Next wins appeal to overturn £30m equal pay ruling

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has overturned Next's 2024 equal pay judgment that required the retailer to pay shop staff the same basic wage as warehouse workers.

• The tribunal accepted that Next was justified in paying warehouse staff a higher basic rate because of recruitment and retention pressures.
• The overturned ruling would have delivered more than £30m in back pay to 3,500 mainly female employees; claims now exceed 6,400 claimants.
• Leigh Day, representing store workers, described the basic pay conclusion as "disappointing" and said it will appeal the decision.
• The tribunal upheld 2024 findings on night-time premiums, overtime premiums and paid rest breaks; Next said it will seek permission to appeal them.