Next overturns equal pay ruling that raised basic wages for shop staff

Next, the UK retailer led by Conservative peer Simon Wolfson, has won an appeal against a 2024 court ruling that forced it to pay its shop workers the same basic pay rates as warehouse employees. The employment appeal tribunal upheld the key issue of basic pay in the case, dismissing Next's attempt to justify lower rates for shop staff, who are predominantly female.

The retailer had faced accusations from 3,540 claimants that it paid its retail sales staff, predominantly women, lower hourly wages than its warehouse workers, predominantly male. The case has attracted over 6,400 claimants since its inception. Next argued that it should not be required to pay the same basic pay to store assistants and warehouse operatives due to differing market conditions and working requirements.

The retailer claimed it had to pay higher rates to warehouse staff due to recruitment and retention pressures, a situation not applicable to its store employees. The law firm representing Next said the appeal was a "mixed ruling", as it upheld the tribunal's findings on night-time premiums, overtime premiums, and paid rest breaks for store workers, but rejected Next's challenge to other aspects of the ruling.