Is this discrimination at work?

squarehead94

squarehead94

squarehead94

Associate
Joined
25 Nov 2011
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1,355
Location
Cumbria, United Kingdom
Hi all, not really sure how to title this, but anyone clued up on the subject I'd appreciate the input.

I work as part of a 2 person team. When I started at the place I'm at, I started under one role, (a receptionist/admin) but I was transferred to a different department.

My colleague earns £11ph, I earn 8.13.

She has been there for a number of years, whether that makes a difference or not I'm unsure. But we both now have the same job title, same responsibilities, we are like for like, but I earn less.

8.13 was my starting wage in my previous position within the business, but I would have thought that now I am working in another department, my pay should be relevant to my colleagues.

I've put a letter explaining this into management, who said they will discuss it with the business partners. I'd just like to know where I'd stand if I get flat out refused, because I can't help but feel if the tables were turned and I, as a man, was doing the same job but earning more than a woman, that this would be a simple case of sexual discrimination.

Any thoughts? Preferably from those qualified, union reps or people knowledgeable on employment law.

Thanks in advance either way!
 
Not sure about discrimination but a £3 difference per hour in the exact same role is definitely questionable, if they get back to you and can't improve on it then I'd be looking elsewhere.
 
No. Its not. The gender wage gap and discrimination ONLY applies if you were earning more than her.
 
so someone more senior than you who knows the job better gets more money, i would say put some time in learn the role as well as your colleague then re-apply for a raise
 
She isn't more senior.
I'm not questioning her skills or knowledge in the position, she knows the job very well. But we are both expected to do the same job, she is not in a more senior position than me.
 
Can't say if it's discrimination or not. Unless you have some particular reason to suppose it might be, I'd say it's more likely to be that you're newer and maybe she's just negotiated her salary higher over the years. I mean it could be discrimination, but you need more reason to think so than purely this. See what response you get.
 
Lesson learned then, don't accept a change of job roles without renegotiating your pay. Lesson most people learn early in their careers.

Don't go trying to blame anyone else.
 
ask for a raise - if they think theres a risk you will leave and are any good then you'll get something - if not then it'll be a no

Its not discrimination they just dont volunteer to give money away in some places even if you move roles. I would have put in a good half year / year then asked for one - if turned down I'd be off doing the same thing somewhere else for more money
 
Are there people there doing the same job as you that have the same length of service or less that are getting paid more?

What is her length of service and what is yours? If you do get a raise will you expect not to get another raise until you change roles again, or in 2 years time when you have more experience and knowledge in the role would you expect to get a raise?
 
mid_gen said:
Lesson learned then, don't accept a change of job roles without renegotiating your pay. Lesson most people learn early in their careers.

Don't go trying to blame anyone else.
Click to expand...

I'm not blaming anyone. And I'm not saying it is discriminatory. I'm simply saying I've been doing the same job as my colleague for 12+ months now and I'm earning less than my colleague.

I was not offered the opportunity to renegotiate my contract, in fact I've been waiting over a year to have my contract changed anyway (it still states admin/reception)

I don't begrudge her whatsoever, and my employer may turn round and accept my request and increase my pay, it was simply I wanted more information if it was refused. (I was advised to get more advice by colleagues)
 
If there is nothing in the t@c's that state after x amount of time the hourly rate will increase and the other member of staff is not senior to you andnis on the same contract you would definitely have a case for unfair treatment.
 
She's been there 15+ years. I've been with this place for 2-3 years now.

See I didn't think me asking for the same pay as a colleague to be a raise, as I don't want to earn more than someone else, I want to earn an equal amount to someone doing the same job as me. She is very knowledgeable but isn't more qualified specifically for this position. I don't doubt her vast knowledge but I'm not an idiot, I have to do the job on my own when she is on annual leave so.
 
is this somewhere like the public sector or a university? do you have a scale points for pay system? or is it just a starting salary and then renegotiate in the future? what does your contract say about pay rises?
 
It's public sector.
There are only pay scales for different roles, I.e. general admin is one, reception is another, then managers in each dept are on another etc.

One issue is the longer serving staff are on older contracts with more perks (but not necessarily more pay) I'm not sure where I stand as I need to negotiate my contract anyway, so hopefully I can negotiate my wage to be brought closer in line to my colleagues. I'll probably appear here again when I've heard back from the bosses. Thanks
 
squarehead94 said:
She's been there 15+ years. I've been with this place for 2-3 years now.

See I didn't think me asking for the same pay as a colleague to be a raise, as I don't want to earn more than someone else, I want to earn an equal amount to someone doing the same job as me. She is very knowledgeable but isn't more qualified specifically for this position. I don't doubt her vast knowledge but I'm not an idiot, I have to do the job on my own when she is on annual leave so.
Click to expand...

Public sector, 15 years, there's your answer....15 years of negotiations, some of which will have been during times when the public sector wasn't having it's budgets strangled.

You've definitely got a case for asking for a raise, but forget the discrimination thing.
 
Depends what your manager is like, it takes a lot of effort to successfully put in the correct business case to justify the increase to partners/CEO etc.

Your colleague might have done a higher role before and dropped down to that position, or they might be readjusting that wage/role to something more suitable for the position but let her keep her wage as she was already on it.

But like someone else said this is something you should have brought up at the time of accepting the role.

If you don't like it the walk... If they value you then it makes the business case to increase your money, if not then you have to leave or suck it up and realise life isn't fair.
 
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