Discrimination claims 'could rise' in wake of new act

Employers in the private sector could be hit by a wave of discriminations claims in the wake of the Equality Act introduction in October.

According to legal experts, equal pay firms will look to cash in on the end to pay secrecy clauses.

Diversity campaigners have welcomed moves to close the clauses, which will allow workers to seek pay disclosure from colleagues to reduce salary discrimination in the workplace.

However, law firm Pannone has said the Act will mean employees will be able to disclose salary details to anyone whose enquiry relates to establishing pay discrimination, which could lead to multiple equal pay claims.

David Carmichael, partner at Pannone, said: "Many employers will not realise anybody can ask their employees for information if they are attempting to uncover discrimination. This could lead to a new wave of claims by so-called 'equal pay specialists'."

According to recent research published by Chartered Management Institute and XpertHR, it will be almost six decades before men and women are paid equally in top-flight management roles.

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