New staff on more money - I;m fed up

Springcleaner

Hi

I am half way working a one year maternity cover for a large company.

The company has just recently increased our team by two and I saw the advert via a recruitment agency showing the company offering £3,000 more pa. (to £21,000)!!!

I had a meeting with my line manager and I mentioned the advert and asked why the salary difference and he says that HR can't increase my pay to the same as its not company policy. They reason that I took the job for that salary.

We will all be doing the same job, same hours, same job title, same everything except for the fact that I am the one who has to train them to do the job!!

Am I right to feel fed up and look for another job - or should I stick it feeling under-valued and honour my one year contract ?

RoxRoxBling

Personally I would look else where. Unless your current company are willing to give you a pay rise etc.

But as you say your half way through a fixed contract, which I'm not too sure if you can hand in your notice, if you can't perhaps you'll have to stay..

DVardysShadow

Springcleaner wrote: »

.... Am I right to feel fed up and look for another job - or should I stick it feeling under-valued and honour my one year contract ?

I think it is fair enough to feel fed up. When it comes to honouring the contract, if they wanted to drop you, I doubt they would feel bound to keep you for the year. So good luck with looking elsewhere

Barneysmom

I think that if you've been there for less than a year you might just have to take this on the chin as they can 'let you go' with no reason.
Or start looking for something else, and when you hand in your notice give this as your reason.
If you are still there after a year then you can look at making a fuss about it.
I know what you mean though, in my last job I was working alongside someone on £3 an hour more than me and boy did it bite!

ktothema

Just to flip it from the other perspective. Just because the adverts are 3k more doesn't mean they'll actually offer the newly hired people that wage. So you may find there would be no or little disparity.

However, in your position I'd feel really miffed and undervalued

theoretica

It is a pity you didn't see the advert in time to apply.

ktothema

theoretica wrote: »

It is a pity you didn't see the advert in time to apply.

Actually, other than your contract is there a reason you can't apply? It's not uncommon for contractors to apply for positions that come up as perm.

Acc72

ktothema wrote: »

Just to flip it from the other perspective. Just because the adverts are 3k more doesn't mean they'll actually offer the newly hired people that wage.

So you may find there would be no or little disparity.

Or the new employees may negotiate another £1k or £2k on top of the advertised salary !

Unfortunately, there is no legal requirement for the employer to pay the same rates of pay to different employees doing the same job (unless it is becqause of discrimination - i.e. sex, race or disability only).

The OP has 2 options - either stay where they are and hopefully negotiate an increase or to leave (just make sure that you don't cause a problem such that you may find that they "let you go" as soon as you have trained the newcomers ........).

LittleVoice

RoxRoxBling wrote: »

Personally I would look else where. Unless your current company are willing to give you a pay rise etc.

But as you say your half way through a fixed contract, which I'm not too sure if you can hand in your notice, if you can't perhaps you'll have to stay..

I would be very surprised if the OP's contract prevented them leaving early provided they gave contractual notice (might be 3 months, could be one).

Similarly, if the employer wanted to dismiss, they could give notice to terminate early. They wouldn't have to pay for any remainder of the fixed term after the expiry of the notice.

Springcleaner

Thanks for the replies up to now.

Just to add a couple of things.

I actually saw one of the new person's contract and she is on £21,500 whereas I am on £18,500.

Originaly I was on a fixed 6 month contract and then it was to roll monthly. Last week, they offered me an extension to October but could give 4 weeks notice. Obviously if I leave it leaves them in a right pickle finding a replacement who will no doubt be on the new wage.

Anyway, I do have a good chance of another job which I went for the interview last week.

DVardysShadow

Springcleaner wrote: »

.... Anyway, I do have a good chance of another job which I went for the interview last week.

Hope you get it. Shame your employer is stuck with company policy and can't do anything about it.