Is this discrimination? Mat cover on more than me

[Emyrave]

Hello,

First time poster to Mumsnet here - thanks in advance for any advice. I’m a few weeks away from taking mat leave - my first baby. My company is in the final throes of hiring a man who comes highly recommended. This man won’t join us on a contract position though - only permanent. I’ve been verbally assured my job is safe and that if anything I will manage him. I’ve interviewed this man and we graduated the same year, similar degrees and career paths but if anything my experience is better than his - I am not boasting - it truly is. However my boss mistakenly forwarded on an email chain which states that my replacement wants a salary 10K more than mine. This is apparently not a problem and they are continuing the negotiation this week. I’m certain I need to flag I’ve read this and that I find it concerning but I’m also - sorry - in hot angry tears about it. Context - I moved cities and needed a job so took a major pay cut for this one - I was undergoing IVF and my priority was and is the baby we are so lucky to finally (nearly) have. So I took it on the chin. But this feels like this bloke waltzes in and commands 10K more than me? And will be permanent? Is this ok? I really appreciate any advice / thanks in advance.

Thanks all. Sorry if I don’t tag you all I’m completely new to this! I’ve just sent an email I reworded 10,000 times because I do think I need to raise it. The two issues are: they are recruiting permanently, based on my job description. And 2 - offering a salary 10K over mine. I don’t think this is malicious- they just want to solve a problem and haven’t thought through the implications. But I cannot let it go unchallenged even if it does cause me unnecessary stress. Feel sick now! Thanks so much for all your time and advice all x

It sounds like they offer the job at the same or similar salary. You accepted it because you really wanted/needed the job. The guy needs it maybe more and is prepared to negotiate higher. They could say no and decide to advertise again. Or they could decide that the cost of doing so and business loss in the meantime is not worth it and they will settle somewhere.

This is not discrimination. Maybe they'd agree to a better pay if you'd negotiated at the time of recruitment but it's a chance you didn't want to take.

It sounds like it hadn't been confirmed that he'll report to you, so that doesn't come into it for the time being.

Something similar happened to me. There is a very clear case for an equal pay claim here. I made mine successfully and got it backdated as well. You are right to raise it.

It’s not discrimination he’s negotiated his salary, which you can do at any time during your employment.

How long are you taking off for mat leave? That affects whether they have to keep your exact role open for you or just something equivalent.

I think it is discrimination. People say 'he negotiated, you didn't' but there's a wealth of research to show even when women do negotiate they're less likely to be offered better salaries. It's madness that you'll get a higher salary based on self-promotion in negotiations rather than skills/seniority. Definitely raise it and please keep us updated.

In my brothers industry they have to negotiate their pay as part of the interview process. He says he has to be prepared to walk away without the job. They have actually started including extra modules at universities running the course for female students to better prepare them.

There is an absolute ban on discussing salary, but when one of his female colleagues was applying for a role equivalent to his, he told her his salary so she could negotiate for the same-and got it.

It's so bloody sexist, I hope you get your raise op!

This happened to me and so I bluntly told my boss that unless I was paid the same I wouldn’t be returning. They then rescinded the mat cover’s perm position and said it was a short term contract or nothing.

I once had a job where I was paid 3500 euro as month and my colleague, same age, more qualifications than me, same job got 2500 euros. Tge difference was that when she started the job she took it without negotiating and when they offered me the job I said I wasn't goong to do it for less than 3500. And I meant it too, I would have walked away from it. She got so angry when she discovered the difference.

BumbleBeee69
I'm confused.... hmm

How can a male colleague working UNDER you.. be paid £10K more?

My manager is paid less than me (not 10K). I have more years and experience, she wanted the management position and I didn't.

She is on more money than her last job (linked to years service) and has a linked amount (money for a managing position)to their wages.

I'm on mat leave right now and similar has happened to me. They have seconded someone into my role who is 2 pay grades above me. That's a minimum 15k annual difference if you assume she's on the bottom of that grade pay scale.

When I go back I am going to raise all hell that's certain. Clearly they feel the work I do is that high a grade

Don't forget you may want to be asking them for part time or flexible working when you return. I'd be very careful in handling this so as not to burn bridges.

My manager is paid less than me (not 10K). I have more years and experience, she wanted the management position and I didn't

in OP's case .. this OP is way more experienced.

I think that there's only one time that you negotiate from strength - that time between being offered a role and accepting it. You've got to really use this time because once you're on the payroll you're facing an uphill battle.

I’d be worried about what happens when you go back. Are they assuming you might want part-time working? I’d also want structures confirmed for your return. I’ve been a bit shafted through restructures that have happened on both of my mat leaves.