Same job, new employee getting more money?

[supermum87]

Quick back story. Been at my current job for 6 years. I came back from maternity in August and with agreement with my boss changed from a 5 to 3 day week.

Another employee was employed with the same job description. We do exactly the same job except she's full time and I'm part time. However I have found out she is getting more per hour than me. Not even sure if this is relevant but she has no previous experience & no qualifications relevant to this job. It's not really a job where you need any of that. It's more on job training.

My question is, is it even legal for my boss to do this? Do I have grounds to contest this?

I feel very upset/let down by my boss. What also upsets me is I have so much more knowledge of the job (because I've been there longer) & i have been training this new start. She started in January. Does my time there and extra knowledge not mean I would be getting paid more or at least the same.

Not that this matters but I really like the girl I'm working with & I don't have any issue with her

[pitterpatterrain]

More per hour for the same job I believe is not permitted although I don't know the implications of them being hired after you, I would suggest calling ACAS

For me the firm attempted to reduce my hourly rate upon becoming part time which was reversed after I spoke to ACAS

[supermum87]

Thank you for replying. I have just had a look on their website and it's very helpful. Thank-you

[Charmatt]

All things being equal you could make an equal pay claim.

[supermum87]

Sorry! Just noticed this comment. How would I go about making an equal pay claim?

[Charmatt]

www.equalpaylegal.co.uk/phone/index.html

This is a helpful website which provides advice you should follow

[StealthPolarBear]

I don't understand why you think it would be illegal?

[supermum87]

Thank you that's a useful website.

[Allthebestnamesareused]

I thought with state school teacher's salaries there are bands from £x-£y for example. It may be that you are within the same band.

[BeyondThePage]

In most jobs people negotiate their own start rate.

maybe she is a very good negotiator and you have just put up with your salary point over the years?

So long as there is no discrimination it is perfectly legal

[insancerre]

It's not illegal to pay different rates for the same job

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Are you both teachers? Or have you chosen The Staffroom thinking it's the same as Employment Issues? Your comment about no qualifications suggests you're not??

Some of the advice on this thread is very poor. Firstly, for an Equal Pay Claim the comparator would have to be a different sex to the op not "all things being equal". Is that the case?

You may have a case under legislation designed to protect part time workers from less favourable conditions but there is not enough to know from your post op. Making a claim would also be the very last thing you would do, once you have exhausted all other possibilities.

How much more is this person getting than you and how do you know they are getting more?

If they are definitely getting more and you have reasons to think you should be getting the same or more, then the first thing to do is go and speak to your manager. It may be that a mistake has been made. If it hasn't, then the next step would be to raise a grievance.

[Whathaveilost]

I wouldn't have thought they were teachers when the new staff has no qualifications relevant to the job and you learn as you go.

[C4priSun]

Depends on the contracts you have signed

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Well yes whathaveilost, that's why I asked.

[supermum87]

No we are not teachers. I thought this board was about employment issues. Thank you for all the good advice. I'll ask for this thread to be moved or deleted

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Supermum87

If you are not a teacher then there is definitely no law which prevents an employer paying different staff different rates unless the reason is that person is paid more is because they are male.

[TinselTwins]

I've been the new employee
I was given an increment separate to my pay band
I was by far less experienced than colleagues who were paid less

It was challenged, I defended it and won because:

1. I accepted the job offer based on that salary, my colleagues accepted their jobs based on their salaries.
   
2. If it got taken away from me, that wouldn't result in my colleagues being paid any more

[TinselTwins]

p.s. the colleagues who challenged it were not sucessful in getting an equivalent pay rise because my incriment was offered for a specific thing on my CV, even though they were better qualfied/experienced in our actual job title.

Here's the thing, I was hired at a time when they were desperate to recruit and struggling to fill the role. I also initially turned them down. So I got a better offer, which I took.

I wasn't paid more because I was better, it was just part of the recruitment negotiations.

Either my colleague had started when there were more applicants, or else they jumped at their first offer. My pay wasn't for being better

[Falconhoof1]

I contacted ACAS regarding an equal pay claim. They were brilliant. I first had to raise a grievance at work and when I didn't get a reply they​ stepped in. At that point I had to be willing to go to tribunal, which I was, but they managed to get me the pay rise and I didn't need to. Good luck!