Employment relations service Acas has launched a new guide designed to help small businesses avoid equal pay claims.

The guide focuses on ‘job evaluation', which provides a framework for determining the importance of a number of different jobs independent of prejudice or discrimination.

Acas' annual report revealed there was a 25% rise in actual and potential employment tribunals, with equal pay disputes partly behind this.

"Employers sometimes find it hard to justify their grading and pay systems," said Frank Blair, director, Acas Scotland.

"Putting in place a job evaluation scheme can remedy this and can also help prevent equality and HR-related problems from arising."

The guide can be downloaded for free at www.acas.org.uk [1]