Material factor defence
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Material factor defence - (adjective + noun)
Definition
Commonly used as a defence by employers against claims of sexual discrimination regarding their pay. The employer attempts to show that the difference in pay is “genuinely due to a material difference which is not the difference of sex.”
Extra
Source: Adapted from Thompsons-Scotland.co.uk and ucu.custhelp.com
Example of Use: The three women claimed they were being discriminated against, stating that although they were doing ‘like work’ to their four male colleagues, they were being paid less. The employer, however, claimed that the pay difference was due to a material factor, namely that the men had slightly different job descriptions.