any payroll/hr people around?

[MikeLitoris]

Will try and keep this brief.

Been working for my company for 7 years. First 6 I would get an annual incremental rise in pay dependant on performance.

I was informed that the company was changing to performance related pay in April this year so increments in 2012 were being put on hold. Blanket policy for all staff. All fine.

April this year it was decided that people due an rise last year could have a small rise to compensate for missing out last yr. Again same for all staff. All fine.

8 weeks ago a senior manager takes me to one side and says that as I (and 3 other staff) had been due to move up a pay scale in 2012 it had been agreed that the increment would be awarded and back paid.

This meant that staff at the same pay scale and some slightly behind were all brought up to a new slightly higher pay scale.

One member of staff in particular started with the company on the same day as me. Same training group. We were at the same pay scale on 1st april this year. In sept she got the agreed rise and back pay. I didn't.

Manager said will sort asap and will go in Octobers wage. Obviously it didnt.

Now management saying I am not entitled to the rise. They dont know why I was told otherwise. They cant explain how some staff have been given a rise and I haven't.

I'm speaking with someone from union tomorrow and looking to put in a grievance, does anyone have any tips?

I worked in before 20 years. It sounds to me like you have a good case.

Use the queaky wheel approach. Go to hr every day till its sorted to your satisfaction. Keep getting them to explain it and when they stumble on the 'we can't discuss anyone else's information. Warn them that if you bring an equal pay case they will be discussing more than one persons information

They have asked me to find out the details of other peoples pay. The one mentioned above in particular. Surely that isnt my place?

Luckily that person is a close friend and I could get any info needed but what if they refuse to tell me?

Just feels all wrong to me.

You could put in a questionnaire seeking this information on the grounds of your perceived discrimination. Is there a male/female difference here that would amount to discrimination on the grounds of sex? It does seem odd and the company really should be providing you with a clearer explanation on the criteria for their decisions, their failure to provide a reasonable explanation could entitle a court to automatically find in favour of discrimination.

No gender issue. Two females both given the rise. One from the same pay point and one from further behind.

When I ask for an explanation I get told that they shouldn't have been given it either. So if I do go to HR with names and it is incorrect are these people going to get their rise withdrawn?

Difficult one, if they are saying the others shouldn't have got it then your disclosure could highlight this and could result in their pay being adjusted. The company sound like they are getting themselves into all sorts of problems as it could result in unfair deduction of wages if they withdraw the others rise without a clear explanation. Sounds like a grievance is the way to go to get all if this information out in the open to make sure that decisions are being made on clear criteria, that no subjective decisions are being made resulting in disparate treatment between you all.