Cost of Living awards, being left out.

Hilary41

Hi, I’m looking for advice on the awarding of Cost of Living rises. I understand that COL rises are at the discretion of the employer.

I was part of a salary review in 2016 and was deemed to be on a higher salary for the position I hold. The outcome of this was my salary was frozen and I would not be awarded any COL increases until others in my salary band had caught up. There have been five COL increases since. My thoughts are that COL awards are nothing to do with salary scales.

From reading previous posts, am I being discriminated against and if so what are my options?

Thanks in advance.

oh_really

I'm aware of similar situations where employees mark time, it happens. Concerns shoulkd have been addressed before agreeing outcomes.

Union?

elsien

Hilary41 said:

Hi, I’m looking for advice on the awarding of Cost of Living rises. I understand that COL rises are at the discretion of the employer.

I was part of a salary review in 2016 and was deemed to be on a higher salary for the position I hold. The outcome of this was my salary was frozen and I would not be awarded any COL increases until others in my salary band had caught up. There have been five COL increases since. My thoughts are that COL awards are nothing to do with salary scales.

From reading previous posts, am I being discriminated against and if so what are my options?

Thanks in advance.

Discriminated against on what grounds?
Or more specifically, on any of the grounds that are against the law?

I’ve been in your situation, although not for as long. It’s not great, and you don’t feel appreciated, but your options are probably limited to putting up with it or looking elsewhere. 

Hilary41

oh_really said:

I'm aware of similar situations where employees mark time, it happens. Concerns shoulkd have been addressed before agreeing outcomes.

Union?

I'm a member of a union and am waiting to be contacted. The outcome of that will determine any conversation with my employer.

TELLIT01

The situation the OP is in is a common one and there is nothing illegal about it.  I was in the same position and had to accept that I was above the salary band for my amended job following a merger.  There is no automatic entitlement to a payrise other than the NMW.

Hilary41

elsien said:

Hilary41 said:

Hi, I’m looking for advice on the awarding of Cost of Living rises. I understand that COL rises are at the discretion of the employer.

I was part of a salary review in 2016 and was deemed to be on a higher salary for the position I hold. The outcome of this was my salary was frozen and I would not be awarded any COL increases until others in my salary band had caught up. There have been five COL increases since. My thoughts are that COL awards are nothing to do with salary scales.

From reading previous posts, am I being discriminated against and if so what are my options?

Thanks in advance.

Discriminated against on what grounds?
Or more specifically, on any of the grounds that are against the law?

I’ve been in your situation, although not for as long. It’s not great, and you don’t feel appreciated, but your options are probably limited to putting up with it or looking elsewhere. 

Discrimination in that others are being awarded cost of living regardless of earnings,

General_Grant

But are any of them receiving more pay than you for doing a job of equal value?  (Given that your job was over-paid in relation to value when your pay was frozen.)

Diamandis

Hilary41 said:

elsien said:

Hilary41 said:

Hi, I’m looking for advice on the awarding of Cost of Living rises. I understand that COL rises are at the discretion of the employer.

I was part of a salary review in 2016 and was deemed to be on a higher salary for the position I hold. The outcome of this was my salary was frozen and I would not be awarded any COL increases until others in my salary band had caught up. There have been five COL increases since. My thoughts are that COL awards are nothing to do with salary scales.

From reading previous posts, am I being discriminated against and if so what are my options?

Thanks in advance.

Discriminated against on what grounds?
Or more specifically, on any of the grounds that are against the law?

I’ve been in your situation, although not for as long. It’s not great, and you don’t feel appreciated, but your options are probably limited to putting up with it or looking elsewhere. 

Discrimination in that others are being awarded cost of living regardless of earnings,

That isn't unlawful. You say regardless of earnings so are other people on a salary higher than they should be, and higher than people doing the same job and still receiving pay rises?

GrumpyDil

Nope. A colleague of mine was in a higher band than me, we were all rebanded and he hasn't had a pay increase for in excess of 6 years.

Only option would have been to challenge the rebanding when it occurred. 

JamoLew

If anything - it sounds as though the other employees have been "discriminated" against by being paid less than you for doing the same job.

This is being corrected by the employer

The OP most definitely hasn't been discriminated against

elsien

It's not unlawful for people to be paid different rates for the same job if it is done fairly, such as to achieve pay parity (as in your case) or is not done on the basis of discrimination against one of the protected characteristics. It does not appear as if your pay is being limited due to one of the protected characteristics, but to fit you into the current pay scale.
On that basis, you have no case to argue.