Executive on £110,000 loses equal pay fight

A FORMER executive on £110,000 a year who claims she was paid 40 per cent less than her male colleagues at the Talktalk telecommunications company has lost an equal pay fight against the firm.

Former programme director Rebecca Burke, 43, took the company to an employment tribunal claiming she was paid less than three male colleagues, arguing they had the same job titles and responsibilities.

In a ruling, the London Central Employment Tribunal dismissed the claim of sex discrimination as well as another of unfair dismissal regarding her redundancy.

Ruling out the equal pay claim, the tribunal found the roles between Mrs Burke and the three men could not be regarded as “like” or “equal” work.

Talktalk said the men had different comparative experiences, skills and capabilities.

In the judgment published yesterday, Employment Judge Graeme Hodgson said there was “clear water” between Mrs Burke’s role at the company and that of her colleagues.

A Talktalk spokeswoman said of the ruling: “We are fully committed to treating all our employees fairly and there is no disparity in pay between genders.”