Talktalk boss says she was paid 40pc less than male colleagues

A FORMER manager of Talktalk is suing the telecoms giant after allegedly learning that she earned 40 per cent less than male colleagues doing the same job.

Rebecca Burke, 42, was paid a basic salary of £110,000 as she helped lead the company’s cyber security programme after a high-profile data breach. The 42-year-old, who was made redundant in May 2017, claims three other programme directors had salaries an average of 40 per cent higher and were awarded at least 50 per cent more in bonuses.

A tribunal claim has been brought against Talktalk on the grounds it breached equal pay law and dismissed her unfairly.

Ms Burke, from Yateley, Hants, ran the cyber security programme and a £20million trial project to bring fibre optic broadband to three million homes”. She was told in May 2017 that her skills were no longer required, but the three male staff she worked alongside all kept their jobs.

Before the start of her employment tribunal in central London last week, she said: “People I trusted and respected took advantage of my hard work for two years and that hurts. I can’t change what happened, but if I don’t challenge it then I’ll perpetuate an inequality that has overshadowed British business for far too long.” Ms Burke had been hired by Talktalk in April 2015 and had begun working alongside three other male programme directors by September.

The following month hackers inflicted a data breach on the company that resulted in the loss of 150,000 customers and £77 million in business. Talktalk was fined a record £400,000 for the security failings in 2016.

Ms Burke said she hoped her case will “strengthen the resolve of other women” who face workplace inequality. Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, the women’s rights charity, said: “Pay discrimination can happen to anyone. We know from the cases we see that it is much more common than people think but incredibly difficult for women to challenge. Our legal system needs an overhaul to give women access to justice.”

The hearing was due to start last week but will now be heard next year after Ms Burke’s barrister asked for a new tribunal panel to sit on the case. Talktalk has an average gender pay gap of 14.6 per cent and an average bonus gap of 31.6 per cent, according to its 2018 Gender Pay Report.

A Talktalk spokesman said: “We strongly refute these claims and we do not tolerate gender discrimination of any sort, including with regards to pay.

“This is an ongoing case so we cannot comment any further. However, we’re committed to treating all our employees fairly and we are confident there is no disparity in pay between men and women.”