The UK Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that part-time workers do not need to prove their part-time status was the sole reason for receiving less favourable treatment. Instead, part-time status only needs to be an effective cause of the disadvantage, significantly strengthening workplace discrimination protections.
The decision follows the landmark case of Augustine v Data Cars Limited, brought by taxi driver Warren Augustine. He challenged a fixed weekly circuit fee charged equally to all drivers, arguing that part-time drivers effectively paid more per hour than full-time colleagues for access to the booking system.
Previous decisions by the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, and Court of Appeal dismissed the claim. However, the Supreme Court clarified that the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 do not require proof that part-time status was the only reason for the treatment.
The court held that where part-time status is an effective cause of less favourable treatment, workers may pursue a discrimination claim. The judgment also confirmed that employers may still rely on objective justification where appropriate, but the legal protection for part-time employees has been broadened.
The ruling is expected to influence how employers assess workplace policies, fixed fees, and employment practices affecting part-time staff across the UK.
