Morrisons workers may be able to claim thousands in back pay
Your initial registration is complete. To progress any further, you must read and accept this terms and conditions outlined below
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
YOU MUST READ THIS BEFORE SIGNING THE DAMAGES BASED AGREEMENT (DBA)
The information set out here forms part of your contract with Roscoe Reid ("we", "us", "our"). We refer to this document as the "Information Sheet".
About Us and Our Service
Roscoe Reid LLP is a law firm regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority and registered under SRA number 638462.
We will assess the information you have provided, and if appropriate, pursue a claim for equal pay (and possibly related claims) on your behalf. We will let you know whether we will take your claim on. If so, we will contact you regularly with updates on the progress of your case. However, as these cases can take a long time to resolve, there may be periods of some weeks or more in which you do not hear from us. You can of course contact us at any time for an update on your claim.
Your claim will be dealt with by a team of experienced claims handlers and supervised by qualified solicitors. The person with overall responsibility for supervision is Jonathan Hofstetter, as senior solicitor of over 30 years' experience.
Main terms of your DBA
A DBA is sometimes called a "no-win no-fee" agreement. The basic principle is that we will only be paid and our expenses recovered if you win your claim. Our payment is calculated as a percentage (25% plus VAT) of your compensation.
There are exceptions to the "no-win no-fee" concept where you may have to pay our Costs and Expenses (as defined in the DBA), for example if you wish to terminate the agreement early or you behave unreasonably by not co-operating with us. The exceptions are set out at clauses 7 and 8 of the DBA.
If you become liable for our costs and expenses, they will be calculated as follows:
We generally charge for our work at the following hourly rates:
- Standard letters and telephone calls are charged at 6 minutes. More complicated letters or calls are calculated at an hourly rate basis.
- Expenses such as barrister’s fees and the cost of producing an expert’s report may be incurred on your individual claim, in which case you will be responsible for those expenses in their entirety or a proportion of those if we have spread them across a number of claimants.
➔ Paralegal/trainee solicitor £120
➔ Qualified solicitor £250 to £290
➔ Partner/director £380
We are unable at this stage to give you a reasonable estimate of the amount that is likely to be spent on expenses because we have not yet assessed your individual claim. However, typical expenses include:
- Court fees: there are currently no court fees for issuing employment tribunal claims. If you have ceased employment with Morrisons more than 6 months before we issue your claim, then we will issue it in the county court. Issue fees in the county court vary according to the value of the claim. In your case we expect the fees to be up to about £500. We try, wherever possible, to group claimants together so that the court fee can be apportioned across all claimants in that group.
- Postage, couriers, photocopying, search fees and similar expenses: our aim is to work electronically wherever possible. If it is necessary to send documents by post, our standard practice for non-urgent post is to do so by 2nd class post. Search fees vary depending on the nature of the search. The current cost of identity check search fee can range from approximately £1.50 to £2. We currently charge 25p per page for black and white photocopying and printing, and 50p per page for coloured photocopying and printing. We cannot anticipate the level of expenses that are likely to fall in this category.
- Travel expenses: to and from court hearings, to settlement meetings and for meetings with experts or barristers. Once apportioned across all claimants, these expenses are unlikely to be significant.
- Experts' fees: it is possible that the employment tribunal will appoint an expert which is usually free of charge. However, we may need the assistance of a further expert. We are unable to estimate at this stage how much that is likely to cost. However, unless specific to your individual case, the experts' fees are likely to be apportioned across a number of claimants.
- Barristers' fees: we will instruct barristers to provide advice and represent you in court. We are unable to estimate at this stage how much that is likely to cost. However, unless specific to your individual case, the experts' fees are likely to be apportioned across a number of claimants.
Review of Costs
If you become liable to pay our costs and expenses that we have incurred in pursing your claim, you have a right to have those costs reviewed.
In the first instance, you should discuss the matter directly with us by contacting us through one of the methods set out below.
