NC for this.
I am a full-time academic and work in a post-1992 university which is split into four Faculties. I have been lecturing there for many years but am starting my PhD only now.
In my PhD cohort, there are approximately 10 other academics from my university and they are all based in Faculties other than mine. My colleagues are all fully funded by their Faculties and get 20% work load relief to work on their studies. I am the only academic in my cohort based on my Faculty and have to pay 50% of my fees (which amounts to approx £10,000 by the time I graduate); additionally, I get no work load relief to work on my doctorate. This is apparently my Faculty's policy.
My question is, we are all employed by the same institution (my university) and yet enjoy different benefits - is this legal? I feel disadvantaged because of the Faculty I am based in. I have discussed this with various people in my Faculty but I am told that's the way it is, because there is no university-wide policy in this regard. I find that very difficult to accept. I have discussed it with a professor who has university-wide responsibility for research and he seemed unaware about the lack of parity across the university - he said he would investigate but has not got back to me.
I have been working here for 15+ years and am proud of my contribution to my department. I am really quite upset to be disadvantaged in this way - you would have thought equitability and parity amongst employees should be a given?
What would you do?