Advice help need

[NewbeeMummy]

Really need some help and advise from people out there.

I've been at my current company for 4 years, I moved teams a year after joining the company and took a pay cut as the role was a junior one (this was a move I chose to make and was supported by my previous line manager), about 6 months after changing jobs I was then promoted from the junior role, due to my hard work, but was told that due to budget issues there was no pay increase to go with it as they weren't expecting to promote me so soon and I would get an increase the following April, when new budgets were set. This did not happen, and I was told they would try and sort something out for me.

In the mean time I fell pregnant, I took 6 months maternity leave and returned to the same job full time in April this year.

I should add at this point that due to not getting an increase when I was promoted, I earn less than half of what my male colleagues earn, even though I do the same job and insome cases have more qualifications than them.

During my pregnancy there were some significant management changes and the last of my old management chain left shortly after I returned to work.

We've (my team) recently (2 months ago) had reviews with the new manager, where we were all promised pay reviews during the course of this year.

I was then told by my colleagues that they had recieved their increases 2 weeks ago. I went to speak to my manager, in the hope that mine would be forthcoming but no, I was told in no uncertain terms that I was not getting an increase at this time, and that if I didn't like it I could look for a job else where. I was too shocked to ask why and left the meeting gobsmacked, especially given that I work hard, always pick up the slack when others can't be bothered, and have never let my personal life interfere with work (when I know that a lot of the dads in my team will just stop working in the afternoon to go and pick up their kids and then not do any work once they have their kids at home)

I'm really not sure what to do, I do like this company for the main part, and do like most of the people I work with. I had no plans to leave my job, but I now feel completely under valued, and find it difficult to motivate myself.

All I want is to be fairly paid in line with what my male colleagues earn, I dread the idea of raising the issue of sexism in the work place, as I don't want to be considered as over reacting.

Please can anyone offer any ideas on what I should do?

Do I just go and find another job and hope that it's better there?

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Crikey didn't realise how long this post was - sorry peeps

When you say the males do "the same job". How "same" do you mean.

Is it same area of work e.g. all in the finance team or the same role e.g. all telephone sales people.

How many of them are there. Are there any other women in the same jobs paid the same as you but not the men.

Depending on how the pay reviews are done if its x% to everyone and your excluded then its easier to take up against than if its a company of 5 and you all have individual pay negotiations based on targets etc.

Same job means exactly the same role, we're all consultants working within the same areas, so I do exactly what they do on a day to day basis, and we do interchange customers to cover each others holiday or when some leaves the company.

I'm the only female in a team of 12, so 11 men work along side me.

From the people I've spoken to (which isn't the entire team, I'm not as close to some of the newer members) it's been the same % across all the team, except of course myself.

The main issue for me is that my basic salary is so much less than even the lowest paid male member of the team, even before the increases were awarded.

I suggest you read up on the equal pay act,under this you can put fprward a questionaire that your employer has to fill in within an 8 week period. I think the EOC ( or whatever they are called now) or similar organisation has a standard one you can use or modify. I am not up to speed on the current regulations for this ( went through an equal pay grievance myself but some time ago). In this questionnaire you have to name your comparators and give resons why you think you are paid less, you can ask the employer to give reasons why you are not paid the same as your comparators. Also I understand under current regulations companies employing more than 250 employees have to publish their pay scales. Ribenaberry or other HR person may be able to elaborate on this. Also check your house insurance you may find your policy will give you legal cover for this - or access to legal helpline. Also you will find a lot of information on the Internet on equal pay and how to go about dealing with this issue. You never know issueing questionnaire may be sufficient to get them to rethink!! be warned they do not have to reply to it - but if they choose not to it would be frowned upon should this ever get to tribunal.

Thanks very much greentea - will go and look into the areas you have suggested.

Really apprecaite the help.

No problem - also check your companies equality policy - is there any mention of equal pay in that. If you do go through a greivance process you will need to ensure you comply with procedures stated in this.

It is forty years this year since the equal pay act was first passed and yet these issues continue to occur!!

Good luck, I was paid £12k less than a guy working in exactly the same capacity in a previous role !! Took 5 years to sort out and they never backdated the pay.