Two employees - same job, same hours -different pay

chocky · 7 July 2008 at 10:38PM

My husband starting working for a small local builders yard in February 2007. The guy that was interviewing told my husband the salary the company were offering (which was acceptable) and said that when my husband had worked there for a year, the company would give him an increase in salary. In February this year (after my husband had worked for the company for a year), he went to one of the partners in the company and asked for a rise, explaining that the guy that had hired him had said his salary would be increased after a year. The partner said that the guy that had interviewed him no longer worked for the company and that he hadn't the authority to promise a rise at the interview. Also the company could not afford it.

However, my husband has since found out that a colleague who does exactly the same job and hours as my husband gets £1000 more a year than my husband!

I'm fairly certain this is not legal and that my husband has a case to argue. I'd welcome any advice as to where we go from here and also from anyone else who has been in this position. Many thanks.

floss2 · 7 July 2008 at 10:41PM

How long has this other person worked for the company? Did your husband get anything in writing about increments? Has your husband compared his job description with the other persons?

blue_haddock · 7 July 2008 at 10:54PM

There are many reasons why two people doing the same or similar jobs - i cannot see how you can have any grounds for thinking its illegal.

chocky · 7 July 2008 at 11:13PM

Thanks for your replies.

floss2 - the other person started the month before my husband. He didnt get anything in writing about a rise and his job description is EXACTLY the same as the other employee.

blue_haddock - Two people, doing exactly the same job and hours - doesnt equality mean equal pay too?

judderman62 · 7 July 2008 at 11:25PM

blue_haddock wrote: »

There are many reasons why two people doing the same or similar jobs - i cannot see how you can have any grounds for thinking its illegal.

what he/she said ^^^

judderman62 · 7 July 2008 at 11:27PM

Al_Mac wrote: »

Doesn't in most industries.

and what he/she said ^^^

I was once asked at appraisal time if I felt people should be paid the same salary or get same increase if they are on same level (i.e based PURELY 0n "grade" or job title)- I thought it was the more ridiculous thing I'd ever heard in my life

zzzLazyDaisy · 7 July 2008 at 11:32PM

chocky wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

blue_haddock - Two people, doing exactly the same job and hours - doesnt equality mean equal pay too?

The only time that might be unlawful is if a male and a female worker were doing the same job and hours but one was being paid less than the other - if there were no other explanation, the conclusion might be made that the difference in pay was due to their gender, and that would be unlawful.

If you are talking about two men doing broadly the same work but on different pay, then no, that is not unlawful. In fact it is quite common in some industries for employees to be given grade increments simply because of the years they have been there.

judderman62 · 7 July 2008 at 11:36PM

does no one else here work in jobs/companies/industries were pay is performance related and where differences in salaries would be the norm

ohreally · 7 July 2008 at 11:40PM

judderman62 wrote: »

does no one else here work in jobs/companies/industries were pay is performance related and where differences in salaries would be the norm

No, infact i would be puting it to the employer that an earnings audit may be appropriate as well as a job evaluation exercise.

whowho · 7 July 2008 at 11:46PM

It's always been the norm wherever I've worked for people to be doing the same job, but getting different rates of pay.

It could be that the other person negotiated a better salary at his interview, he has certain other skills that render him "more useful" to the company, or maybe they approached him to work for them and were prepared to offer him more.

It's absolutely legal, and the way your husband is feeling is the reason that most places have rules about employees discussing their pay.

Sorry hun.

judderman62 · 7 July 2008 at 11:53PM

so not just me then

:rolleyes:

Two employees - same job, same hours -different pay

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