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Equal pay for equal work: your right to information

Do colleagues earn more than you for the same work, possibly because of their gender? That is not allowed. The principle of equal pay for equal work is anchored in law, and you can request information.

Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:

Request information

Your chances of getting your money back

Equal or equivalent work may not be paid differently based on gender (Pay Transparency Act; case law of the BAG and the ECJ). Gender-based pay discrimination gives rise to a claim for equal pay.
In larger companies (as a rule more than 200 employees) you have an individual right to information: you can find out what the average comparison pay of employees of the other gender in a comparable role looks like.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Make a comparison

    Do you carry out the same or an equivalent activity as better-paid colleagues?

  2. 2

    2. Request information

    In larger companies, ask for the comparison pay under the Pay Transparency Act.

  3. 3

    3. Check for discrimination

    Does the information show a gender-based gap without an objective reason?

  4. 4

    4. Assert the claim

    Demand equal pay; in a dispute, the works council, union or advice can help.

Frequently asked questions

Am I entitled to the same pay as my colleagues?

Equal or equivalent work may not be paid differently because of gender. If there is gender-based pay discrimination, you are entitled to the same pay as comparable employees of the other gender. Other objective reasons (for example professional experience, qualification), on the other hand, can justify differences.

How do I find out what colleagues earn?

Through the right to information under the Pay Transparency Act: in companies with, as a rule, more than 200 employees you can ask for the average comparison pay of employees of the other gender in a comparable role (not the salary of individual people). This helps to assess whether there is discrimination.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.