Next has successfully appealed a ruling that would have required it to equalize pay between warehouse and shop floor staff. The Employment Appeal Tribunal determined that the retailer's higher wages for warehouse workers were justified due to challenges in recruitment and retention. This decision overturns a previous judgment that could have led to over £30 million in back pay for affected employees.
The tribunal found no direct sex discrimination in Next's pay structure, despite the gender disparity between predominantly male warehouse workers and predominantly female shop floor staff. Next plans to seek permission to appeal other aspects of the original ruling, including night-time and overtime pay premiums.