To be upset that 2 younger male colleagues were given company shares but I was not

[josben]

Working in the office today chatting , and I found out that 2 male colleagues (in their 20’s and 30’s) were just awarded over £2,000 of company shares (payable out after 3 years). With their pay rise
I am in my 50’s and was not given any shares just a 3% pay rise
med are in the same department with the same overall senior manager

AIBU to feel gutted , unvalued and hurt by this ,? I am sure what to do now ?

I would be upset about that too.
Do the men do the same job as you?
Ask your manager for a meeting regarding the shares.

You need to ask why. You could have a case of discrimination.

Find out why.

Are you all the same grade, do the same job? Is this performance reward?

I'd be straight up asking, "is there a reason why Bob and Jim were given shares and I wasn't?"

I wouldn't be upset
I'd be putting together a case for discrimination
Talk to your union, to acas, have a free hour with an employment lawyer

I would ask HR why this was done.

I’d be fucking furious not upset.

Thanks for your replies - yes I am really angry, and feel let down
my immediate manager is different to theirs and she is unsupportive to say the least !

We do not do the same job, and I also work part time - 24 hours per week (although work more hours to get my job done)

Well, the unsupportive manager not willing to go to bat for you with her superiors is likely the cause. The PT thing may be something too, only FT may qualify for shares or something.

I work in an area where hundreds of us do similar job functions, spread over dozens of managers. Some of us have had regular promotions, some get company RSUs, some get massive raises - while others are stuck at a lower level for years.

I recently had a choice of two positions to move to; one with with a manager offering me fully remote work, higher salary and a better title than the other was offering. For essentially the same role doing the same thing for the same hours.

No discrimination of any sort going on, just purely down to managers who fight for the best for their employees (knowing that it's not coming out of their own pocket, and yet the higher performance from a satisfied employee will reflect well on them).

Well if you don’t do the same job or work the same role, is the shares award tied to their job?

I've worked in places where shares are only offered to those in particular jobs, usually snr mgmt. all working full time.

This was important information to include in your OP. Most companies offer different roles different benefits, and offer full-time staff different perks than part time.

Are you on a company contract or an external contractor?

Hi
thanks for your posts
I’m on a company contract
the whole company has previously had shares including myself which is why I was surprised at this

I agree it’s probably my managers decision and I also think it confirms to me that it’s not the work you do at a corporation - it’s how visible you make yourself

They can't treat part time workers unfavourably or make a benefit only available to full timers - that would be illegal. They can link it to performance, specific roles or make it prorata, i.e give the equivalent percentage of shares relevant to hours worked.

You need to find out why your didn't get them. Is it tied to job role, performance or something else.

If it's because you're female or part time you may have a case for discrimination.

Are they counted as a performance bonus, it would be helpful of you could find out who else got shares or didn't get shares.

Age is not relevant.

Do they do something that is in demand which means they would be harder to replace if they leave (this is usually why 3 year deferred shares are given, to retain staff). Have they achieved a performance rating that exceeds yours?

Im in my 30s and get a substantially more generous pay award than lots of older people where i work.

Its because I lead a team of 40, have been rated as a high performer, have head hunters beating down my door & there's a shortage of people with my skills. I've also smashed my performance targets this year. The people who'll get less share awards than me havent.

Talk to an employment solicitor.

Call ACAS.

Not offering part time workers shares could be indirect discrimination as part time workers are more likely to be women.

Take it to HR then STOP working more than the hours you're paid for.