To be embarrassed by my pay?

[Shehavyygah]

I moved internally and the pay rise was minimal. One manager let it slip that they should have started me on £3K more than they did.

Since then two apprentices have started, both have just completed their A-levels and they are paid the same as me. Despite their job role being an apprentice and my job role being higher. Sounds stupid but I feel embarrassed I’m paid the same as someone more junior than me.

Have you spoken to payroll and said that your pay is wrong?

You shouldn't be embarrassed. You should be furious and camping outside HR's door!

What sounds stupid is that you don’t seem to want to address it - if your manager told you you should be earning more, and you can make a case for being more experienced than an apprentice, then you should ask them to rectify this. Does your workplace have pay bands, or a formal review process, or a union to join?

And what have you said or done to remedy the situation?

Organise a meeting with your manager and write down your points to raise. No harm in asking 🤞

This

So negotiate then

Well, you're not being unreasonable its rubbish but it's sadly very common in my experience. I work in the public sector where there used to be progression in role so as you learned more, gained more experience/skills you could get an annual pay increase. That went years ago so a brand new employee earns the same as someone who has been there for 10yrs and 'exceeded expectations' every year.

I imagine OP works for a small business and there is no HR.

Fight for fair pay or leave and find another job k

What do people doing your role at your competitors' earn?

What do other people at a similar level to you in your organization earn? (look at recent job postings to find out)

Set up a meeting with your boss and ask for a raise. You have no doubt been given a lot more responsibility and work, they should pay you for that. What would happen if you quit and went elsewhere? How much would they have to pay to advertise for a new person, pay them to reflect current market rates, train them and get them up to speed? You are more valuable to them than a new apprentice.

No I actually work for a large global company with an HR. (I’m not with a union if that’s relevant).

TBH as far as I’m aware it’s up to the head of my department how much I’m paid and his budget? And nothing to do with HR?

I have raised it with my manager and he’s just shrugged and said I’d need to justify why I should be paid more.

A man wouldn’t even think twice here. They would be clearly asking for a pay rise, based on just what you said here. You are more senior and more experienced than the new employees who only just passed their exams so you want a rise of £3-5000.

Dont be a doormat.

The reasons you’ve told us.

I wouldn't be embarrassed but I would be pissed off.

This is not fair on you.

I would be honest with your manager and say you aren’t happy you aren’t paid a fair market value for your role with this level of experience.

Start looking around and see if you can move internally and externally.

Exactly this!

I don't know about you, but the only reason I work is for the money so I would be furious and want it backdating

I have raised it with my manager and he’s just shrugged and said I’d need to justify why I should be paid more.

Eh well because they are taking apprentices on with no experience on the same salary as you which suggests that the pay grades for your role needs to be reviewed. How much experience do you have in the role? How long have you worked there? Was the internal move a promotion?

You don't need a union at this point.
Write a formal statement of justification, make your points.
Job role should be £3k more according to the manager, you feel you've been underpaid since you started your role.
What your role involves.
What effect does your role have on the business.
List your tasks especially anything outside of your role, the little extras we seem to pick up.
If anyone reports to you.
Do you train others.
Any support you provide to others.
How your role affects or supports your colleagues.
The apprentices get paid the same, what support or training do you provide.
Have a good think about it, there's plenty of ideas on Google for putting a justification in place.
Start making notes, put the justification in writing then present to your manager and ask him to take it to HR, if he doesn't you can send it to them yourself.

Justify it? The manager said they should have been paying you more. Others less qualified are being paid the same as you.

Current market prices if you was to leave are x per year.

If you're not prepared to ask for more it's time to move. Men have no problem with this.

Don't be a mug.

This is completely unacceptable but sadly all too common.

Go through your job spec and compare it to other similar roles in the industry. Get a baseline average figure for your role. Tell them that this is what you should be paid in line with industry standards. Be prepared to be able to highlight exactly how your job description, and performance, meet or exceed industry standard.

Are the apprentices male or female because if they're male, I'd be inclined to ask them if you are being paid less as you're a woman and point out that as these apprentices gain experience and earn more, they'll then be paid more than you for the same work. Even worse, same work but less experience. This is illegal.

But ultimately a firm that is so uninterested in ensuring their employees are paid fairly is one you might want to consider moving on from. So, while you're doing this benchmarking exercise, I'd recommend considering applying for some of these jobs you find and moving on.