Law Society and Controversy: Equal Pay Act and Gender Inequality

This essay, titled "Law Society and Controversy," explores the legal and societal aspects of gender inequality, specifically focusing on unequal pay for women in the workplace. The paper examines the Equal Pay Act of 1970 and the Equality Act of 2010, discussing their theoretical underpinnings and practical applications. It delves into relevant case law, such as the Jennifer Cook v. Wooden Furniture case, to illustrate how the courts address issues of gender-based discrimination in pay. The essay analyzes the effectiveness of these laws in practice, considering whether they have successfully addressed the gender pay gap and contributed to greater equality. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and emphasizes the importance of continued efforts to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all employees. The essay provides a comprehensive overview of the legal framework and its impact on addressing gender inequality in the workplace.

Law Society and
Controversy

ABSTRACT
The topic of the file is “Law Society and Controversy” were it will relate towards social
group and then the issue which is being faced by the people in current scenario. The main aim of
working in this project is to know in detail that how law is helpful for preventing the rights of
female with the help of Equal Pay Act, 1970 and Equality Act, 2010. This file will included
related case law which will try to solve the issue that how court will deal with the situation
where Equal pay Act, 2010 is being followed or not. Also, it will include about the law whether
it is being followed in theoretical and practical both or not. At the end, in conclusion it will try to
clear the point whether this will was effective or not and how it had helped to gain the additional
knowledge regarding law and issues.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Topic: Women and unequal pay despite doing the same job as men..........................................1
Law: Equal Pay Act, 1970 Equality Act, 2010..........................................................................2
Practices of case law related to unequal remuneration to male and female employee's.............2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Law is defined as rule and regulation which has been developed by the ruling government
or society for specific area. Law is basically of four types and they are based upon criminal, civil,
common and statutory law (What is Law? 2018). It is necessary every set of rules are being
followed by everyone for the purpose of maintaining peace within the specific country. In this
file, the discussion will be on the statement “We are all equal before the law” in practise as well
as in theory. It will include one of the social issue which is being faced by one of the social
group. And in the last task the discussion will be related legislation and their role for making law
for any specific social issue.
MAIN BODY
Topic: Women and unequal pay despite doing the same job as men.
The social group that has been taken in this file is related with unequal distribution of
salary. This is one of the serious problem which is being faced by women employee's. Because
of all this problem it is never easy for them to work freely as they are not given the equal rights
and responsibility which must be delegated to them. Even women do not get equal opportunity in
many of the cases. This is one of those problem which is being faced from many year but in
recent period it have changed significantly. It can be easily found that many of the act have been
commenced for preventing the rights of female employee's. It can be seen that in theoretical it is
fine, but while comparing it with practical life there is no one who follows it. Talking about
theoretical life, it can be easily said that everyone are following it and now has the power to
discriminate other on the basis of gender (Gluckman, 2017). But, when it comes to practical life
no one is there who want to change there concept regarding male and female worker because it
is easy to enforce any law. But, it is not that easy to change the mindset of those employer or
people who have the thinking that female should not treated equally as they are unable to
perform their work on that nod of standard which had been set by male employee. So, it can be
easily said that it is easy to commence law but when it comes to reality it is never possible to
make them follow easily as mindset are not of similar types. And, it can be said that law is still
not equal for everyone.
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Law: Equal Pay Act, 1970 Equality Act, 2010
These are two different law which have been commenced for protecting the rights of
every individual. Even Equal pay Act is trying to deal with the concept of payment which is
being paid to female and male worker. Both, Equal Pay Act and Equality Act can easily solve
out the problem which is being faced in the society. As per the concept of Equal Pay Act, 1970,
it can be easily said that no one allowed to do partiality with anyone within the office premisses
as it is against the law where strict action can be taken at any period of time (Equal pay and
equality legislation, 2013). The law says that if male and female are working at the same post
within the office then employer must ensure that they are paying equal remuneration to both. If
