Where I work, parents earn more than childless people... and it annoys me

[MustBookADentistAppointment]

So, where I work, parents receive an allowance because they have children. I don't have any children, but I would really like them. The argument is that people with children need the money because it's expensive having kids. Which I don't disagree with for a minute, but it pisses me off, nonetheless.

I'm single. Which means I have to pay all my rent/mortgage etc on my own, which is expensive. More expensive than if I lived with a partner. But I don't qualify for extra salary. Clearly, it's my choice to live alone, and I'm not blaming being single on my colleagues but hopefully you see what I mean. I'd also like a dog, but wouldn't get extra money to pay for dog daycare/walkers etc (I am NOT comparing having children to having a dog, just explaining that my lifestyle choices don't qualify for extra payments, like they would if I had children).

I can totally see the merit in an allowance for children, but am I being unreasonable to be pissed off about it? I'm slightly jealous of them, and am also paying through the nose for private therapy to try and manage/get over being alone and feeling sad about it - I just feel that their lifestyle is being subsidised, whereas mine isn't, even though it's kinda expensive too.

[rjay123]

First things first - it is not discrimination. Employers are allowed to pay different people different salaries for the same job. They aren't doing anything wrong.

[Andrewofgg]

I am old enough to remember when men were paid more for doing the identical job as women (no nonsense about "work of equal value") and it was all official and legal.

And of course they were always the ones promoted.

Because "men have more financial responsibilities than women".

There is nothing new under the sun, is there?

[Sophieelmer]

It isn't extra salary it's an allowance! It also isn't illegal, I wish people wouldn't spout of bullshit fact that they have no clue about.
You may think it's unfair but a very small number of employers think it is a worthwhile benefit to offer, to help support working parents with the additional costs that having children creates on attending the workplace. Some of these employers have this benefit as part of their equality policies.
OP you won't get very far complaining about this and will just seem biter and a bit of a dick when you try to claim yourself when you have children yourself.

[rjay123]

^ unless it is because of their age, gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or because they are pregnant.

And this has to be the only, provable reason.

[Andrewofgg]

No rjay123 it might be indirect age discrimination!

[PurpleDaisies]

Employers are allowed to pay different people different salaries for the same job. They aren't doing anything wrong

They are allowed to pay two identically qualified workers doing the same job who are in all other respects apart from the fact that one has a child and one doesn't different salaries? How is that not wrong?

[sonyaya]

andrewofgg

Exactly, assuming the children have to be under 18.

And even if it isn't illegal, it is unacceptable and immoral. I will never understand why some people think treating the childless as second class citizens is ok.

[MudCity]

Bizarre. YANBU.

[chickenowner]

I think that's appalling!

It reminds me of a time when men were paid more than women and it was justified because they had a family to support.

[3luckystars]

Parental leave is the same as unpaid leave, you should be able to take that too.

Extra allowance for children though, that's unbelievable.

[PurpleDaisies]

OP you won't get very far complaining about this and will just seem biter and a bit of a dick when you try to claim yourself when you have children yourself.

Right, because complaining about something which is unfair is a bad move? Many people would agree that this situation isn't morally right. Not everyone goes on to have children.

[pointstaken]

I wish people wouldn't spout of bullshit fact that they have no clue about.

could you please explain it for us instead of leaving us clueless?

[Fruitboxjury]

Are you sure the extra leave isn't parental leave, allowing them to take paid time off when their kids are sick, not just them? not everyone has it, but most places accept that having to stay home whilst your kid pukes everywhere isn't exactly a good use of a day's holiday or unpaid leave

[SparkleTwinkleGoldGlitter]

How very odd! I've never heard of anything like this

How can you be paid more because you had sex and produced a child does that somehow mean you do your job better than someone just as qualified as you, that does the same job but hasn't produced a child yet? What an odd system

[AddToBasket]

The extra leave sounds like parental leave as described above. Not holiday.

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

Where I work, parents can claim a generous amount in childcare vouchers over and above the salary sacrifice scheme, which is also available. How much they can claim is a sliding scale based on how old the child is and whether they are disabled. This is available for every child up to 16 years old, but can only be used in Ofsted registered care - so if granny looks after the kids it cannot be used to pay her unless she's a childminder.

[Fruitboxjury]

Sophieelmer that's totally unnecessary, parents already get tax payer funded allowances and benefits, you can't call someone a dick for standing up for themselves. In OPs example as someone single, the only entitlement she gets for her circumstances despite the extra costs is a 25% reduction in council tax.

[SparePantsAndLego]

Employers are allowed to pay different people different salaries for the same job.

That's not right. People doing the same job or work of equal value should get the same or equal pay; but in many cases they don’t, even though though the law says they should.
www.unison.org.uk/get-help/knowledge/pay/equal-pay/

[Nospringflower]

Well at my work we get extra paid leave for having children. 4 weeks paid leave over the course of their childhood. You have to show the birth certificate to get it. And you get it per child so I have 3 children so am getting an extra 12 weeks paid holidays. It does seem unfair to childless people and also to those whose children are older (they only brought it in recently).

[Qwebec]

Well, I'm childless and I think it is sensible. Children are expensive and it's nice seing a company supporting parents for a change.

[happypoobum]

My last job also had this - I got £28 a week for each of my two children. The employer paid it for up to two children and it was payable up until the child was eleven.

It wasn't childcare vouchers but a sort of allowance or bonus listed on the payslip, same as overtime or whatever.

[ThreeLeggedHaggis]

If it's as you say, it's outrageous.

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

I got £28 a week for each of my two children. The employer paid it for up to two children and it was payable up until the child was eleven.

So you got 3k extra a year just for having DC

[Swissgemma]

My dh gets a child allowance in his monthly salary - works out at about a days childcare a week. He also gets the small persons health insurance paid (which in Switzerland is a lot!).

[AndKnowItsSeven]

Of course it's appropriate that a cash allowance is paid for child care. Again the parental leave is bith necessary and appropriate.