SHIFT ALLOWANCE

Andy211267

I was looking for a bit of advice on shift allowance in a work place. Can a work place pay 2 people different shift allowances even though they work the same shifts?
1 guy has been there 20years (£8900) shift allowance, other guy been there 2 years (£6500).
How can a company pay 2 different amounts for people doing the same job, shifts etc. 
Any help would be appreciated? 

Thanks Andy

Undervalued

Andy211267 said:

I was looking for a bit of advice on shift allowance in a work place. Can a work place pay 2 people different shift allowances even though they work the same shifts?
1 guy has been there 20years (£8900) shift allowance, other guy been there 2 years (£6500).
How can a company pay 2 different amounts for people doing the same job, shifts etc. 
Any help would be appreciated? 

Thanks Andy

Yes.

Unless it could be shown that the reason amounted to unlawful discrimination (e.g race, religion, gender etc) then they are not breaking any law.

You mention that the higher paid employee has been there far longer. It is very common for pay and allowances to increase with length of service, although there is no legal requirement for them to do so.

General_Grant

Undervalued said:

Andy211267 said:

I was looking for a bit of advice on shift allowance in a work place. Can a work place pay 2 people different shift allowances even though they work the same shifts?
1 guy has been there 20years (£8900) shift allowance, other guy been there 2 years (£6500).
How can a company pay 2 different amounts for people doing the same job, shifts etc. 
Any help would be appreciated? 

Thanks Andy

Yes.

Unless it could be shown that the reason amounted to unlawful discrimination (e.g race, religion, gender etc) then they are not breaking any law.

You mention that the higher paid employee has been there far longer. It is very common for pay and allowances to increase with length of service, although there is no legal requirement for them to do so.

One criterion not mentioned is "age".  It is possible, but not certain, that someone being employed 20 years is older than another employed 2 years.  Thus it could be age discrimination against the younger person.  It would be the same (but against older) if the 20 year-old was the younger.

However, it would be difficult to prove if there are only two employees receiving the shift allowance and other elements of their remuneration would need to be considered.

Andy211267

The people that have been there over 20 years are older 40-55.
The new starts usually younger guys but maybe 1 or 2.around the 40-50 age range also get the smaller amount. I just can't wrap my head wrong the fact we all work the same shifts and the same amount but there's a different of between 2-3k. 
Does my place of work value the older employees "lifes" over the new 1s? 

General_Grant

Andy211267 said:

The people that have been there over 20 years are older 40-55.
The new starts usually younger guys but maybe 1 or 2.around the 40-50 age range also get the smaller amount. I just can't wrap my head wrong the fact we all work the same shifts and the same amount but there's a different of between 2-3k. 
Does my place of work value the older employees "lifes" over the new 1s? 

Well, maybe just maybe, it could be that they value the experience and known loyalty of those who have been with them for 20 years and it certainly looks to have nothing to do with age.

unforeseen

It could be something simple that a lot of companies use - length of service increments. 

RichardD1970

It could also be that back in the day, when the others started, that was the contractual shift premium which, in subsequent pay and condition negotiations, has been reduced for newer starters.

At our place, it is possible to be employed under at least 2, maybe 3, different contracts depending on which plant you originally started at. This has an effect on hourly rate, overtime rate, holiday allowance and a few other things.

Andy211267

Richard you sure don't work at the same place as me. 😆
Yea there's a giant pay gap aswell at my work. There's 2 contracts and also a hybrid contract. Wages are nearly 12k difference from old and new contract. 
Doesn't seem fair to be honest we do the same job the same shifts. Have less holidays and less benefits and get shafted more really.

TELLIT01

There  could be all sorts of historic allowances and payments incorporated into the long serving employees package which are not longer available to new employees.  Very few companies would try to withdraw benefits from an existing employee when they change the t&c for new.

moneysavinghero

You just need to stick at the job for another 20 years then you will be the experienced one getting the higher shift allowance and the johnny come latelys will be the ones feeling hard done by.

oh_really

A place I worked at tried this, shop steward informed management "over his dead body" would his members be on different terms. Sorted out within an hour (and no it wasn't a race to the bottom).