If you believe that your male colleague is being paid more than you and unfairly so, there are three main options you can follow

1. Talk to your immediate manager to see if they will take this up with your employer on your behalf.



2. If your manager does not succeed, or if you do not want to go through them, you could go through your employer’s grievance procedure. If you're a member of a trade union, be sure to go to them for assistance.



3. If these options don’t suit you or do not work for you, you could take your claim to an employment tribunal. Find out about submitting a sex discrimination questionnaire first. You can take an equal pay claim to a tribunal at any time while you are in the job and suffering lower pay or within six months of leaving it.

Further information

• The Equal Opportunities Commission
  
  Head Office, Overseas House
  Quay Street
  Manchester M3 3HN
  (0161 833 9244; fax: 835 1657; email)
  
  Wales:
  Windsor House, Windsor Lane
  Cardiff CF1 3DE
  (01222 343552; fax: 641079; email)
  
  Scotland:
  Stock Exchange House
  7 Nelson Mandela Place
  Glasgow G2 1QW
  (email)
  
  For information and advice on equality issues in Northern Ireland, go to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
  
  
• Citizens Advice Bureau – look in Yellow Pages, ask at your local library or call the National Association of Citizen’s Advice Bureaux (020 7833 2181) in England and Wales, in Scotland (0131 667 0156) and in Northern Ireland (028 90 231120)
  
  
• Your local law centre – look in Yellow Pages or call the Law Centres Federation (020 7387 8570; Scotland: 0141 561 7266)
  
  
• Your Trade Union
  
  
• Some personal or household contents insurance policies and credit card agreements offer free legal advice