Salary lower than new starter - help

jojo2004

Long story, short version:
Restructure at work, I was offered v similar role to the current one I had, on a salary scale, ring-fenced for me. I applied, got it, was offered lowest end of scale.
Queried this, and asked for more - I fulfilled everything on the Person Spec and Job Description (since it's essentially my old job!), have formally queried recent performance (another criterion given for the salary offered) - told it was excellent, responsibilities are huge, was basically told 'we only have this much money, sorry'.
I said fine (with reservations), but have now found out that a new role, which is a) not a budgetary management role b) not income generating and c) requires much lower qualifications than my role, has been offered at £2.5k more than I was awarded.

Given I have experience, more than the required qualifications, perfect fit for job etc - can I do anything about this? I work for a small charity, if that's significant.
Thanks!

jojo2004

Should add, we were told that the new roles (2 in total) were going to be considered as 'equal' to current ones - i.e. not more senior, no hierarchy.

Savvy_Sue

Can you do anything? you can ask for more, and you can look for another job. If there's a formal payscale with a matched competency framework you can also ask for yours to be reassessed.

But they're not doing anything illegal, I'm afraid!

gozaimasu

Apply for it! You get 2.5k more for less responsibility. I bet they'll offer you a payrise as they won't want to lose you in your current role.

pawsies

Agree with gozaimasu

terra_ferma

Has the post being filled? was the job advertised with a higher salary?
Or was the salary given to a specific employee?
It's only when there is a discriminatory reason that it's illegal, for example research has consistently showed that women are paid less than men doing the same job.
Otherwise I don't think there is much you can do except find another job. I've seen it times and times again when existing staff are paid less than new staff, simply because it may be difficult to attract someone new with those skills, while you don't need to give more money to people who are already doing the same job (unless there is a real chance that they might be leaving because of that).

jojo2004

gozaimasu wrote: »

Apply for it! You get 2.5k more for less responsibility. I bet they'll offer you a payrise as they won't want to lose you in your current role.

Sadly, since they're appointing someone, the application process has closed...

jojo2004

terra_ferma wrote: »

Has the post being filled? was the job advertised with a higher salary?
Or was the salary given to a specific employee?
It's only when there is a discriminatory reason that it's illegal, for example research has consistently showed that women are paid less than men doing the same job.
Otherwise I don't think there is much you can do except find another job. I've seen it times and times again when existing staff are paid less than new staff, simply because it may be difficult to attract someone new with those skills, while you don't need to give more money to people who are already doing the same job (unless there is a real chance that they might be leaving because of that).

Yes - the person who's been offered the job has had that offer. The current staff who've stayed on have both been given significantly lower (same) salaries - only this new person is getting more. All three roles (the fourth is not going to be filled) had the exact same salary scale.
We did threaten to leave and were told 'well, that would be a shame, but we simply absolutely CANNOT pay more - there is NO more money' - so it's not that they were under any illusions that we would be happy.

Jules2012

I would be job hunting if I was you.

It really irks me that more and more employers are walking all over their employees.

flossy_splodge

jojo2004 wrote: »

Yes - the person who's been offered the job has had that offer. The current staff who've stayed on have both been given significantly lower (same) salaries - only this new person is getting more. All three roles (the fourth is not going to be filled) had the exact same salary scale.
We did threaten to leave and were told 'well, that would be a shame, but we simply absolutely CANNOT pay more - there is NO more money' - so it's not that they were under any illusions that we would be happy.

Is the prospective new employee male or female???

jojo2004

Female, unsurprisingly....;)