesco’s own training and operational documents when assessing what shop floor roles actually require workers to do. Tesco had argued the focus should be more on what staff did day-to-day in practice, rather than written materials, but most of those arguments were rejected.
This was a procedural development and does not mean Tesco has been found liable or that compensation has been awarded. Nevertheless, it is viewed as an important step in the ongoing litigation and a positive development for claimants.
Who may be eligible?
You may be eligible to join the Tesco equal pay claim if:
- You currently work as a Tesco store worker in England, Wales or Scotland and are paid by the hour
- You worked as a Tesco store worker in England, Wales or Scotland within the last 6 years and were paid by the hour.
Both men and women may be eligible.
The claim remains open. However, if you think you may be eligible, it is usually sensible to check sooner rather than later.
How much compensation could I receive?
We cannot say exactly how much compensation you may receive if you win an equal pay claim against Tesco. Any amount would depend on your individual circumstances, including your role, hours worked, length of employment and the outcome of the claim.
The alleged pay differences may range from £1.72 to £6 per hour, depending on the role, period and individual circumstances.
The claim has also been reported as worth up to £4 billion overall, but this is an estimate and not a guarantee of any individual outcome.
Other retailers are facing similar claims
Equal pay claims are brought against individual employers. That means a claim against Tesco is separate from a claim against Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s or the Co-op.
Each claim is based on that employer’s pay practices and employment arrangements.
If you’ve worked for more than one supermarket facing an equal pay claim, it may be possible to join more than one legal action.
For example, someone who worked for Teso before moving to Morrisons may potentially be affected by claims involving both supermarkets.
How do I check if I may be eligible?
Checking whether you may be eligible only takes a few minutes.
If you currently work at a Tesco store, or worked there within the last six years, you can complete our eligibility check to find out whether you may qualify to join the claim.
If eligible, we’ll ask whether you’d like to be introduced to a specialist UK law firm handling Tesco equal pay claims.
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.