If we cannot resolve your concerns, then you are entitled to seek a review of our costs. You can do so by contacting the Legal Ombudsman. We will provide you with more information on how to do this upon request.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
ACAS operates as a neutral third party to help workers and employers to resolve their differences, including equal pay claims, through conciliation either before legal proceedings have been issued and more commonly afterwards. The service is free to use.
ACAS's website can be found at www.acas.org.uk or you can call them 08457 474747 to find out more.
Funding your claim
We only operate one funding method: the damages-based agreement which we have described above. However, there are other ways you could fund a claim which you can consider, but for which you would have to find other legal representation. These are:
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Trade Union
If you are member of a trade union, you can make enquiries with your union about whether they will support your claim and on what terms.
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Legal Expenses Insurance
You may have a stand-alone legal expenses insurance policy, or you may have legal expenses insurance as part of another policy, for example car, home or buildings insurance.
We do not take on insured claims, but we recommend that you contact your insurer to explore whether they will cover your claim and on what terms they will do so. You will most likely be referred to the insurer's preferred solicitors.
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Other types of fee agreements
You may find that other firms of solicitors are prepared to take on your claim with other types of fee agreements, such as conditional fee agreements or on a fee paying basis. If you are interested in finding out more, you are free to contact other solicitors.
Data protection
Our full data protection and privacy policy is here: [http://www.roscoereid.co.uk/equal-pay/data-protection-privacy-policy/].
We share information with selected partners who support us in pursuing your claim and who and who assist us in contacting you. In particular, we work closely with Pay Justice Limited, who may contact you to assist us with progressing your claim. Pay Justice data protection policy can be found here: [https://morrisons.payjustice.co.uk/privacy-policy/].
Other than the selected partners set out at 6.2, we will not share your data with any other third party or use it for any purpose not linked to your claim or potential claim.
Contacting Roscoe Reid
By email: equalpay@roscoereid.com
By phone: 0800 061 2137
By post: Equal Pay Department, Roscoe Reid LLP, Aspen House, Central Boulevard, Blythe Valley Park, Solihull B90 8AJ.
Complaints
In the first instance, if you have a complaint, you should discuss the matter directly with us by contacting us through one of the methods set out at paragraph 7 above.
We have a written complaints procedure, a copy of which is available on request.
If you have a complaint about our service and you are not satisfied with the way we deal with your complaint, you are entitled to complain to the Legal Ombudsman within 6 months of receiving our final response to your complaint. More information, including contact details, is available on the Legal Ombudsman's website http://www.legalombudsman.org.uk.
How Can Pay Justice Help You?
At Pay Justice, it’s our mission to help low paid and unfairly treated workers in the retail sector. Partnered with some of the best employment law legal teams in the country we’ve already helped thousands of workers claim back the money they deserve.
But now its your turn.
If you're interested in joining your colleagues in the fight for equal pay and recognition within the workplace, join the claim today.
What is Equal Pay?
- The law on equal pay for men and women is very clear. Not only should men and women be paid the same for the same job, but also they should be paid the same for doing work of EQUAL VALUE.
- The Morrisons' Equal Pay Claim is based on the work in the stores being of equal value with with the work being done by men in the distribution centres who are earning much more. Therefore, storeworkers can potentially claim up to 6 years of lost pay (this is disputed by Morrisons).
- Many potential current claims are for over £10,000 or about £1,700 for every year worked at Morrisons (up to the maximum of 6 years).
Equal Pay Claims By The Numbers
10,000 +
Supermarket employees have signed up to Equal Pay cases with us in the last 6 years
10-20%
The likely average UK gender pay gap (i.e. the gap between male and female earnings)
£££ millions
Worth of back pay to be claimed for unequal pay
2
Minutes it takes to sign up and register
- Pay Justice have the expertise, knowledge and track record to help you make a claim. Pay equality should be in the hands of employees, not just employers.
- Pay Justice are committed to helping you assert your rights. We aim to provide the tools, information and expert advice to enable you to overcome the barriers to making equal pay claims.
