Getting paid less than my colleagues

[HaveIFuckedMyselfHere]

NCed. I cant afford to be outed so I will change a lot of detials too.

In the summer I was emailed a job offer. I emailed back that I was delighted to accept.

Four weeks into the job, I've found out that colleagues who haven't worked there longer than me and who dont have the qualifications I do, are getting paid 15 - 20% more. It isnt a high pay job, that 15% would make a big, big difference to my life The colleague who told me warned me that the bosses get angry when people talk about their pay, so please not to drag her in, not that I would.

The company have asked me to sign a paper contract, which I havent done yet. Can I ask for a raise? Is the 'I accept' email binding?

Have I royally fucked myself over? Can I walk in on Monday and say pay me properly or I quit?

I'm gutted. I feel so stupid.

Sorry.

AIBU to ask for a raise? on the grounds that they are taking the piss

You haven't signed a contract so see no reason why you have to stay.

Well YANBU unreasonable to ask. It's likely there was room for maneuvere and they negotiated before they started. Unless it's discrimination there's not much you can do if they say no though.

Obviously you could quit if you wanted.

I dont really want to quit, I want to be paid properly.

I've actually worked for this company for three years - they keep hiring me on one temp contract after another, with a couple of months gap between. I cant believe theyve taken me for a mug all this time.

I'm so embarrassed and angry.

You worked there three years? Does the boss get angry of people ask for a raise?

Surely you have a sense of the environment there.

Don't threaten to quit if you don't get a raise.

You didn't negotiate a better wage. Threatening them with quitting may just make them say 'fine...off you pop'

I employ people, if someone wanted a raise I would discuss it with them. If they came to me with 'give me it or I quit' I would accept their resignation.

I'm with you op.

I've worked very hard for this company, they upped my pay after promotion, and then they hired two other people on a lower pay scale and paid them more.

It completely sucks

Lower pay scale, should be lower grade.

I dont really want to quit, I want to be paid properly.

To be fair you are being paid properly they offered you a salary and you accepted, just like tradesmen if they offer a low quote it's their choice to do the work, it's not your colleagues fault they negotiated better or whatever.

But you can ask for a rise and leave if you do t get one, but you did accept the offer so you couldn't be that happy with it

Unhappy*

This happened to me OP. I came back from maternity leave and discovered new people were on more than me. Confronted my boss who didn't take it kindly. He dug his heels in so I put on a fake smile then found a better job and very much enjoyed handing in my notice a few months later. How you tackle it depends on how you get on with your boss. If you can be honest with them, just tell them and ask them to explain, but don't threaten to leave. If you don't get anywhere, look for another job secretly. If you get offered something you could always try to negotiate.

I know it is easier said than done but try and stay positive and don't take it too personally; they will literally pay what they can get away with. If you stay positive you will be more likely to get another job too. But I personally don't like places where there are no scales and you are not 'allowed' to discuss salaries as they are usually unfair.

I think it shows that they're not paying you the market rate.

I'd go and talk to an agency and say you're available for interviews and work, so that when you negotiate you have concrete knowledge that other employers would value you.

I think YAB a bit U, sorry.

They offered you a job (and salary), and you said you were "delighted to accept".

When you get offered a job, then that is the time to negotiate. If you'd have asked for £x a year more they might have given it to you, but you didn't.

Not everyone who does the same role gets paid the same amount. Your colleagues may have negotiated a higher starting salary when they started.

Also you've only been there 4 weeks! Asking for a raise just now is a no no.

If you think you're worth more then use the next year to prove it, then ask for a rise and have proper figures / facts as to why you deserve it, not just because someone else is getting paid more than you!

Businesses will pay their staff as low as they can get away with.

If you think you're worth more, you need to talk to your boss about why.

But if you go in with an 'it's not fair, he gets more than me and if you don't give me it I'll quit' attitude, I imagine they'll just say 'off you go then.'
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

I started working there three years ago, but have always been on temp contracts, hence the 'new' job offer.
All my performance reviews have been glowing.
The boss has asked for my advice (I am better qualified than him in some areas) on the regular.

I'm going to ask for a meeting and very nicey-nicey say that given my qualifications, experience and performance at the company I feel I'm worth X, the salary paid people doing my job in the public sector. I won't mention anyone else's salary.

If I don't get a raise then I'll leave it a few weeks and then resign for an ostensibly unconnected reason, because I need a reference.

Thanks all for your input.

I misunderstand your last post regarding "the salary being paid to people in the public sector". If you are in the private sector then you would usually be paid more than public sector/same job. If you meant it the other way round then it is unlikely that the public sector would be able to afford to pay you as if you were in the private sector.

In any event there is no harm in approaching it as such - ie. in the light of my experience, qualifications I would hope to be paid at £x level and see what they say.

OP you might have an equal pay claim if you are a different race from the other workers, or if you are gay/bi, or if you have a disability. Basically, if you are covered by the Equality Act? Are the other workers all men?

I appreciate you probably wouldn't want to take a claim, but dropping the phrase "Equal Pay" into your conversation with your boss might spark his attention.

I agree with PP, have a chat with the boss, say you want to be paid the same as the others and can he explain to you why that wouldn't be fair? Ask politely, not shouty or angry. See what he says. Is there an HR department?

By the way, if there are pay secrecy clauses where you work they are not legally enforceable.

It sounds like a pretty shit outfit and I would be looking elsewhere......

My company used to do this too (over a decade ago, pre-kids) forbade us from talking about salaries. they were the ones who benefited from our shame / fear that we might be earning less than the man person at the next desk.

A lot of people in the private sector aren't paid as well as many people in the public sector for this reason. Bosess will pay as little as they can get away with paying and if you don't have the 'protection' of a formal pay sstructure then you can end up earning peanuts.