Just over a year ago I found out that I was being paid substantially less than a male colleague in the same role. Not only this but when I spoke to the union and some other women in the organisation I found that this sort of pay inequality was very common across the company - some women had even gone to tribunal before they were awarded equal pay.
This is a common story everywhere of course. What makes it more unusual is this organisation is a well known name, very famous for its liberal values, including gender equality. So the inequalities in pay are not only discrimination but raging hypocrisy.
In the end I left the company - they were not backing down on pay, I was not willing to go through the time and expense of tribunal, and I also felt very unhappy there for many other reasons (in summary: terrible boss). They gave me a settlement which, whilst admitting no liability whatsoever, coincidentally equalled my back pay for if I had been paid the same as this male colleague. Of course, it had a clause in it saying that I was relinquishing any right to any claims on them, and could not speak ill of the company essentially for the rest of my life. I know these contracts are very hard to enforce, but theoretically if I spoke up they could demand their money back.
Partly I feel ashamed that I was paid off for my silence and didn't carry on fighting, but the overall situation was so bad that it was affecting my mental health, and I don't think I could have stayed there any longer. It took some counselling and lots of time away but a year later, I have moved on.
But now whenever I hear them speak about equal pay it gives me the rage and I am tempted to out them, somehow. Preferably anonymously - I am very thin skinned and just not brave enough to face the publicity and inevitable abuse (not to mention possible legal action) of doing it publicly.
WWYD?