- Pay Justice are passionate about helping employees claim equal pay. The law relies on individuals making equal pay claims.
Who are Roscoe Reid and why should they represent you?
Recognised
Regulated
Roscoe Reid are dedicated to providing high quality service and advice based on an in-depth understanding of clients' needs; first and foremost, Roscoe Reid put your interests at the heart of everything they do.
Roscoe Reid is led by very experienced and top-rated litigation lawyers. Over the years, their lawyers have settled thousands of equal pay claims worth many millions, drawing on years of representing clients in high value and complex disputes.
Roscoe Reid strongly believe that men and women should be paid fairly, and they fight hard for those who have been treated unfairly to obtain justice.
They understand that this process will probably be new to you and that you may have questions along the way. Pay Justice and Roscoe Reid are here for you and aim to answer any questions you may have as quickly as possible
Meet the Pay Justice Team
Directors
I set up my first business helping small UK businesses with various business and marketing tasks. After a couple of years working on various projects I co-founded Pay Justice Ltd where my current focus lies. One of my main goals is to empower employees by making them aware of their legal entitlement. In order to overcome the many barriers, I use my expertise in online marketing to make the law as accessible and user friendly as I can.
Paul has worked for over 18 years as a consultant to many organisations regarding how to pay people fairly and effectively. Frustrated by the fact that advice wasn’t also available to employees. Paul was a founder of Pay Justice with the explicit aim of helping people overcome the barrier to fair pay. Prior to this, Paul had a very diverse career including first working in child protection, managing charities and working in TV and films as a documentary producer.
Laurence began his career as an accountant then made a career transition joining Hays Specialist Recruitment in 1982. As a raw consultant Laurence made significant contributions to the growth of Hays from a small entrepreneurial endeavour to a market-leading specialist recruitment consultancy. Laurence has had several other business ventures since his success at Hays and is now one of four directors at Pay Justice, a team passionate about helping employees claim equal pay and redundancy pay.
Steven is redefining the future of digital content consumption and customer interaction with Pay Justice and automated business messaging. Steven has crafted groundbreaking functional Chatbot products for enterprise brands worldwide as part of the world’s premier bot building agency. He has built bots with world class partners such as MEC and for leading brands like Trinity Mirror and Paramount Pictures.
Pay Consultants
Nathan has a great interest in digital marketing, specifically social media marketing strategies. Nathan has completed a Msc Digital Marketing degree at the University of Salford in order to improve his knowledge in this area. Nathan is responsible for using data analysis to organise and implement marketing campaigns, managing budgets, reporting on campaigns and managing business relationships.
Ellie is an undergraduate student entering her final year of studying International Business at the University of Leeds. She has spent the past year in the USA studying at the University of Minnesota as an exchange student. She is currently on an intern placement at Pay Justice for the summer and is keen to work in brand management and business strategy when she graduates next year. Her key roles include managing the advertising campaigns.
Alexia is a BA Hons English Literature graduate from The University of Manchester with a strong interest in gender equality within the workplace. Having experience in the field of journalism, Alexia has a passion for the written word and a keen eye for detail. Her main roles and responsibilities include content creation for marketing campaigns, website management and claimant care.
Nikolay is currently studying Software Engineering & Programming at the University of Manchester. Nikolay has extensive practical and theoretical experience in development, and software engineering and is keen to implement and further these skills. Alongside Ramal, Nikolay is the latest member to join the Pay Justice team.
Ramal is a student at The University of Salford studying Business Information Technology. Ramal has a passion for implementing her skills in both marketing and technology for the purpose of providing the services to fight for equal pay. Alongside Nikolay, Ramal is the latest member to join the Pay Justice team.
Call us now on 0161 694 6464 or email us at morrisons@payjustice.co.uk
Please be assured that strong victimisation laws are in place to protect you from any negative action being taken against you for bringing an equal pay claim. If you have any concerns about this or any other questions about the claim, you can call us and speak to our legal team in confidence.