in any of the case, it is found that law is not being followed by the company then legal action can
be taken. Finally, in this law it is simply explained that pay should be equal if nature of work is
similar of male and female.
Equality Act, 2010 says that it is important that everyone should be treated equally in any
of the situation. It is against the policy of law if male and female are not being treated equally. It
is one of the most common problem which is being faced by the society that laws are not being
followed and because of that still lots of improvement is required to be done in future. While
talking in context of case, it has been found that laws are not being followed by anyone and
result of that is found that remuneration is not equal of male and female. Although, they work in
the same post. This law says that it is not allowed to discriminate anyone on the basis of gender
if working capabilities are similar. The main thing that need to be focused in this law is that no is
allowed to breach the condition of law which has been commenced for the betterment of society.
It will also be helpful in solving the issue which can be seen within the society on regular basis
(Yusuf, 2017).
It is important that both of the laws are being followed in systematic manner within the
premisses of organisation to provide flexibility within the premisses of any organisation.
Corporate sector should have the proper knowledge regarding this law through which they can
change the concept of paying remuneration to female and male employee's.
Practices of case law related to unequal remuneration to male and female employee's
Case law: Jennifer Cook v Wooden Furniture
Facts: The case was related with Jennifer Cook and Wooden Furniture. Here, Jennifer Cook was
working wooden furniture in the post of accountant but company was not paying the amount of
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money which they should pay for the work which she was doing. It was found that in the same
post other staffs were also working but company was paying the actual amount of money which
they must get. After seeing this all, Jennifer want to file a case against company for
discriminating male and female employee (Ehrlich and Ziegert, 2017).
Judgement: The honourable panel of judges decided that it is one of those case were
discrimination was being done on the basis of gender. After that the justification which was
given by Wooden Furniture was not up to the mark and was not in that condition where court can
declare their decision in the favour of company. So, they decided that company should pay actual
amount of money on which there is the right of Jennifer. Even Wooden Furniture need to pay
fine as per the remedies of Equal Pay Act, 1970 (Lauterpacht, 2017).
While talking about law it can be easily said that it is not being followed in most of the
cases. Still there are lots of companies who doesn't want to pay the actual amount of salary to
female worker even they are working in the same capacity. It is important that how this cases are
being solved. But, while talking about court it is being practised in right manner because it is
important that female should raise the voice when illegal activities are being conducted against
them. Court is trying to work as per the the law which has been commenced in theory and for
practise they are working in the situation where it is not being followed. At present, it is found
that Equal pay Act, 1970 and Equality Act, 2010 are being followed in appropriate manner and
because of that discrimination has been reduced within the territory of UK (Waldron, 2017) .
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CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the lights of above provision that Law is one of that section in
everyone's life which plays huge role and it is mandatory to follow each and every rule which
have been enforced by the ruling government. While talking about women pay, it can be
understood that still there are many of the corporation which do not follow the guidelines of law
and because of that they do not treat equal to male and female employee's. Still some of the
changes are required in current scenario in those law which related to the payment of women
who are working in the same capacity. Also, court had been working very seriously for the
betterment of male and female employee's as they want to provide equal opportunity to
everyone.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Gluckman, M., 2017. Politics, law and ritual in tribal society. Routledge.
Yusuf, A. A., 2017. Controversy of Islamic Law on The Distribution of Inheritance to the Heirs
of Different Religion. HUNAFA: Jurnal Studia Islamika. 14(2). pp.377-403.
Lauterpacht, H., 2017. The Subjects of the Law of Nations. In International Legal
Personality (pp. 173-196). Routledge.
Waldron, J., 2017. Is the rule of law an essentially contested concept (in Florida)?. In The Rule of
Law and the Separation of Powers (pp. 117-144). Routledge.
Ehrlich, E. and Ziegert, K. A., 2017. Fundamental principles of the sociology of law. Routledge.
Online
What is Law? 2018. [Online] Available Through <https://blog.ipleaders.in/what-is-law/>
Equal pay and equality legislation. 2013 [Online] Available Through
<https://www.bl.uk/sisterhood/articles/equal-pay-and-equality-legislation>
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