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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for my pay to match an equal colleague?

41 replies

Irishbell · 23/04/2023 12:17

I work in a private school and my equal colleague with the same job description as me has just told me that they earn £1k a year more than me.
I want to raise this with the head and ask for my pay to match theirs but I don’t want my friend and colleague to get into trouble for telling me how much they earn.
would IBU for telling the head that I want it matched?
thank you.

OP posts:

Mammyloveswine · 23/04/2023 17:46

Irishbell · 23/04/2023 17:03

I’m just as experienced as a teacher but just not in this school. Thank you for clarifying though.

But what responsibilities do they have?

I'm ups2 and lead assemblies, SEND, communication and language, MfL and phonics.., I have colleagues who have taught the same amount of time as i but are still on MPS as they don't want any extra responsibility! We are both primarily classroom teachers!

Original poster

Irishbell · 23/04/2023 19:01

I have more responsibility and work more hours but am still on less.

OP posts:

Original poster

Irishbell · 23/04/2023 19:02

Private schools dont have MPS, TLR or UPS. They just make up their own rules.

OP posts:

Heroicallyfound · 23/04/2023 19:03

I think it’s completely reasonable to raise it and ask for some clarification about why there’s a disparity. Then you have a basis for discussion and further questions.

MargaretThursday · 23/04/2023 19:08

Dm found at a new job (very small private school) she was on double the hourly rate than any of the others, including the deputy head. Roughly what had happened was the first few people phoning up about the post had laughed and put the phone down when pay was mentioned so the head had said "do whatever it takes to get a maths teacher." Dm was the next one who phoned so they doubled it.
Tbf it was doubled from £2-£4 which £4 was rubbish too. But most of the teachers there had been going since almost WWII and taught because they loved it.

YoBeaches · 23/04/2023 19:17

Given there are ranges for salaries at different levels, you don't have a case for equal pay for equal Work as you are within an acceptable range.

Employers aren't obliged to pay you exactly the same to the penny. Everything is a negotiation.

If you feel you should be paid more, then go and justify that. But it won't wash on the basis that 'because someone else is paid more than me'. They may will consider that person better than you and therefore worth more.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/04/2023 19:20

Irishbell · 23/04/2023 19:02

Private schools dont have MPS, TLR or UPS. They just make up their own rules.

There's your solution, then.

ReadersD1gest · 23/04/2023 19:50

Irishbell · 23/04/2023 19:01

I have more responsibility and work more hours but am still on less.

How did that come about, if you started after your colleague who has the same job description as you?
When were you given the extra responsibilities?

Soontobe60 · 23/04/2023 19:53

I too am a teacher. Have been for 30+ years. Do you think I should be paid the same as a teacher who’s worked for 2 years? My pay reflects not only my job description, but also my experience.

GoodChat · 23/04/2023 19:53

Irishbell · 23/04/2023 19:01

I have more responsibility and work more hours but am still on less.

I thought she was an equal colleague?

Original poster

Irishbell · 23/04/2023 20:32

As I said, I have been teaching for the same length of time but not in the same school. I’d say our skills and experience are on the same level. I have recently taken on extra roles on top of just teaching.

OP posts:

Original poster

Irishbell · 23/04/2023 20:34

Thanks for all of your comments. I adore my colleague and will probably just leave it be.
I was just inquisitive about how it all works.
Thanks again!

OP posts:

Lcb123 · 23/04/2023 20:36

You can ask but if they’ve worked there longer it’s reasonable they’re paid more.

morbidcuriosity · 23/04/2023 21:18

Ask for a raise.. Maybe your colleague asked for one and got one and you haven't asked.. just a thought!

AppleKatie · 23/04/2023 23:15

Independent schools do have published (to staff) pay scales and metrics for working out responsibility points though.

Ive known colleagues get caught out by accepting a post at what is a junior point on our salary scale because it was comparable to what they would have got in the state sector. The time to negotiate scale point position is before you take the job sadly!

Sundaycoffee · 28/04/2023 20:14

This has happened to me before. My colleague was on less responsibility than me and paid more. I don't think you can ask for a raise on this basis. Presumably you were happy with the pay you were on or you wouldn't have taken the job?
However, I did send an email to my manager after noticing (i had to "approve" her salary increase on my managers behalf so that was how i saw it) and said that I had noticed the discrepancy and asked if there was a salary range for our roles and where did I sit on that.
They said they would review and come back to me. They came back and told me there was a discrepancy and corrected it so for me it worked out in the end without me having to directly ask for a raise.

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