We read that multi-claimant employment solicitors Leigh Day are taking a class action against Tesco, who are cutting pay rates for night and weekend shift workers on hourly rates.
The complaint is by workers who are unhappy at pay rates decreasing for weekends, bank holidays and night shifts.
17 employees are involved in the test case to protest against the cut introduced in July. The employment solicitors involved in the case believe that 38,000 members of staff could be affected.
It often comes as a surprise to employees but employers are allowed to reduce pay and conditions as long as they introduce the changes in the right way, which includes proper consultation. Tesco agreed the changes after consultation with union in February. The move was accompanied by a 3% pay rise to staff and a lump sum to those affected. The employees concerned were given 18 months of the difference in their pay as compensation.
However, the main change has been that double time for Sunday and bank holiday shifts becomes time and a half instead.
The employment law issue is that the hourly-paid staff are mostly those over the age of 40 years old. Therefore this could be seen age-discrimination unless it is justified, which is a tough legal test for Tesco to beat.
In a trend that we anticipate will become even stronger after Brexit, retailers are making cuts to staff wages.
It is the longer-serving staff in these businesses who usually suffer the most, said the employment solicitors bringing the case.
The transition payment was equivalent to the loss in pay over the next 18 months. Tesco did not confirm how many workers were affected but said it was a small number.
We hear that Marks & Spencer may be facing similar issues. Recently they reduced the earnings of about 10% of its shop-floor workers by cutting anti-social hours payments.