The proxy method allows eligible organizations called “seeking employers” [21.11 (1)] to go to another public sector employer to complete pay equity job comparisons. Seeking employers borrow job and pay equity adjusted job rate information about similar female job classes from this “proxy employer”. The seeking employer compares its female job classes to the proxy female job classes using a proportional value method of comparison. Then, as a result of the job comparisons, the seeking employer determines pay equity adjustments that enable the organization to achieve pay equity [21.15].

The proxy comparison method applies to all female job classes in the seeking employer’s establishment [21.14 (1)], even if some female job classes could be compared using the job-to-job or proportional value comparison methods.