Equal pay poser???

[duckEgg]

G'd'evening.
Few whispers going around my workplace that 2 workers who do an identical job should be on equal pay despite unequal length of service.
Seems strange that a new starter could earn the same as someone who's been doing the job for 10 years??
Grateful of anyones opinion on this one!
Thanks

[Ice.Maiden]

If the newcomer's up to scratch, then yes, I think the pay should be equal.

[buildersmate]

No, there is not an obligation for the employer to pay the same. And particularly not if there are different lengths of service.
However the Equal Pay Act 1970 does come into this for differentials between men and women. The purpose of this Act is to eliminate discrimination in terms of their pay and contracts of employment where they are doing:
� work that is the same or broadly similar
� work rated as equivalent under a job evaluation study
� work of equal value in terms of the demands made on them under headings such as effort, skill and decision-making.