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Original poster

Recently found out that the rest of my department get paid £70 per DAY more than me....

49 replies

Toothache · 09/01/2006 13:24

....oh and guess what????? I'm the only woman!

I work as a Planner in the technology projects department in a bank.

There are around 20 Planners. I'm the only female. I was started as Junior Planner on £40 a day less than the rest, as I only have 2 or 3yrs experience. However, that was a temporary thing and I was supposed to be raised to the full rate within 6 months (thats this month).

I've not only had NO payrise, but have discovered they have raised the starting rate by another £30 a day. SO I was started at £40 a day less then the original starting rate... and that figure has been raised by another £30.

So... after 6 months I'm sitting £70 per day less than the Old Boy Network.

I have asked for, at the very least a rise in rate to the agreed rate I was to be on after 6 months. AND they have been "discussing it" since Friday morning!!! What's there to discuss?

Can you tell I'm pissed off? Who ever said discrimination wasn't blatant!

OP posts:
Original poster
Toothache · 09/01/2006 14:59

...should point out its £70 per day less than the other Planners, who are all blokes and all Contractors.

OP posts:
uwila · 09/01/2006 15:47

I thought the blokes were staff and you were contract... but alas I'm with you now. So, you've gone from the good old boys in oil to the good old boys in banking... wow, you really know how to pick your industries.

So, does this job you do exist in other companies? Do you have a choice to go elsewhere? That no notice period works both ways, you know.

clerkKent · 09/01/2006 16:03

Banks are usually very concerned about reputation. Try speaking to HR (ideally someone in Diversity if they are large enough to have HR specialists). Although they are not directly concerned with the problem, they have influence and may take this up for you.

edam · 09/01/2006 16:28

You are only being paid more than staff because you are a contractor though, so have to fund your own holiday/pension/sick leave etc. etc. etc. When you are an employee they have up to 30 per cent of costs on top of salary. When you are a contractor, they don't have any of these costs. And when you are an employee, they take the risk that there may not be enough work to fill every moment of every day. When you are a contractor, you take the risk that you may not have work every minute of every day.

Still stinks that they are paying male contractors so much more than you though.

Caligula · 09/01/2006 16:42

Why don't you phone the EOC and ask them what the legal position is?

I'm not sure they could get away with paying female contractors less then male ones as a policy if it were tested in court; I bet the EOC would be interested in this loophole.

Caligula · 09/01/2006 16:43

(And a policy doesn't have to be written down for it to be recognised as a policy)

Easy · 09/01/2006 16:50

BUT I wouldn't fancy my chances to get other contracts if I'd taken an employing company to court.

ladymuck · 09/01/2006 16:51

I have to say that I have found that starting rates for contractors can fluctuate significantly for various external factors. This doesn't mean that existing contractors would automatically have their rates automatically reviewed. Are you sure that everyone who has hired prior to you have had their rates raised by £30 per day?

geekgrrl · 09/01/2006 17:05

what has your agency said to this? My dh used to be contractor and his agency dealt with all the rises etc. - it is in their interest for your pay to go up, after all?

Original poster
Toothache · 10/01/2006 09:15

Thanks all,

Still heard nothing! My Agency agree that my starting rate was a 6 month deal.... and that I am overdue for a rate increase. It now depends on whether the project I work on will fund the increase. OR Whether my Agency will take less of a cut of what the Project pays them! HA!

OP posts:
batters · 10/01/2006 11:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Toothache · 10/01/2006 12:40

Thanks Batters - Still heard nothing.... hmmm. Think I might go phone my Agency back!

OP posts:
veuveclicquot · 10/01/2006 13:35

Oh toothy, that's outrageous.

I'm a contractor too. If I feel my agency is shafting me then I move on - don't forget that their income is a percentage of yours.

Have you asked them outright why all the men earn so much more than you? If they can say legitimately that everybody else has more experience than you then fair enough, but if that's not the case then move on - you are the cash cow here.

In my experience (and I've been contracting for nearly 10 years) agents are pimps. They only care about their percentage, not your rights, and your rate is better than no rate.

Please feel free to CAT me. I'm an old hand at agents.

Redtartanlass · 11/01/2006 13:05

Any news today Toothy?

Twiglett · 11/01/2006 13:15

I think you should look for another contract

You are getting paid less becuase you are accepting less and still working for them

Why should they pay you more if they don't have to? You are not an employee, you are on contract .. they negotiate individually with you

go on toothy get tough .. show 'em what you're made of .. a bloke wouldn't stand for that kind of inequity (and neither would I)

Original poster
Toothache · 14/01/2006 11:11

No new yesterday. But I heard my line Manager discussing it and they were passing it on to the Director of the project I work on.... as its her project that will have to fork out for my increase!
But the project Director left early on Friday.

Hopefully I'll hear on Monday.... but either way I've got another job lined up. I have a contact in another company and her boss is really keen to have a look at my CV. So it'll be emailed off on Monday.

Don't worry Twig, I'm not just letting them do that. I'm a stubborn bitch when I want to be. Its not my agency that are the problem at the moment.... its the client who refused my 1st rate rise. But I've made it clear to my agency that I now know how much more the rest are being paid and that jolted them into action.

Will let you all know on Monday. BUT not from work as they have revoked my teams internet access!

...well it was bound to happen.

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 14/01/2006 23:39

Blimey toothache, this is crap. Good luck with pursuing (haven't read thread, just your first post).

Original poster
Toothache · 17/02/2006 21:22

Sorry to resurrect this! Just wanted to give you all an update. After numerous emails back and forth between me and my agency.... and also 3 weeks of me being very ....ahem..... vocal about how displeased I was with the delay... I finally got an answer on Monday!! An extra £40 per day! Couldn't belieeeeeeeve it..... just shows you how persistance pays off.

Thanks for the advice and for you MN'ers who were seething on my behalf.

OP posts:
jambuttie · 17/02/2006 21:27

well done toothy aint seen you around for a bit.

How are you?

Original poster
Toothache · 17/02/2006 21:28

Doing great thanks Jambuttie. Just got my PC connected up after the move and of course they whipped my internet access off me at work! It had to happen though.

OP posts:
jambuttie · 17/02/2006 21:40

good to see you back around hun

are you going to the meetup?

was but had to cxl sooooooo much happening next week and out on the sat evening

need to arrange another one pretty soon so we can all meet in person

7777777 · 17/02/2006 22:13

good on ya toothache, i followed this before and felt so sorry for you. good for you for persevering

uwila · 18/02/2006 16:46

Congratulations. Well done.

mousiemousie · 18/02/2006 16:58

Isn't that a £10k pay rise?!!!

Get them to back date it!

What are you going to do with all that extra cash?!!

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