Police bosses in Staffordshire could be hit by a wave of sex and age discrimination lawsuits unless the force’s pay structure is changed, an official report has claimed.
Staffordshire Police Authority is vulnerable to legal action from staff because of a pay scale introduced in 1999.
Fears of pay gaps between men and women who work for the force have sparked a salary review, which looks set to be approved this week.
The force’s options for changing its pay structure have been published in a human resources document.
While it is currently possible to earn significant pay rises in the police force without changing role, this will soon change.
The new system will see salary bands shrink and the basic level of pay increase.
The document, seen by the Mail, says: “In 2010, Staffordshire Police committed to Unison that police staff pay structures would be reviewed.
“While this pay structure has served Staffordshire Police well for more than 10 years, there have recently been growing national concerns over potential age and or sex discrimination issues inherent in broad and overlapping bands.”
The report continues: “Any further delay to the introduction of new pay structures would expose the police authority to unacceptable risks in respect of age or sex discrimination claims.
“Staffordshire Police therefore agreed with Unison to remodel the police staff pay structure based on existing job evaluation scores.”
Meanwhile the force continues to consider its options in the wake of a controversial Government report into public sector pensions.
Trade unions argued the changes proposed in the Hutton Report would leave public sector works out of pocket by making them pay increased contributions.
The human resources team at Staffordshire Police continues to monitor the situation.
A national ballot for industrial action among public sector workers will be held this week, with strike action due to take place on November 30 across Britain depending on the outcome of the vote.
Staffordshire Police recently made news after it was revealed staff had clocked up nearly 18,000 sick days in the first nine months of this year.
Article from Burton Mail