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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Work colleague always bringing up wages

28 replies

Readeatcake · 03/04/2021 15:22

I have worked in the company for 5 years, her 10 both in basic admin roles.
I have always worked the same full time hours of 40 a week. I used to be in the same department as said colleague but recently took a 'promotion' of sorts that has moved me into another department where I am undergoing training and a distance learning course. After completion I have been told there will be a pay increase. This was open to everyone to apply to but only 2 people applied and said colleague did not.

So onto my work colleague, they have worked there for 10 years, started out as full time then understandably she moved to part time after the birth of her second child. She now works almost half of my hours but at every chance she gets brings up that she should be on more money than me as she's been with the company longer.

I try to explain that with me being full time I obviously will earn more but that if she did the same hours we would be on the same (until after my training) she still thinks this is unfair and that even on her part time hours she should be bringing home more than me because of years of service alone.

She won't stop, we can be taking about anything and yet she manages to bring it back to wages. In so fed up of it, I've tried telling her I don't want to discuss it any more but she doesn't stop.

Just an additional fyi she only knows my wages as the company like to boast about giving every admin the same national living wage at any opportunity.

OP posts:
Standrewsschool · 03/04/2021 15:27

So she thinks that someone working 20 hours per week should earn more than someone working 40 hours, doing the same job? Ludicrous!

Regarding length if service, I can understand how she feels she should get a better hourly rate than a complete newcomer. Maybe not a significance difference, but £1-2 . However, her grievance should be with hr not you.

DragonPoop · 03/04/2021 15:34

She sounds bonkers!
Ignoring the fact you work full time and she works part time I don’t understand what she expects you to do about it. You’re not the one deciding wages, if she has an issue she wants to raise with you again perhaps direct her towards HR or a manager?

CareBear50 · 03/04/2021 15:34

I would repeat the same phrase......"if you're concerned you could speak to management/HR"...... Repeat as necessary 😸

ScarfaceCwaw · 03/04/2021 15:36

She's deluded and boring. And pay for length of service went out with the dinosaurs; if you want to get paid more, you need to perform better or take on higher duties, not just manage not to get fired for more years.

Tell her you aren't discussing it with her any more and mean it.

PandaFluff · 03/04/2021 15:36

Tell her to speak to her manager as there is nothing you can do about it. If she carries on suggest that you speak to her manager for her?

PandaFluff · 03/04/2021 15:37

Oops posted too soon. Then tell her manager she won't drop the subject and you are extremely uncomfortable.

Thedogscollar · 03/04/2021 15:40

Just ask her if she is being deliberately obtuse?

It's really not that hard to understand you work double her hours you obviously earn more.

She could work there for another 50 years it wouldn't change what she earns. Some people really are quite simply stupid.

DeeCeeCherry · 03/04/2021 15:43

Just firmly tell her to stop then. & Mean it. Otherwise she'll keep going on about it.

BarbaraofSeville · 03/04/2021 15:44

Not all jobs pay more for doing it more, generally only those where experience makes you better, more efficient, able to do more complex work etc.

None of that really applies to 'basic admin work' as it's something you can learn fairly quickly and most people with basic literacy and numeracy can do to a reasonable standard at reasonable speed.

And unfortunately, with the increase in the NMW over the past few years, a lot of the time, this sort of work has now become NMW work.

HollowTalk · 03/04/2021 15:45

I would speak to my manager about this. She has no right to talk about your wages and frankly she sounds completely stupid if she thinks she should earn more for working half the hours.

Fluffyandsilly · 03/04/2021 15:49

She sounds mental. Why would she earn the same, or more than you if she’s working half the hours you do. I would tell her this.

I’d then firmly tell her to stop talking to you about it and to take it up with management if she’s so bothered about it.

FangsForTheMemory · 03/04/2021 15:54

Honestly, I have worked with people like this and the only thing you can do is avoid getting into conversations with them altogether.

madmumofteens · 03/04/2021 16:02

I would just say well you could always go full time rinse and repeat cheeky mare!

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 03/04/2021 16:35

Give her one more opportunity to stop discussing the matter and if that does not achieve results talk to your manager. Perhaps say to her to stop harassing you about this, which sounds a bit dramatic but may be effective.

pickaxer · 03/04/2021 16:49

Have you not got an annual pay rise like 1% or something. So in previous companies I've worked in I'd you started on the same salary someone who'd been there years would be on more assuming their performance was ok.

N51BU · 03/04/2021 16:52

There's a couple of ppl at my work who I don't enter into conversations with because frankly, I don't like them and find them irritating

The only thing I will say is Hello if required. If they did try to talk to me it would be one word answers from me. They soon get the message

I also do exactly the same for the annoying neighbour opposite

LaurieFairyCake · 03/04/2021 16:55

"have you considered going full time? Really you should go full time? What about full time then? "

Said in a slightly manic voice Grin

She'll soon shut up ...

islockdownoveryet · 03/04/2021 16:57

@Thedogscollar

Just ask her if she is being deliberately obtuse?

It's really not that hard to understand you work double her hours you obviously earn more.

She could work there for another 50 years it wouldn't change what she earns. Some people really are quite simply stupid.

I suspect someone who can’t work out that the person working 40 hour week will earn more than the part time employer will not be so bright and will not understand obtuse . You can’t argue with stupid so I wouldn’t even try . Just walk away shaking your head next time or just say I agree go and have a word with HR . Hopefully they won’t laugh at her, She’s making herself look ridiculous .
Steptoeshorse1965 · 03/04/2021 17:19

It's not even feasible that the length of time you have been there, should ensure you earn more, rather than earn money commensurate to the hours you work, your skill base too may command higher wages, so many other things as well. I'd get some smarter friends if I were you.

Cam2020 · 03/04/2021 18:18

@islockdownoveryet has it right. Your colleague is ridiculous.

VettiyaIruken · 03/04/2021 18:21

Tell her I'm not the person who decides wages so I'm not sure why you keep complaining to me. Talk to hr

happinessischocolate · 03/04/2021 18:59

I'd agree with her and keep telling her she needs a to speak to management about it 😁😁

DamsonTrousers · 03/04/2021 19:08

I wouldn’t even get into a discussion about it. If she has a problem with how much she is paid, she should take that up with her manager / the company. You shouldn’t feel like you have to or be made to justify how much you’re paid.

PanamaPattie · 03/04/2021 19:17

As pp, tell her she is correct and she needs to raise a grievance with her manager and to copy her grievance to HR.

mumjustmum · 03/04/2021 19:46

Tell her that you think you should get child benefit too, despite not having any children.... just so you're the same. There's no fixing stupid sadly.

Obvs only applies if you don't have children!