Tesco made changes to their pay structures earlier in the year which resulted in an increase to basic pay but a decrease in pay related to unsocial hours, weekend work and bank holidays. As a result, 17 long-serving Tesco workers have reportedly initiated employment tribunal claims against the supermarket chain.
It is claimed that this reduction in pay impacts more on one particular age-group and gender and as such claims for discrimination are being brought.
Tesco is, of course, not the only retail giant surrounded in controversy around changes to pay, companies like B&Q and Marks & Spencer have also recently been criticised for such issues. These matters highlight how important it is to be aware of the potential risks involved when changing terms and conditions. In such cases, it is important that a risk assessment is carried out to assess the impact, a fair procedure involving consultation is followed and the business reasons for the decision are sound and clearly documented.