Maternity lady paid less

[Parispapillon]

I went for a cuppa with the lady who will be replacing me.
She revealed what salary she has been offered. It is 21% lower than my salary.
I helped to choose her, I know her background and qualifications. I think she will bring a lot to the role and is an excellent choice.
A quick search online reveals people wingeing about mat people getting more than they did due to the short term nature etc but nobody else seems bothered about someone earning massively less.
She has verbally accepted but not signed the contract.
I will be on smp only.
I feel a little upset about this.

Salary requests / Negotiation is usually a huge factor on starting salary. Not everyone starts on the same wage.

Does she have the skills and experience right off to do your job or will she require training?

Why are you upset?

She accepted the role for the agreed salary. If she was unhappy, she could have negotiated or declined.

The fact that she’s covering maternity leave has nothing to do with it.

I wouldn't like that if I knew the person is very good. But if so, why would she go for a temporary contract that isn't that well paid?

She will require no training apart from a handover. I dunno I feel sad for her but also maybe a bit fed up that the employer is saving a lot of money on my pregnancy in this way.

Are you upset because you are upset for her? Or are you worried it is devaluing your role?

The position we have isn't one that comes up a lot and in addition she applied to it as the advert implied it could lead to a longer term post as we grow. She was only told the salary after the interview etc.

More upset for her.

OP I think it's really empathetic and suggests you are a really nice person to feel uncomfortable about that.

That's kind of you frolicks. She's my age and revealed she's not started her family yet as she's been wanting to get her job situation sorted. I feel soft in my pregnant state.

I don't think it's soft, I think it's that when we're pregnant we are just so much more aware that everyone is a human and everyone matters (except Trump of course)