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When an employer reduced the wages of men in its workforce by $10k to bring their pay into line with women's, it effectively dismissed them, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.

The employer's efforts to achieve pay equity resulted in it tearing down the long-serving male employees, instead of honouring an earlier agreement to maintain their classification and pay rate, Commissioner Jennifer Hunt said.

"One does not break the proverbial glass ceiling by amputating the legs of the men above," she chastised.

The two case managers, employed by youth homelessness not-for-profit Youturn Ltd, lodged general protections dismissal disputes after the employer unilaterally reduced their classification and pay in June this year. The employer's action constituted a "clear repudiation" of their employment contracts, they claimed...