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Co-op Exec Wins £100k Equal Pay Battle
17 Apr
Summary
- Executive awarded £101,373 after nearly a decade-long equal pay dispute.
- An independent assessment confirmed her role matched or exceeded male colleagues.
- She claimed unfair dismissal after raising concerns about gender pay disparity.
A senior Co-op executive has successfully concluded an almost ten-year fight for equal pay, receiving £101,373 in compensation. Samantha Walker, who formerly earned £425,000 annually, claimed she was unfairly paid less than her male colleagues and subsequently dismissed for raising these grievances.
An independent assessment by the Hay Group in January 2015 found that Ms. Walker's role was as high or higher than other male executives. Despite this, her performance grading was later lowered to 'partially achieving.' She argued this grading was unfair and retaliatory after she highlighted pay disparities.
The employment tribunal in Manchester, which ruled in her favour in 2018, has now settled her compensation. Her claims for unfair dismissal, equal pay, and sex discrimination were upheld, though other complaints were dismissed. The final compensation settlement was confirmed recently, marking the end of a lengthy legal process.
