Advice please - 2 people, same job, different hourly pay...

xangeleyes

Basically my husband and another employer at the same level as my husband (He has been there 2 weeks before my husband).

When this other employer started he was instantly on £6.50, when my husband started he was on £6ph and would go up to £6.50 after a month and if things were all good (trial).

This was all earlier this year.
My husband was put up to £6.20 per hour about 6weeks ago (roughly), after my husband asked about this 50p increase.

Is this employer allowed to pay someone at the same level/job more?
I always thought that employers were not allowed to do this.
Both my husband and this other employer are both over 21 years of age.

Of course, my husband is a bit worried about asking him (He asked before and was told 'I'll look into it') so he wants to know what his rights are before going to his employer again. Plus he LOVES his job

Thank you

scheming_gypsy

they can pay whatever they like, each person's wage has nothing to do with anybody else apart from them and the boss.

Wage isn't always determined by the job you're doing but by the skills you bring in. When I left a job 5 years ago I managed to re-apply for it as it was advertised through an agency at 7k a year more than I was on.
I also know somebody else who managed to apply for a job working with themself (she'd have had to train the new person), and it was double her wage with benefits.

Jarndyce

No there is nothing unlawful there.

Employers can pay people what they like as long as they meet NMW and equal pay legislation (ie they do not discriminate unlawfully by paying anyone less due to their sex, race, age, disabiliity etc.).

Thats not to say he can't raise his concerns at being paid less than others, but if he's not been there less than 12 months, his employer can dismiss him at any time for any reason, so he might be advised to think carefully before rocking the boat.

xangeleyes

Okey Dokey Thank you