Someone with less experience than me has been offered the same salary...

hieveryone

Hi all,

I asked this question on my other thread, but due to the title of that thread, I don't think too many people will glance at it.

Anyway, bit of background -

I have a 2 year qualification in early years (nursery)
A 4 year honours degree in Primary Education
A post graduate qualification in Educational Support.
2 years experience in the job.

I have been offered a job in Dubai as a primary teacher in a relatively prestigious school. Having joined an expat forum, another user contacted me and we got chatting about contracts etc, where it transpires he has been offered the same salary as me.

Here's the differences though -

His degree is in I.C.T with a 1 year post grad in primary teaching.
He is just finishing his compulsory probation year.

Where would I stand with regards to negotiating pay? And how could I bring this up sensitively?

Thank you in advance.

hcb42

Have you already accepted? If not then simply say, I was looking more in the region of £xx....and see what happens.

There is not necessarily a requirement, or even a need for an employer to pay you more, just because you perceive you have more experience though.

hieveryone

Hi there,

No I haven't accepted - this was a verbal offer and was told 'with my experience, the entry point on our scale is.. £ xx'. Obviously since then I have found out that people with both less and more experience than me are on the same salary.

What I'm really looking for is how to word an email demonstrating that I come from a country that works on a salary scale depending on experience, and was made to believe this school was also. So firstly, I want to see the scale. And secondly, I want to know why I'm entering on x point of the scale when others with more/less experience are too.

zzzLazyDaisy

Employer makes an offer, prospective employee accepts, rejects, or renegotiates the offer. It is up to you.

Under UK law, the employer is under no obligation to pay you extra because you have more experience or qualifications. The only time it might become an issue is if the real reason for the apparent discrepancy was related to some discriminatory reason - eg the person with less experience etc was a man, and that was the real reason for offering him more money - although proving that might be difficult.

But you have an additional complication here - it is unlikely that UK law applies and unless you are very lucky, it is also unlikely that there is anyone on here who has expert knowledge of the employment legislation in Dubai.

hieveryone

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Employer makes an offer, prospective employee accepts, rejects, or renegotiates the offer. It is up to you.

Under UK law, the employer is under no obligation to pay you extra because you have more experience or qualifications. The only time it might become an issue is if the real reason for the apparent discrepancy was related to some discriminatory reason - eg the person with less experience etc was a man, and that was the real reason for offering him more money - although proving that might be difficult.

But you have an additional complication here - it is unlikely that UK law applies and unless you are very lucky, it is also unlikely that there is anyone on here who has expert knowledge of the employment legislation in Dubai.

Thank you, and a very good point. I think I shall need to ask elsewhere! :rotfl:

AnxiousMum

It may be too, that the other person's minimal qualifications are all that they require to do the job, and so that is what they are prepared to pay for. I know that back in Canada, my OH stopped doing his Masters, as he was advised by the education board he worked for that they would not be able to pay him anymore for it, and would in fact, be overqualified for the job. Alot of people who go to teach in Dubai only end up working a year anyway - unless they luck out and get in with a very good school offering good accommodation etc. Many end up returning, or at least, exiting and re-entering with another school who they've gotten to know is a good school while working in Dubai.
Have you spoken with teachers who have worked at the school, currently work at the school? Does this school actually honour their contracts fully?

hieveryone

Thanks AnxiousMum, some good points there...and I can see the point about being overqualified. This is what I want to check with them without sounding overly greedy.

It is a very good school and it does come with other benefits such as accommodation. The finer details are still to be discussed (i.e if accom. is furnished), so I feel this is the perfect opportunity to discuss salary and negotiate any movement, I'm just not sure how to word it effectively.

Most schools offer 2 year contacts and from research I see that these are expected to be fulfilled. I am unsure what penalties need to be paid if you break contract.

On another note, I have recently heard that the UK may be moving towards masters level qualification for teaching, following in the footsteps of many other countries - including America I believe? Would be strange that Canada don't operate to that scheme too?

hcb42

I am well over qualified in my current job function, but I don't get paid any more! You can try, but if they have no problem recruiting, and are happy with the minimum level qualifications then there is no incentive for them to pay any more. Maybe you can ask for their scale, and take it from there, but I wonder if they have one. Try the british expats forum website..

hieveryone

hcb42 wrote: »

I am well over qualified in my current job function, but I don't get paid any more! You can try, but if they have no problem recruiting, and are happy with the minimum level qualifications then there is no incentive for them to pay any more. Maybe you can ask for their scale, and take it from there, but I wonder if they have one. Try the british expats forum website..

This may be true about the lack of scale, however I was assured they did best get in writing I think!

Thank you, I shall try that. Maybe I am too institutionalised into the UK way of salary...

GothicStirling

I think the equal pay sounds fair enough. Honestly, 2 years of on the job experience is minimal. There is nothing there saying that I should pay someone higher.

5 years experience, now that would be a different matter.

liney

2 year qualification in early years (nursery) Not a requirement for this job
4 year honours degree in Primary Education (Which includes QTS) Check
Post graduate qualification in Educational Support. Not a requirement for this job
2 years experience in the job. Apparently not a requirement for this job as a NQT has also been recruited.

Accept the terms or don't. Whilst you are more qualified and have more experience, if the recruiter does not specify these additional skills as essential then they will not be looking to pay you extra for them.