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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Maternity cover being paid more than me?

50 replies

jugglingmonkey · 11/08/2015 07:37

I've been cc'd in an email exchange between my boss and my maternity cover, in which salary is agreed.

It's more than I'm on. I'm pretty annoyed and feel like I ought to say something. Perhaps my boss thought I earned more, or it's just careless, but either way it's not really on is it?

WIBU to reply to my boss and politely state that that figure is more than I earn and I'm surprised at what the mat cover has been offered?

OP posts:
icklekid · 11/08/2015 07:39

Depends if cover has more experience or is currently on higher salary I guess- wouldn't be unusual in education for maternity cover to be on different salary

chippednailvarnish · 11/08/2015 07:41

Short term contracts are often paid more than permanent staff...

ThoseAwfulCurtains · 11/08/2015 07:41

Is he or she more qualified than you? Is it difficult to recruit cover staff so they are paid more?

Original poster
jugglingmonkey · 11/08/2015 07:44

None of the above. Same quals and I actually 'beat' this person to the job a few years ago.

Perhaps they're more passionate about the role and have more to give it (no young DC's).

OP posts:
Original poster
jugglingmonkey · 11/08/2015 07:45

And no, lots of people would give their right arm for the job, on my salary or less.

OP posts:
wibbleywee · 11/08/2015 07:46

Im confused, do you mean your bosses maternity pay is more than you earn or you are being offered more than you usually earn??

LovelyBranches · 11/08/2015 07:47

Have you spoken to your trade union? This doesn't sound right to me. You are both qualified to do the job so you should get the same pay.

Out of interest is your cover a man or woman.

YWNBU to email boss, but I would get advise from Trade Union first just in case.

Original poster
jugglingmonkey · 11/08/2015 07:48

Wibbly, the person coming in to do my maternity cover will be paid more than me.

OP posts:
Original poster
jugglingmonkey · 11/08/2015 07:48

Same sex as me, female.

OP posts:
LovelyBranches · 11/08/2015 07:51

No, this really doesn't sound right. Sort this out quickly!

roses2 · 11/08/2015 07:51

Is she a permanent employee?

PurpleCrazyHorse · 11/08/2015 07:53

Why don't you just ask your boss?

Procrastinatingpeacock · 11/08/2015 07:53

I believe it is perfectly legal to pay a maternity cover more than the member of staff they are replacing. As others have said, this may be to compensate for the temporary nature of the role, or it may be for some other reason. I can understand why you might want to confront your boss about this but I'm not sure what you would hope to gain. Personally I would file this bit of information away in my head with a view to using it at a time when it might actually benefit me in future - for example when you next have a pay review I think it would be perfectly valid to point out that you are aware that your maternity cover was paid more than you which suggests that there is flexibility to increase your own salary.

Original poster
jugglingmonkey · 11/08/2015 07:54

No, it'll be a contract (12 month standard maternity cover). Same days/terms as me.

I wouldn't be surprised if they try to keep them on once I'm back though. We're a growing office and she is good (I'm not disputing that!)

OP posts:
BellaOfTheBalls · 11/08/2015 07:55

Has she come through an agency? The charge for temp employees through an agency is astronomical.

Becles · 11/08/2015 07:58

Is it on the same pay scale and range, but on a higher bit of the scale than you or 8s the post holder on £8k more?

Also, is this an interim contract or a secondment? when I recruit to an interim, I end up paying out at least 25% more because the on costs are included in the salary.

They could also just have negotiated a higher salary, I've done that before because I was able to demonstrate the value I brought to the organisation and also they needed me more than I needed them.

RealityCheque · 11/08/2015 08:01

This is completely normal. As mentioned above, short term contracts are often paid at a much higher rate.

What ever you do, please do not mention this. You will come across as a loon and it may well be career-damaging for you.

The replys in this thread urging you to confront it or 'sort it' are absolutely bafflingand show a co plete lack of understanding on how business works. 'Same salary for the same work' simply doesn't happen in industry. Even factors such as when the person started will change what rate they are on.

StealthPolarBear · 11/08/2015 08:01

It isn't illegal to pay people different salaries who are doing the same job.
Op as a pp said I'd use this as evidence in your next pay review

Granitagran · 11/08/2015 08:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MidniteScribbler · 11/08/2015 08:05

If she's on a contract she's probably not getting holiday or sick pay, so the extra is leave loading.

DoJo · 11/08/2015 08:06

Maybe she's just a really good at negotiation - I agree with Procrastinatingpeacock that it might be best to keep this knowledge in mind and use it as part of your own negotiations. Expressing your surprise is all well and good, but unless you have an endgame in mind, it might not be the best way to use this information to your advantage.

happygirl87 · 11/08/2015 08:09

Was coming on to say what granita said- when I was a contractor my rate was high, but I had no security, no sick pay, no hol/bank hol pay, and the company could sack me on 2 weeks notice...

Unthoughtknown · 11/08/2015 08:09

It's acceptable, particularly if you have pay bandings where you work. I am potentially in the same position, I am recruiting my maternity cover and the best people want more than I'm on. I just plan on using it as leverage when I come back, to get an increase to the top of the band.

atticusclaw · 11/08/2015 08:10

As a pp has said it isn't unlawful to pay two people performing the same role differently. It is only unlawful to do so if the reason for the difference is their sex. If you are both female then you would not have any claim. Even if your replacement was male you would have to show that his higher salary is because he is male and not just because he is on a short term contract and the business has had to pay more to get the replacement in to cover a specific period of time (or another legitimate reason).

I'm an employment lawyer.

Unthoughtknown · 11/08/2015 08:11

And like pp I do believe sometimes you need to offer people more money to make a mat leave cover more attractive.