Working as a temp - hourly rate issues!

[Deleted User]

I'm writing this thread because I really need advice about where I stand in terms of my employment rights.

I have just started temping at a University and my contract is 8 weeks in length. This is now the end of my second week. I worked within the same office for 11 weeks between April - July. When I started working there, my contract stated that I was a 'Clerical Assistant' and for about 5/6 weeks, I was just printing, copying, filing etc. However, after about 6 weeks, I was given more and more tasks and responsibilities. By the time I left, I had a very good knowledge of the office in which I worked and was doing the same work as the other 3 people in my office (apart from perhaps 1 or 2 tasks).

Since starting this new temporary contract within the same team, I felt dissatisfied with my level of pay compared to other staff members. I am aware of how much the other people get paid in my office and I am sometimes more busy than they are - and I'm just the temp! I am not really supporting anyone - I have my own tasks and I'm not told what to do. I have people phone me up and email me numerous times per day and make enquiries about the office and procedures. It's almost like I'm on a fixed term contract to do someone's job rather than being a helper. So I spoke to my new manager (as my previous one who supervised me during my 11 weeks before is now on maternity leave). My new manager was very understanding and was shocked that I was on such a low wage. She said that she thought I was on a higher grade as I do all the work that everyone else does apart from 1 task. She had spoken to her boss and they are looking into job descriptions and what the role entails. I have since looked at the pay scales and I can see that one of my colleagues is earning over £70 more per week. Considering my rate includes my holiday entitlement and sick pay, I'm really angry and feel that I should be on a very similar level of pay to other people in my office.

While I was working in this particular office before, I was also temping in another department, where I was earning over £1.50 more per hour and had considerably less work and responsibility.

I am sure that my manager will tell me that they are going to increase my pay but can anyone advise me on how they calculate it (as they've clearly calculated it very badly)?! Also, if they do decide to give me more per hour (and I don't see how they can't), is there any way of receiving back pay for when I worked in the office before, when I was earning a low wage which didn't correspond to the duties and responsibilities that I had.

anamenottaken

smidge_smudge wrote: »

I'm writing this thread because I really need advice about where I stand in terms of my employment rights.

I have just started temping at a University and my contract is 8 weeks in length. This is now the end of my second week. I worked within the same office for 11 weeks between April - July. When I started working there, my contract stated that I was a 'Clerical Assistant' and for about 5/6 weeks, I was just printing, copying, filing etc. However, after about 6 weeks, I was given more and more tasks and responsibilities. By the time I left, I had a very good knowledge of the office in which I worked and was doing the same work as the other 3 people in my office (apart from perhaps 1 or 2 tasks).

Since starting this new temporary contract within the same team, I felt dissatisfied with my level of pay compared to other staff members. I am aware of how much the other people get paid in my office and I am sometimes more busy than they are - and I'm just the temp! I am not really supporting anyone - I have my own tasks and I'm not told what to do. I have people phone me up and email me numerous times per day and make enquiries about the office and procedures. It's almost like I'm on a fixed term contract to do someone's job rather than being a helper. So I spoke to my new manager (as my previous one who supervised me during my 11 weeks before is now on maternity leave). My new manager was very understanding and was shocked that I was on such a low wage. She said that she thought I was on a higher grade as I do all the work that everyone else does apart from 1 task. She had spoken to her boss and they are looking into job descriptions and what the role entails. I have since looked at the pay scales and I can see that one of my colleagues is earning over £70 more per week. Considering my rate includes my holiday entitlement and sick pay, I'm really angry and feel that I should be on a very similar level of pay to other people in my office.

While I was working in this particular office before, I was also temping in another department, where I was earning over £1.50 more per hour and had considerably less work and responsibility.

I am sure that my manager will tell me that they are going to increase my pay but can anyone advise me on how they calculate it (as they've clearly calculated it very badly)?! Also, if they do decide to give me more per hour (and I don't see how they can't), is there any way of receiving back pay for when I worked in the office before, when I was earning a low wage which didn't correspond to the duties and responsibilities that I had.

You have a contract direct with the University, not via an agency?

Your hourly rate should not include holiday pay, that is a separate amount or at least they should say precisely how much of the hourly rate is holiday pay so that you can check that they are paying the correct amount of holiday.

Your hourly rate cannot include sick pay - unless you would get paid whether or not you attended work. You only get sick pay when you are sick. If it included sick pay, you would have to have a few minutes sickness every hour.

If you were working for an employment agency, the 11 weeks you worked ending in July would be linked to your current work and then you would be entitled to pay (and holiday) equivalent to that of a directly employed worker. If you are not employed by an employment agency then this won't apply.