Help! Pay Discrimination with a new role?

ashes1

Hi all,

There is a role in my company that I want to apply for - it has not been internally promoted however my manager has told me that there is two potential roles that he could see me doing.

One of the roles available used to be carried out by a former colleague of ours, however sadly, he suddenly passed away earlier this year. Because of that, my manager has been care taking about 50-60% of the role until the right person comes along.

I have expressed my interest in applying for this role, and my manager is waiting on their boss to confirm. With this role I would like to apply for, I know for a fact how much this colleague was on 'salary wise' before he died - not only did he tell me, but so did a former colleague who was quite 'well-in' with my manager.

My manager has point blankly said to me face to face, there is no more money left in the pot with either of the two roles in the pipeline - including this role that this former colleague had before he died.

To make matters worse, I have seen a job for this role advertised on a recruitment website with the salary being more than my currently salary. Before you ask, this role being advertised is 100% the role that I wish to apply for and its been confirmed by a former colleague that used to use this recruitment agency.

With this role, I will be responsible for the delivery of more financial targets, yet there is no more money left in the pot to pay the salary that 1. the former colleague was being paid and 2. the min salary the role is paying on job advert.

I am convinced there is some sort of discrimination going on here potentially borderline illegal. Can someone please clarify if there is any wrong doing here and how I should approach the matter? I have my appraisal in a few weeks which would be an appropriate time to discuss the matter. The way in which I discuss it will need to be defined as well - my manager is the type of manager who will stamp down any objections they face and 'worm' themselves out of a tough situation or if it is something that they don't like hearing. I don't want this person to make my life hell if it is something I confront them about.

All or any help would be greatly appreciated.

lakes17

First of all I'm not sure why you thing this is discrimination is coming from. Everything you've said on here does not show discrimination. Also nothing is bordering on illegal with what they are doing. When a post becomes vacant it is not uncommon for a company show a business case for re-defining the role slightly and change the salary accordingly. You also say that you have seen a post advertised through an agency for a much higher salary. Provided you possess all of the competencies and pre-requisites of the role their is nothing stopping you from applying for it.

ashes1

Thanks Lakes17, I have applied for it, but the recruiter has not contacted me. The role advertised is for the one I am applying for internally - the job is exactly the same, if anything, more responsibility. So why does my manager want to pay me less than what it is being advertised for? The role wont be any different to whether I apply for it or someone externally applies for it. Okay, it may not be illegal , but can you not see why this frustrating me?

getmore4less

If not happy with the money they are prepared to pay you to do the job there are a number of options-

1. just tell them if there is no more money then get someone else to do it.
2. just go quiet and if asked say you want more money if they want you to look at the position.
3. point out you have seen that they are advertising the job at rate X why are they not prepared to even consider that level for an internal candidate.


Forget discrimination or it being illegal,

They can pay what they want, you will need to improve your negotiation skills.

Takeaway_Addict

ashes1 wrote: »

Thanks Lakes17, I have applied for it, but the recruiter has not contacted me. The role advertised is for the one I am applying for internally - the job is exactly the same, if anything, more responsibility. So why does my manager want to pay me less than what it is being advertised for? The role wont be any different to whether I apply for it or someone externally applies for it. Okay, it may not be illegal , but can you not see why this frustrating me?

Unlikely to be illegal but very annoying but it is fairly common that if you want to earn more money through promotions you need to be able to chop and change companies to get there.

You, if they accept you for the role are the easy option.

getmore4less

Applying through the agency may be a very bad move if the company has not got it's contract with them sorted to avoid paying fees for internal candidates that apply in error.

Unless it is blindingly obvious this is the same job and not a result of inside info you are basically telling your company you are looking to leave which may or may not work in your favour.

ashes1

Thanks, It is blindingly obvious, and had it confirmed by a former colleague that used to use this recruitment agency. This former colleague (and close friend) spoke to this recruiter earlier this week and spilled the beans on what role it was for and company. As I say, the recruiter has not contacted me so probably beause I already work there. Whether he has told my manager or not that I have applied through them, I dont know, my manager certainly hasnt talked to me about it. If he says anything, then I will say I applied as it was so obvious that it was the role I was applying for internally, not that I was looking for other work. It was forwarded to me by a former colleague because they wanted to know who was leaving!

fed_up_and_stressed

Are you in a union ? If you are suggest you speak to the rep.

Otherwise as has been pointed out it's not illegal, you could however raise an internal grievance ... But although I know they shouldn't take that into account when deciding who to give the job to but in reality it might do.

ashes1

No i am not part of a union - I think I will just raise it with my manager at the end of my appraisal, and ask why they are prepared to pay more externally and not internally otherwise there is no incentive for me to apply for the job? More financial responsibility and stress for no reward, no point is there?

specialboy

Maybe they are willing to pay more to a better candidate than yourself.

ashes1

Then they shouldnt have bothered asking me to apply then - which they did a few months back, then my manager retracted the role as he was caretaking it, now hes put it back on the market