Issue 1

Footytrix has five administrators on the staff along with eleven coaches. Four of the administrators are women, one is a man. One of the coaches is a woman, ten are men. The administrators receive gym membership vouchers. One of the coaches, Arif Iqbal has complained that the coaches do not receive gym membership vouchers. Edson explains that they have had more health related absences amongst their administrators. Coaches are exercising throughout the day as part of their jobs and do not need the same added health support as the administrators, who have to spend a lot of their working day sitting at desks and focusing on screens. The rest of the pay is the same for administrators and coaches as their work is deemed to be of equal value.

Explain whether Footytrix is in breach of EU law by only giving the administrators gym membership vouchers. Give reasons for your answer.

Issue 2

It is important to the work of Footytrix that it encourages boys and girls alike to get involved with their schemes. Edson is therefore keen to have more female coaches on the staff, as they currently only have one woman out of eleven coaches. Footytrix is looking to employ two new coaches next month.

Explain whether EU law would allow Footytrix to advertise the jobs only to women, or to prefer women applicants over men at the next round of recruitment. Give reasons for your answer.

Issue 3

Grace Masters is now the longest-serving coach employed by Footytrix. She has applied for a promotion to be a senior coach at Footytrix. Edson thinks Grace is great at her job but is not convinced that women command the same respect from colleagues in sport as men do.

Explain whether EU law would allow Footytrix to deny Grace a promotion on this basis. Give reasons for your answer.