"Asda workers advance to the final stage of their equal pay battle," 3 February 2025

The Employment Tribunal found in favour of 12 out of 14 women acting as ‘lead claimants’ for the store workers in the action and determined that they have established equal value with some of the lead male comparators.  The judgment covers the time period between August 2008 and June 2014. 

The decision means tens of thousands of Asda shop floor workers have now won two out of the three stages of their equal pay claim – confirming that their roles are comparable and of equal value. The third stage requires Asda to provide a reason, not related to sex, for the difference in pay...

Launched in 2014, the claim is about whether the shop floor workers, who are mainly women, are paid less than distribution workers, who are predominantly men, contrary to equal pay law.  If successful, individual claims could be worth around £20,000.  

The case, which represents the largest ever private sector equal pay claim, will now move to the final stage of the claim where Asda will have to show that there is a reason for the pay difference between store workers and warehouse workers which is not based on sex. Lawyers will also work on applying the Tribunal’s findings to the other claimant job roles (those that were not covered by the 14 lead claimant roles)...