Legal jobs in the private sector could be affected by news that more discrimination claims are likely to be made against employers following the introduction of the Equality Act in October.
According to law firm Pannone, private-sector organisations should brace themselves for an influx of discrimination cases as pay secrecy clauses are outlawed.
As a result of this development, employers will be unable to stop staff from disclosing their salary information to highlight discrimination in pay.
David Carmichael, partner at Pannone, said that most employers are unaware of the fact that the new legislation will mean outsiders can ask staff for this information in a bid to uncover discrimination and launch equal pay lawsuits.
He said: "Recent years have seen these 'equal pay firms' target the public sector – urging everyone from dinner ladies to teaching assistants – to make pay discrimination claims.
"These firms have now pretty much exhausted the public sector and the market has reached saturation point."
So-called 'gagging clauses' to prevent staff from making this information public will be banned when the Equality Act comes into effect next month.
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