Advice needed - potential bullying

Scope1

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone on here may have any legal advice with regards to disclosure of wages.

I have been with the company for around 12 years. It was bought out a while ago and my old job was no longer in the structure. So I was facing redundancy OR I could apply for a new job in the new structure. To cut it short, I was offered a job in the news structure. It was a job as a trainee and it was agreed that all wages would be honoured so, luckily for me, I would start this new job with the wages of my old job.

It is a job I wanted to do for some time and completely different to what i was doing before so I was over the moon to be offered it. I would be trained up over the next 2-3 years.

Now recently a problem has arisen. I didn't want to tell anyone how much I was picking up because it is quite a bit more than a normal trainee would pick up and it could obviously cause me problems. So I kept it under my hat. I've had to lie a few times when asked how much I'm picking up. I just wanted to do my time as a trainee and get qualified. Now, somehow, a guy at work who schedules in jobs has found out how much I'm paid and said to me, in front of other staff, that he knows how much I'm paid, and that its more than a normal trainee, and that its as much as a fully qualified member of staff.

He obviously has no problem shouting this about IN FRONT of me, god knows what he's saying behind my back.

I think it goes without saying that this could make my life at work a nightmare.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice if this situation blows up. What rights do I have? Should I go to my union?

I'm going to have a word with my manager tomorrow and tell him what's been said.

At the moment I'm quite angry with the situation. I feel he has no right to know how much I'm paid and he should definitely not be shouting it about.

Sorry for the essay. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Dangermac

Scope1 wrote: »

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone on here may have any legal advice with regards to disclosure of wages.

I have been with the company for around 12 years. It was bought out a while ago and my old job was no longer in the structure. So I was facing redundancy OR I could apply for a new job in the new structure. To cut it short, I was offered a job in the news structure. It was a job as a trainee and it was agreed that all wages would be honoured so, luckily for me, I would start this new job with the wages of my old job.

It is a job I wanted to do for some time and completely different to what i was doing before so I was over the moon to be offered it. I would be trained up over the next 2-3 years.

Now recently a problem has arisen. I didn't want to tell anyone how much I was picking up because it is quite a bit more than a normal trainee would pick up and it could obviously cause me problems. So I kept it under my hat. I've had to lie a few times when asked how much I'm picking up. I just wanted to do my time as a trainee and get qualified. Now, somehow, a guy at work who schedules in jobs has found out how much I'm paid and said to me, in front of other staff, that he knows how much I'm paid, and that its more than a normal trainee, and that its as much as a fully qualified member of staff.

He obviously has no problem shouting this about IN FRONT of me, god knows what he's saying behind my back.

I think it goes without saying that this could make my life at work a nightmare.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice if this situation blows up. What rights do I have? Should I go to my union?

I'm going to have a word with my manager tomorrow and tell him what's been said.

At the moment I'm quite angry with the situation. I feel he has no right to know how much I'm paid and he should definitely not be shouting it about.

Sorry for the essay. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Why would you want/need to involve the union at this stage?

Surely, it's a matter for management to resolve.

Speak to your manager, and get the matter nipped in the bud.

DM

Scope1

Dangermac wrote: »

Why would you want/need to involve the union at this stage?

Surely, it's a matter for management to resolve.

Speak to your manager, and get the matter nipped in the bud.

DM

I wasn't sure if it was necessary to involve the union but thinking about it, I agree that at this point there is no need.

I'm just really wondering what my rights are. I feel that this situation will get wires before it gets better.

I'm going to talk it through with my manager tomorrow and explain that I feel vulnerable because I'm only a trainee and I don't want to cause any problems but I think this situation could cause me a lot of stress.

ILW

If other staff members resent your wage, that is their problem.

Teresa_Green

Scope1 wrote: »

He obviously has no problem shouting this about IN FRONT of me, god knows what he's saying behind my back.

At the moment I'm quite angry with the situation. I feel he has no right to know how much I'm paid and he should definitely not be shouting it about.

Bear in mind that he may not know but depending on how you react you may give yourself away?

I would leave it for now and be ready for if anything else is said, if it is be prepared to respond in a way that makes him look stupid and keep your cool.

I'm not saying it's easy, best of luck.

(You might want to keep a note of dates and times of any incidents for future reference later on if you did want to take it to the manager).

paddyrg

This chap is quite likely in breach of his own contract of employment and in gross misconduct territory. Talk to HR, tell them exactly what has happened.

Scope1

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

I'm still unsure as to the best way to proceed as either way might be damaging to me. If I tell my manager and he decides to discipline this guy then he could make my working life difficult as he is above me and controls the teams (but he is not management)... if I don't say anything then he can continue to shout his big mouth around, equally making my work life difficult...

ValHaller

Scope1 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

I'm still unsure as to the best way to proceed as either way might be damaging to me. If I tell my manager and he decides to discipline this guy then he could make my working life difficult as he is above me and controls the teams (but he is not management)... if I don't say anything then he can continue to shout his big mouth around, equally making my work life difficult...

If he was a peer of yours, I would suggest to leave it. But as it seems he has some management responsibility for you, I suggest to take it forward as a complaint

Teresa_Green

Scope1 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

I'm still unsure as to the best way to proceed as either way might be damaging to me. If I tell my manager and he decides to discipline this guy then he could make my working life difficult as he is above me and controls the teams (but he is not management)... if I don't say anything then he can continue to shout his big mouth around, equally making my work life difficult...

Your manager is not going to discipline anyone on your word alone, you need evidence and even then they will decide the outcome of all this.

Keep documenting for now all incidents and make notes of dates, times, what was said, who witnessed any events etc. It does sound possible that the team controller may have had access to your salary details, but my previous advice still stands. Try and keep your cool for now and take care.

Teresa_Green

ValHaller wrote: »

If he was a peer of yours, I would suggest to leave it. But as it seems he has some management responsibility for you, I suggest to take it forward as a complaint

If you feel you already have enough objective evidence and others have said in writing they will back you, then this is definitely something to be considering.

Otherwise you risk making a big deal with bad outcome for yourself for no good reason.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Scope1 wrote: »

Now, somehow, a guy at work who schedules in jobs has found out how much I'm paid and said to me, in front of other staff, that he knows how much I'm paid, and that its more than a normal trainee, and that its as much as a fully qualified member of staff.

'Big deal. What of it?'

He's doing this to wind you up and you are falling into the trap. So what if he tells everyone - at that point you can put a grievance in as whatever you get paid is between you and your manager.

I'd perhaps have a quiet word with your manager and ask him how he thinks you should play it. But I'd not be doing anything other than getting on with my work.