Bar staff to be given right to quiz employers on equal pay

Bar staff, who fear they are not being paid as much as their counterparts, will be able to confront their boss from April.

Business In Sport and Leisure (BISL) has been pressing the government to ensure that all employees have the right to request key information from their employers, to establish whether or not they are receiving equal pay.

This should not only ensure that women get the same pay as men if they are doing the same job, but that anyone who suspects they are being paid less than their colleagues with the same responsibilities and experience will be able to put the matter straight.

But on the other side of the fence it could mean more work for licensees. To request pay information, employees will have to fill out a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) equal Pay Questionnaire and employers will use the same form to respond.

And although pub companies are not forced to respond, employment tribunals may speculate or draw inferences if there is no reply - which could make things much worse.

Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association, said it shouldn't be a worry for licensees: "If licensees are paying someone more than another person its usually because they have more responsibilities. In most cases men and women are treated equally."

Meanwhile, April will also see new laws come into effect that will give both parents the right to ask for flexible working hours.

Anita Coaster, employment expert at Laytons law firm, said: "Employers need to be aware of the acceptable grounds for refusal and the time limits and procedures for dealing with requests from parents who have children under six or disabled children under 18."

Acceptable grounds for refusal include the burden of extra costs to the business, not being able to meet customer demand, decline in quality and inability to find temporary substitute staff.