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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Disparity in pay between workers doing the same job? Is this allowed?

66 replies

Payproblems · 05/09/2021 10:34

We work in the public sector, but I found out a colleuge asked for more ££ and got it.

Now they are advertising the same role but for higher pay.

My colleuge doesn't pull their weight or do their job properly and everyone else on the team knows this so the fact they are earning more then me has really upset me.
Then I see the same job being advertiser but for more than money again I feel upset.

However this is the public sector, is this usual practise? Will it be normal to have people doing the same job on all different rates?

OP posts:
MattHancocksSexTape · 05/09/2021 10:36

Yes. It’s normal, and legal (except if discriminating)

KatherineOfGaunt · 05/09/2021 10:37

A newly-qualified teacher can start on a higher rate of pay if they negotiate it.

As a retail worker straight out of uni, I found out the other young woman my age was on more pay for the same job. I'd been to uni for three years and she had been working in retail for three years.

I think it's just how it is. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
Payproblems · 05/09/2021 10:40

Wow. What's go stop me resigning and re joining?

OP posts:
Original poster
Payproblems · 05/09/2021 10:42

I've been on the role for three years now and no mention of a pay rise, again do we have to ask or wait?

OP posts:
Enko · 05/09/2021 10:42

Ask for a payrise yourself

Travis1 · 05/09/2021 10:42

Nothing except there’s no guarantee you’d get the job 🤷🏻‍♀️ Speak to your manager. I wouldn’t go in guns blazing about the colleague but would use the job advert to make a business case for an increase in salary

SW1amp · 05/09/2021 10:42

@Payproblems

Wow. What's go stop me resigning and re joining?
You’d lose your period of continuous employment and all the benefits it brings, for starters

Have you actually asked for more money?
Your colleague obviously had a positive response when they did so it’s the logical first step for you

Lockdownbear · 05/09/2021 10:43

@Payproblems

Wow. What's go stop me resigning and re joining?
You may not be re-hired and you won't have continuity of service. Your best bet is to speak with your boss and point out the advert and ask for more money.
Hekatestorch · 05/09/2021 10:45

@Payproblems

Wow. What's go stop me resigning and re joining?
Well they may not take you back for a start.

Theres nothing stopping people giving a pay rise to someone who asks and not to someone who doesn't.

They can also advertise the role at a different rate to yours.

Wouldn't it just be easier to ask for a pay rise?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 05/09/2021 10:46

I know in my part of public sector we have people who’ve been in post of a long time at the top of a “pay band” and others now can’t work through the pay band to earn more. So we’re all hired at the bottom and stay at the bottom until promoted.

We don’t have what you have though.

Metabigot · 05/09/2021 10:46

Technically you could apply for the vacancy without resigning first and you wouldn't lose your continuous employment if you started straight away.. it would be the nuclear option to make your point, but there are probably easier ways

Newmumatlast · 05/09/2021 10:48

@Payproblems

Wow. What's go stop me resigning and re joining?
Why don't you ask for a pay rise and if they refuse look for another job?
Original poster
Payproblems · 05/09/2021 10:48

This is will sound very silly, emotional and unprofessional.

I had a review recently and it was glowing and then I found out about this Co workers pay and I feel really stupid and undermined and hurt actually because this person has been so awful.

They are short of people in by role as well so I would have thought.. Why not look after the one you've got?
I'm good at my job and I enjoy it.

I feel my enthusiasm... Draining

OP posts:
SW1amp · 05/09/2021 10:50

@Payproblems

This is will sound very silly, emotional and unprofessional.

I had a review recently and it was glowing and then I found out about this Co workers pay and I feel really stupid and undermined and hurt actually because this person has been so awful.

They are short of people in by role as well so I would have thought.. Why not look after the one you've got?
I'm good at my job and I enjoy it.

I feel my enthusiasm... Draining

You’re massively over complicating this Confused

Ask for a meeting with your manager, and say that in the light of your glowing review plus knowing they are paying more for the same role, you would like a pay rise please

I’m also going to guess that the colleague who got the pay rise is a man..?

Sparklesocks · 05/09/2021 10:50

Yes speak to them about a pay rise.
Prepare a rationale with the value you add to the organisation and what you do that is above and beyond.
It also might be worth asking for more transparency on the pay banding for your position to see where you fall.

In my experience it’s been down to performance/experience as well as negotiating a higher rate when you join.

MadeForThis · 05/09/2021 10:52

Ask for a pay rise. Make it based on your glowing review and above standard performance rather than the job advert or your colleagues pay.

HeckyPeck · 05/09/2021 10:53

This is very unusual in the public sector.

They usually have salary bands or brackets for particular roles. People can start at higher points within the band's if they negotiate it, but not just random salaries.

If they reband a role that would cover everyone in the role, not just for new people, except if people are on higher bands and protected.

Can you find or ask for information about salary banding for your department/organisation? That might give you some answers.

Hekatestorch · 05/09/2021 11:00

@Payproblems

This is will sound very silly, emotional and unprofessional.

I had a review recently and it was glowing and then I found out about this Co workers pay and I feel really stupid and undermined and hurt actually because this person has been so awful.

They are short of people in by role as well so I would have thought.. Why not look after the one you've got?
I'm good at my job and I enjoy it.

I feel my enthusiasm... Draining

So ask for a pay rise. They aren't going to just offer it.

Why are you trying come up with other ways of getting the pay rise, instead of just asking?

Original poster
Payproblems · 05/09/2021 11:01

Hecky that's a good stragety thank you.
I know I'm over complicating it 🤣.
Asking about this will be way out of my comfort zone.

OP posts:
TheChiefJo · 05/09/2021 11:04

@Payproblems

Wow. What's go stop me resigning and re joining?
The risk to that is that rehiring isn't guaranteed. Why don't you do what your colleague did and demand a pay rise? It is normal in public sector for pay to rise over time and with expertise, within a band structure that is based on qualification. I assume your colleague made a case for their pay rise. Have they held the role longer or had previous experience? Anyway, there's no reason you can't take a look at your cv and make your own demands.
DynamoKev · 05/09/2021 11:05

@Payproblems

Wow. What's go stop me resigning and re joining?
Nothing except someone else might get the job.
Original poster
Payproblems · 05/09/2021 11:06

The chief,

No more qualifications at all, joined two years after me, all I heard about was complaints, lazy, awkward, I too found them awkward and unhelpful.
So I was gobsmacked to learn they had been offered more.

OP posts:
MoiraRose4 · 05/09/2021 11:10

Have you asked for more money?

TheChiefJo · 05/09/2021 11:12

Well, all the more reason for you to request a raise then. You have 2 years longer loyalty and direct experience. There's your case (though I wouldn't mention the colleague or their pay). Just say "I've been here X long now and feel very confident in my work, I think I deserve a raise"

Thymeout · 05/09/2021 11:12

Are you in a Union? That's what they're for.

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