Paid less than colleague and being asked to do extra hours

[MrsKilminster]

I found out a while back that my colleague who does exactly the same job that I do, earns more money. My manager had left a spreadsheet with all our salaries out on her desk and there was no way I wasn't going to look! I work in the public sector. This prompted me to ask for a rise by demonstrating my worth and my salary was increased. However I'm still on about £2.5k less than she is and this is significant because I'm on low pay.

I've left things as they are but have now been asked if I'd like to increase my hours from 3 days a week to 4. Crazily because of getting tax credits and being on low pay, I'm hardly going to be any better off. For that reason I feel it's reasonable to ask for another rise in order to make it worth my while. My feeling is to to tell my manager that I'd be happy to do the extra day but will only be able to consider this if they can confirm that I'm on the same pay as my colleague. If she refuses to confirm this, I'll probably tell them I assume this is because I'm paid less and am therefore unable to take on the extra work. I really like my job but I think the resentment would be too much for me and would effect my motivation. Am I being unreasonable?

[StealthPolarBear]

Yanbu at all.

[lilydaisyrose]

Is there a reason why she is paid more that's not performance related? I am paid much more than my colleagues and have better benefits for doing the same job but this is because I was TUPE'd into the organisation whereas they have always been directly employed by my employer.

[TeaBelle]

They can't tell you what your colleague us paid though. You might know but they can't tell you. Salaries should be agreed on an individual basis, not just because everyone should be paid the same.

[MrsKilminster]

I think she's paid more because when she joined about 4 years ago (which was after me) she was doing a slightly more senior job. I then changed roles about 3 years ago to do what she's doing and now have more responsibilities than she does. I really don't want to be difficult but taking on the extra hours is a big thing for me and it has to be worth my while.

[DiegeticMuch]

Could it be a "pay scale" thing? That often throws up discrepancies in the public sector. She was more senior originally, so she may have already reached the top of the scale before the public sector pay rise cuts came into force, with you now playing catchup.

[insancerre]

It doesn't matter what everyone else is earning
It's up to you to prove that you are worth the extra pay

[MrsKilminster]

Thanks for all your comments. It might be a pay scale issue as she was senior to me originally. I think the issue for me is that I really don't want to do the extra hours and need an incentive to do so.

[Crisscrosscranky]

You read a confidential document left on your manager's desk? That's worth my of disciplinary action so yes, you are being very unreasonable.

There's no equal pay issue here so long as you are both paid within an appropriate band. You accepted the salary offered as part of your contract and if there's no clause to guarantee incremental progression that will always be your salary.

if you want extra hours take them but I'd drop the different salary stuff now before it affects your relationship with colleague, let it be a lesson about snooping- sometimes you find something that you can't 'unknow'

[rookiemere]

You cannot mention that you saw other colleagues salary.

However, I think it would be reasonable to say that because of the extra responsibilities you have taken on since being in the job and due to thetax credit implications you could only consider increasing your hours if they were also able to increase your rate.

[MrsKilminster]

Thanks rookie, that's an approach I may well take.

[ChuckBiscuits]

That's worth my of disciplinary action so yes, you are being very unreasonable.

No it is the manager's responsibility to keep information secure, not for the employee to not read what has been left open.

[MrsKilminster]

Thanks ChuckBiscuits, I thought that was a bit harsh and I'm not a saint!