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Training a member of staff who's earning more

Afternoon Ladies and Gents,

I'm after a little help if possible, i work in a large factory and have done for 17yrs including my apprenticeship, i have had various roles around the factory and have been on my current section 7yrs, Never in any bother, brilliant time and attendance. My current shift partner has left and the company has moved another employee onto the section. This in itself is not a problem as i get on well with him.
My problem is that he is on a greater wage than me and i'm being asked to train him up to my job standard, he is also a long serving employee 15yrs and also an old apprentice but with a poor time and attendance record and also a few disciplinary procedures, we both have similar qualifications.

With this information can anyone let me know if i can refuse to train him until i'm put on the same wage? I know this may sound bad of me, but i just don't see how this situation is fair on me?

Any help would be greatly appreciated before i go and have a chat with the boss or would i approach HR first?
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Comments

  • Andy_L
    Andy_L Posts: 13,168 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    With this information can anyone let me know if i can refuse to train him until i'm put on the same wage?

    No you can't. Well actually you can but then they can start disciplinary procedures for refusing to do your job.

    Your only option is to use it as ammunition when negotiating a pay rise.
  • Liz3yy
    Liz3yy Posts: 1,301 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    It happens and you have to put up with it. In a previous job the decision was made to bring in a supervisor for my department, I was given the chance to apply for the role but was turned down in favour of someone external. When they arrived I was told I would have to train them up....I was annoyed but bit my tongue and did what I was being paid for.
    They have the internet on computers now?! - Homer Simpson

    It's always better to be late in this life, than early in the next
  • iclayt
    iclayt Posts: 466 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'm helping to train someone who has just transferred into our department who is on the same grade as me, but is higher up the pay scale as they have been here longer, but in a different department, doing a totally different job. They're clueless in this job and being paid more than me. Unfortunately there's not a thing I can do about it, as helping to assist new colleagues with their training is in my job description - is it in yours?
  • Missme
    Missme Posts: 293 Forumite
    Afternoon Ladies and Gents,

    I'm after a little help if possible, i work in a large factory and have done for 17yrs including my apprenticeship, i have had various roles around the factory and have been on my current section 7yrs, Never in any bother, brilliant time and attendance. My current shift partner has left and the company has moved another employee onto the section. This in itself is not a problem as i get on well with him.
    My problem is that he is on a greater wage than me and i'm being asked to train him up to my job standard, he is also a long serving employee 15yrs and also an old apprentice but with a poor time and attendance record and also a few disciplinary procedures, we both have similar qualifications.

    With this information can anyone let me know if i can refuse to train him until i'm put on the same wage? I know this may sound bad of me, but i just don't see how this situation is fair on me?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated before i go and have a chat with the boss or would i approach HR first?

    Suppose your bosses could leave you to work alone knowing that, because you're so conscientious, you'd do the work of 2 people...

    From what you've written, I gather it's just the money and not that it's you that has to do the training? Or would you expect a pay rise to train a noob paid less or the same as you? Do you maybe just want to ask for a pay rise..?
  • There's nothing you can do, but you can bring up these issues in your next appraisal to negotiate higher pay.

    IMO, you are not really concerned about having to train him or your pay. Your grievance is about the fact that you feel you have been undervalued; which has come to your attention because of this scenario.
    Afternoon Ladies and Gents,

    I'm after a little help if possible, i work in a large factory and have done for 17yrs including my apprenticeship, i have had various roles around the factory and have been on my current section 7yrs, Never in any bother, brilliant time and attendance. My current shift partner has left and the company has moved another employee onto the section. This in itself is not a problem as i get on well with him.
    My problem is that he is on a greater wage than me and i'm being asked to train him up to my job standard, he is also a long serving employee 15yrs and also an old apprentice but with a poor time and attendance record and also a few disciplinary procedures, we both have similar qualifications.

    With this information can anyone let me know if i can refuse to train him until i'm put on the same wage? I know this may sound bad of me, but i just don't see how this situation is fair on me?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated before i go and have a chat with the boss or would i approach HR first?

    7 years ago, you had to train for the role you're doing now. You have also moved around, but do you consider the 10 years' of experience (prior to your current job) to have been worthless?

    Disciplinary, time-keeping and attendance clearly do not seem to influence pay here. If they did, how could you stop managers from going through sham disciplinaries everytime they need to avoid pay increases or when they need to reduce the wage bill. I'm guessing that aren't many similar companies doing the same sort of work in your region, which is why you've all had such long careers at this place. Sometimes the fastest way to get a pay-rise or promotion is to look for another job.
  • Thanks for all the replies, my grievance is the money (or lack of it in my case :) ) id happily train anyone to do a job if they where brought in on the same money, i just find it a massive kick in the teeth and as Hiccups says it makes me feel very undervalued within the company.

    We don't have individual appraisals, we have a negotiated pay deal each year and that is across the site regardless of job.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,691 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    We don't have individual appraisals, we have a negotiated pay deal each year and that is across the site regardless of job.

    Do you know how this person with 15 years to your 17 has got ahead of you then? Can you emulate it?
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • pjread
    pjread Posts: 1,106 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I've been in that scenario (at least so far as the details matter) in at least 2 completely different industries. your options are broadly

    a/ be an !!! about it whilst drip-feeding (doing the bare minimum - I did that for the first one, my mantra was "Training goes down, not up!" - bizarrely that worked but I was young and suspect success was down to management inexperience),
    b/ use it as leverage and initiate the conversation with you manager (or theirs, or theirs....), but be accomodating and do a good job, or
    c/ point blank refuse (dangerous)

    unless you're unhappy and planning to move, or rather adventurous, I'd go B these days.
  • spacey2012
    spacey2012 Posts: 5,836 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Is it in yours contract to teach and train ?
    A college tutor is on astound 40k a year in basic subjects.

    Have a look at your contract, if it makes no mention of tutoring then let them pay for a college place or tutor.
    Be happy...;)
  • hcb42
    hcb42 Posts: 5,962 Forumite
    no factory is going to pay for a college place or tutor, and indeed most jobs need to be learned on the job, not at college....
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