Query/dispute with my salary

AubreyMac

I’m looking for some advice or help. Please bear with me and I’ll try my best to explain.

I have been in my current employment for over a year. I started here first as an agency worker then I after 3 months I became permanent. A year after being permanent there was a restructure and my role was deleted. I applied for another internal role and was successful. The new role is the same payscale as my previous one that was deleted.

The rule is that everyone has to start from the bottom of the payscale unless you can justify starting a bit higher (usually if you were paid more previously and in that case your salary will be matched).

Now my problem is this. I started at the bottom of the payscale in my last role (the one that got deleted) and after a year my performance appraisal was approved. My appraisal brings my salary up to the next notch. For examples sake, say my salary scale was 20-25k I started on 20k and my appraisal brings me to 21k, going up 1k for every year/appraisal.

However, at the same time as my appraisal, HR announced that the whole scale would be increased at both ends so what was 20-25k is now 21-26k.

This part is where it might get confusing or tricky. My appraisal brought me to 21k but as the scales were moving up anyway, I believe I should have moved up to 21k by default (of the fact that 20k no longer exists on my scale) and then get my appraisal to bring me up to 22k. Are you still getting what I’m saying? Otherwise what is the point of performance appraisal as if I had failed; I would have moved up to the same point (21k) anyway.

I raised this with my manager who disagrees saying that would mean I’d be going up 2 notches and I don’t have much to fight with as my previous post was deleted so I could have been redundant.

If a new starter came in, they would be starting at 21k as that’s now the bottom of the scale despite me being there a year longer.

I went direct to HR who said my manager was right.

Now, does anyone know where I stand on this? Obviously I believe I’m right as does HR. I’m not part of a union so doubt I could go to them for advice.

Undervalued

Apart from a handful of reasons prohibited by law (race, gender, sexual orientation etc) an employer can discriminate in any way they like.

So, if they choose to pay somebody less experienced more than you to do the same job that is up to them. It may not foster good employee relations but it is not unlawful.

lincroft1710

As neither your manager nor HR agree with you, there's little you can do.

AubreyMac

Undervalued wrote: »

Apart from a handful of reasons prohibited by law (race, gender, sexual orientation etc) an employer can discriminate in any way they like.

So, if they choose to pay somebody less experienced more than you to do the same job that is up to them. It may not foster good employee relations but it is not unlawful.

would it make a difference if I told you I work for the public sector?

AubreyMac

lincroft1710 wrote: »

As neither your manager nor HR agree with you, there's little you can do.

I've emailed the union rep to ask if they can advise non members.

Also, I've not signed the contract for my new role as it states the starting salary that I'm disputing. I'm not sure how long I can not sign it.

The exact same role is being advertised with the higher starting salary. I'm wondering if I can not sign the contract and apply for it.

Undervalued

AubreyMac wrote: »

would it make a difference if I told you I work for the public sector?

Not really.

There may be policies and procedures in your sector but there is no LAW preventing what you describe.

Undervalued

AubreyMac wrote: »

Also, I've not signed the contract for my new role as it states the starting salary that I'm disputing. I'm not sure how long I can not sign it.

Signing an employment contract is largely irrelevant (except for a very few matters like reclaiming training costs).

By working and getting paid you are deemed to have accepted the contract unless you positively reject it and "work under protest".

Undervalued

Look at it this way.

A year ago there were a lot of unemployed widget makers. A widget company was able to recruit all it needed at a low salary.

A year on business is booming and they need more. However there are now few unemployed widget makers so they have to offer a higher salary to get good ones to apply.

There is no legal obligation to pay the existing widget makers any more money. However, when they get wind of what the new ones are getting paid they are pretty upset.

What are their options? Try and negotiate a higher rate of pay or look for another job. If the widget makers start leaving the firm will either have to do something to get them to stay or make less widgets.

Why is the "public sector" any different?

AubreyMac

Undervalued wrote: »

Why is the "public sector" any different?

It isn't.

Having worked for both, I see more...I duno...ruthlessness and unfairness in the private sector more than public.

With public they want to maintain a certain reputation so would promote equality, diversity etc.

Talking of equality, shouldn't two people who do the same job be paid the same?

Undervalued

AubreyMac wrote: »

Talking of equality, shouldn't two people who do the same job be paid the same?

There is no LEGAL requirement to do so unless the discrimination is due to one of the handful of reasons prohibited by law (as I explained back in post no 2).

Southend1

AubreyMac wrote: »

I've emailed the union rep to ask if they can advise non members.

Also, I've not signed the contract for my new role as it states the starting salary that I'm disputing. I'm not sure how long I can not sign it.

The exact same role is being advertised with the higher starting salary. I'm wondering if I can not sign the contract and apply for it.

Why aren't you a union member?! The number of threads that pop up here where people want help from a union they don't belong to is unbelievable. Go online and join your union now so you can get help next time you have a problem at work!