New and need help regarding my salary

BunnieJ

Hi all, first time on the forum.

Background info: I'm a receptionist at a large office. My company (a contractor of the building I work in) was just taken over by another contractor. We all moved across to the new contractor at the end of Feb.

As we lost some members of staff who wanted to stay with our previous company, the new company are hiring 2 support staff to float around the 5 offices they work for in the city. I thought it sounded like a good opportunity (they work 5 more hours per week than me) ad asked if I could apply, but was told I couldn't.

I get paid around £13.5k per year. I have since found out they will be getting 17-18k for doing the same job! (except travel, which isn't very much as the sites are close to each other).

What should I do? I'm pretty p*ssed off about the situation right now! :mad:

Any help/advice much appriciated!

Many thanks,

BunnieJ

McKneff

Either talk to your boss and ask if you can be put onto the same salary. You have no rights though, he can say No


Look for a new job.


Not much else you can do to be honest.

McKneff

You found out about this other Salary from where?

BunnieJ

I found out from the Senior Receptionist who is doing the interviews.

pmlindyloo

Why did they say you couldn't apply?

iclayt

Are you able to see a copy of the job description - are you sure it's exactly the same job? There may be other responsibilities you're not aware of. That way you can compare it to yours and if they're identical (travel aside) there's nothing lost by asking your employer for a pay review. If they say no, well, perhaps you need to find a more competitively paid job elsewhere.
There are 4 of us in this office, we all have very similar job titles but our salaries vary over 3 grades because of slightly different aspects and responsibilities to each role which wouldn't be immediately obvious to anyone else we work with.

BunnieJ

As I am currently the only full time receptionist and they need to train the support staff.

They said I could swap with somebody in the future (if a member of support staff wants to be located at one office) but they aren't likely to take a pay cut of 4k are they? Or if they do want a permanent office position they would be getting paid their usual rate I would guess.

BunnieJ

I will try and get the job description as I would like to know exactly what the job is. I thought the most likely option would be to start looking elseware, which is a shame as I like where I work :-(

I have already enquired about more hours/pay rise which has been shrugged off atm, but this was before I found out about the support staff.

BunnieJ

Update:

I have since found out that the support staff will be paid 17k with a review after 3 months.

They will also be working the 9:30-17:30 shift at our office (which I had asked to do. I currently work 10:00 - 17:30 and wanted to take my contract from 35 hrs to 37 1/2).

I'm not sure how I will be able to get a copy of their job description without asking my manager. I don't want to put myself in a position where they think I'm disloyal/looking to leave/causing problems etc. and I don't want it to affect my relationship with other staff members (I don't think I'm supposed to know any of the job details but the senior receptionist leaves her work lying all over our desk and makes telephone calls next to me)...

[Deleted User]

I didn't appreciate this but you have to be so, so carefully when asking questions of other members of staff positioning, frankly this can blow up in your face out of proportion (regretful experience here) and you can be told it is none of your business as it doesn't concern you


I'd apply elsewhere - they'll realise what they lose when it is gone ; )

BunnieJ

Thanks Deleted User :-)

I've spoken to my mum and she said if it was really bothering me I should speak to someone, but be prepared for it to be taken in the wrong way. I'll speak to my OH when gets home too.

It just seems (and the Senior Receptionist actually said this today) like it's one rule for one and one rule for another *sigh*.

I will sit this one out for the next couple of months (the new people are starting next week and the week after) and see how things go. We aren't on the new company's contact, but they will be, so they may also get the extra perks we don't get like a hour for lunch etc. It just really annoys me that the sites they will be working at are actually within 5 mins walk of my office, which hardly justifies such a pay increase! :-s

I have attemped to do the maths and if I were to work 40 hrs a week (equalling their hours of work) I would still only be paid 15.5k! I also found what I think is the job description on the companies career website, which is almost exactly the same as my job description - arguably mine has more responsibility! The only difference is the 5 hours extra they work and the fact they travel to different sites (all within 5 mins walk).