Workers

Approaching the equal pay conversation - Tool 9 

Workers can use the toolkit to better understand their rights and engage in discussions about equal pay for the same work or work of equal value.

With this tool, workers can:

  • learn how to start an equal pay conversation with their organisation;
  • understand the factors used in gender-neutral job evaluation – skills, responsibility, effort and working conditions;
  • spot where jobs may be undervalued, especially in women-dominated roles;
  • build confidence by using clear examples and language

What this tool does for workers

This tool gives workers the confidence to start conversations about equal pay for equal work or work of equal value. It explains your rights, shows how to request information and gives examples of what to say when raising questions with your organisation.

  • You can ask for your pay grade and the average pay in each job role in the same pay grade, disaggregated by sex.
  • Pay criteria used to define your pay elements (basic pay and complementary and variable pay components), pay grade and pay progression must be gender-neutral and transparent.
  • You don’t have to act alone: worker representatives or equality bodies can help to obtain the information or ask for clarification.

Understand your rights

Workers have the right to:

  • request their own pay grade and the average pay in each job role in the same pay grade, disaggregated by sex;
  • see the criteria for pay, pay grade and pay progression, which must be objective and gender-neutral (note that Member States may exempt employers with fewer than 50 workers from the obligation to provide pay progression (Article 6, Pay Transparency Directive))
  • get a reply within two months of making a request;
  • ask a worker representative or equality body for support.

Downloads

For more detailed guidance, download the step-by-step toolkit and check Tool 9.

EU-wide guidelines on gender-neutral job evaluation and classification: Step-by-step toolkit