Like Work

Under the Employment Equality Acts, 'like work' refers to work that is either identical, broadly similar in nature, or deemed to be of equal value when assessed against objective criteria such as skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions. This definition is crucial for determining an employee's entitlement to equal pay without discrimination on any of the protected grounds.

The principle of 'equal pay for equal work' is applied through the concept of 'like work'. 'Like work' is defined as work which is of a broadly similar nature, where the differences between the tasks performed by individuals of different sexes are not of practical importance to the terms and conditions of employment. This assessment focuses on what job-holders actually do, rather than merely their job titles, descriptions, or contractual obligations, considering the type of work, skill, and knowledge required.