New guidelines for sex discrimination

Barton v Investec Henderson Crosthwaite Securities Ltd (EAT TLR 16 April)

No employment tribunal should be seen to condone a city bonus culture involving secrecy and lack of transparency as giving employers a reason for avoiding equal pay obligations. The applicant, who was employed in the financial sector in the City, became aware of apparent discrepancies in salary and discretionary bonuses between herself and certain male employees in the same institution, including an apparent discrepancy in the bonuses awarded in one year of £700,000 between her own case and that of a male colleague. After reviewing in detail the relevant domestic and Community law, the tribunal concluded that fresh guidelines were required as follows: