UK clothing retailer Next has won its appeal at the Employment Appeal Tribunal over basic pay in its long-running equal pay litigation, with the tribunal supporting the company's argument that offering warehouse operatives a higher market rate than shop assistants was justified due to recruitment and retention challenges. The retailer stated that direct sex discrimination was not established by either the original Employment Tribunal or the EAT, and that expert evidence linking pay disparities to sex was dismissed. Next was directed in August 2024 to pay millions of pounds to thousands of its sales consultants, but it has now prevailed on most contested terms, including bonus pay for warehouse employees, which was ruled in its favor last year. A handful of other terms, such as paid rest breaks, were not overturned, and Next plans to seek permission to appeal on those points, saying the judgment comes at the right time as the UK economy needs jobs.
Next PLCNext won its appeal in the equal pay dispute, reducing legal liability and supporting its pay practices.
