Receiving the same wage as the trainees!

AimeesMum_2

I'm 22yrs old with 2 young children and was complaining to one of my colleagues the other day that I was struggling to get by with the costs of travelling to work (£275 per month) and the costs of childcare (currently paying £37 per week after tax credits).

I earn £23,800 per year and am from Scotland.

We both do the same role in the office and she tells me that she earns £32,000 as does everyone else. I spoke to my line manager who confirmed that they are all at the top of the pay scale for the job position (currently £22,000-£32,000).

After some further digging I find out that the trainee version of my job actually has a salary the same as mine despite the work being of no where near the same complexity and mainly a shadowing and administrative role. I am shocked and actually feel cheated

I am charged out at a day rate the same as the top paid employees.

Can I challenge this?

Would like to point out that although I am 22yrs old, I have the same level and number of years experience as 3 of the 5 employees who are paid top level. I also am the only employee to currently be trying to expand my work level and am in the third year of a home learning degree that only one of the other 2 has done.

Would I have grounds for appeal?

Harveyharvey

I've been in a similar position and found it was best to pluck up the courage and ask my bosses for a pay review. Write down everything you do and how it benefits their company but don't compare it to any of your colleagues. Make it all about you.

If they agree to increase your salary, don't be too set on getting the full top pay, it's quite a jump from £23k to £32k so be prepared in your mind so you won't get disheartened and feel further cheated by your bosses.

Some people can exaggerate their earnings so don't always believe what someone else says about others. Your bosses would be a bit annoyed if everyone started to compare salaries and then found a mass of employees asking for pay rises. My current contract says not to talk to others about salary so try not to mention in your review that the reason you're asking for a rise is because you've been talking o others and found you are earning less.

dseventy

What other people earn in the company is nothing to do with you, thats why many employers put a clause into their contract to prevent employees discussing it (or at least outlining the consequences if they do).

If you feel you deserve a rise, then put together eividence of why and take it to your boss, but it should be about you, not what others are paid.

D70

ohreally

dseventy wrote: »

What other people earn in the company is nothing to do with you

Of course it is, otherwise employees would subserviently accept any remuneration crumbs thrown to them by employers.

dseventy wrote: »

thats why many employers put a clause into their contract to prevent employees discussing it (or at least outlining the consequences if they do)

A pay secrecy clause (gagging order) may be unlawful and any subsequent action such as a disciplinary hearing may be unenforceable.
The employer may find themselves answering a claim of victimisation at this point.

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/guidance-for-employers-pre-october-10/equal-pay/discussing-pay-with-colleagues/questions-and-answers-for-employers-on-pay-secrecy/

Ihatecameron

dseventy wrote: »

What other people earn in the company is nothing to do with you,

D70

Utter rubbish!

People expect to get paid the going rate, if you are being paid less than your colleagues in the same job, then you are being discriminated against.

dseventy

@ohreally :

Differing rates of pay for the same job are perfectly legal as long as it not based on gender, race etc. Your own link refers to this. I am well aware of that act and it still allows pay secrecy, (ie to union rep, journalist) but not to others.

@Ihatecameron : I cant discriminate on age,sex, race etc. I can discriminate and reward employees who do overtime, stay flexible etc. Some discrimination is allowed!

D70

Googlewhacker

dseventy wrote: »

@ohreally :

Differing rates of pay for the same job are perfectly legal as long as it not based on gender, race etc. Your own link refers to this. I am well aware of that act and it still allows pay secrecy, (ie to union rep, journalist) but not to others.

@Ihatecameron : I cant discriminate on age,sex, race etc. I can discriminate and reward employees who do overtime, stay flexible etc. Some discrimination is allowed!

D70

Whilst I agree with you D70 unfortunately laws are becoming more and more that you cannot reward good employers because it maybe seen as indirect discrimination against people who are not flexible (using your example for paying more) (ie people who cannot do more work for childcare issues for example)

Ihatecameron

dseventy wrote: »

@Ihatecameron : I cant discriminate on age,sex, race etc. I can discriminate and reward employees who do overtime, stay flexible etc. Some discrimination is allowed!

D70

But you can't discriminate against staff who are doing exactly the same job.

Sambucus_Nigra

Are any of the colleagues who are all on the top wage also parents?

And

What did your line manager say when you asked him why you were the only one on the lower wage?

jazabelle

dseventy wrote: »

What other people earn in the company is nothing to do with you, thats why many employers put a clause into their contract to prevent employees discussing it (or at least outlining the consequences if they do).

If you feel you deserve a rise, then put together eividence of why and take it to your boss, but it should be about you, not what others are paid.

D70

Yes it is. Under the Equality Act 2010 it is no longer lawful for companies to have that clause in a contract.

gozaimasu

Ihatecameron wrote: »

Utter rubbish!

People expect to get paid the going rate, if you are being paid less than your colleagues in the same job, then you are being discriminated against.

Exactly. It sounds to me like age discrimination. I'm guessing all the other employees on the same job and the same salary are older than you despite your equivalent experience? I find that shocking.

You need to ask them for the raise normally and fight them for the top rate. Ideally in this situation you do want to avoid comparing yourself to others but that will be really difficult given the situation. If they don't give you it, you could raise a grievance etc but that could make things awkward if you want to keep working there.

It depends on how much you value your job security what action you take.

Personally I would be applying for other jobs ASAP and making it clear to them that I am thinking of leaving over this, especially if they refuse to raise my pay in line with what others get because of my age. I wouldn't want to stay in place where I am clearly not valued and discriminated against.

Perhaps you could ask for help at the CAB, they are normally very good.