People (men) two/three levels lower paid A LOT more than me!

[ggrrrgrrump]

Just that. Nice new job as of last week- have access to the budget and so had a peek at what others are paid... I then discovered that predecessor (also a man..) was paid 1.5 x my salary for what was actually less of a job. If I hadn't, I'd be none the wiser so I probably shouldn't have looked! I don't think I can do anything about it because I like everyone and just don't want to be THAT person. This is probably just a rant, because I feel really dispirited and sort of like it's my own fault- I did ask for a higher starting salary, but they said not possible and really wanted the job so accepted anyway. Plus I actually manage a couple of the people who are paid quite a bit more (because they've been with the organisation a long time) but have much less responsibility so double irritating.

Anyone advice on handling this (or dealing with containing the simmering resentment!) gratefully received.

Try speaking to the Equalities Advisory Support Services helpline and the ACAS helpline:
www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/
www.acas.org.uk/
You don't have to act on what you find out, but at least you would know how to challenge it.
Basically your options are to put up with it, challenge it or plan to move on in a year when you have got as much experience/training as possible out of it. Don't dream of blaming yourself! Good luck.

Thanks v much for that. Looks really useful- will definitely check it out later today.
I just feel like a bit of an idiot for not having been bolshier in the pay negotiation. Hey ho. I do like the job, so it's not the worst thing in the world I suppose!

Not saying it isn't anything sexist as it could be but people several grades below my husband earn more than him as his company offered a much better starting salary in years gone by.

I know how that feels. I'm a PA and know pretty much what everyone earns. It's a bit depressing...

Not sure what to suggest really. If you rock the boat you might create a rod for your own back. You accepted the job offer with the salary. I think I would stick it out, do a stonking job then push for a pay rise later on. The people who have been there for a long time probably are on better salaries with nice final salary pensions... That depresses me too...

Right lets get one thing straight. This is sex discrimination.

You need to talk to your manager and tell him/her you have discovered you are being paid less than men several grades below you and you are not happy. It means you are undoubtedly being paid less than people on your grade elsewhere in the firm and you want that correcting immediately.

If your salary is not increased you need to put your complaint in writing and then take it through the grievance procedure at your firm.

The gender pay gap has widened again since the recession and this is one of the reasons. Women are being told that they must accept lower pay due to financial pressures or face redundancy but men are more likely to keep their jobs and tend to still get pay rises.

It is not fair or legal to expect women to take lower salaries compared to men in the same job - for any reason.

You will not get a pay rise to make up the difference later. You will always be on a lower salary than the men.

It's only sex discrimination if the reason for the lower salary is that the appointee is a woman.

If a general downturn in the economy has led to a lower salary offer, regardless of whether the appointee is a man or woman, then it's not sex discrimination.

If the role was advertised at, say, £20000 then the appointee as a woman was told 'well we want you to accept £16000' having met all criteria, it would be more clear cut.

1.5 times more for the person in the role previous is a LOT more - that's 25k vs 37.5k - huge gap! What are the women in those roles lower down from you being paid? Any women at your level you can check salaries for? Is it a big company? These tend to have set pay grades. Smaller ones they seem to just pick a number out of the air sometimes.

I'd make a note of all the salaries, work out what you should be being paid for your role (personally that for me would be the 1.5 times your salary, same as the previous person - how long was he with the company for? maybe he started on your salary and went up over time?). I'd say nothing for now but work exceptionally well, making sure the bosses can see how well you're doing, and then make your case at the next review. By that point you'll have already proven your worth and loyalty to the company, and can negotiate from there.

You can make it clear that you know there is a gap within the company without it necessarily being threatening, and without incriminating yourself for peeking.

(I'm probably much more junior than you, so I'm not an expert by any means, but have been through rounds and rounds of fighting with a small company to be paid properly.)

I might be sexist but IMO it's more likely to be a result of ridiculous pay policies historically, where you got a good pay-rise each year just for doing your job, so if you've been the job/grade a long time you're effectively overpaid. Most companies have sorted it now so that there's a maximum to the pay scale and that rises get smaller once you get to the spine point but they're unlikely to cut the salary someone's already getting.

I don't think it's unusual for the starting salary in a role to be £25k but for someone who's done it for 15 years to be getting £37.5k, for example. Was you predecessor old very experienced?

I It!!

My predecessor was older than me, but not more experienced- if anything, I am (and I'm deffo doing a better job- And there is no negotiating on pay now that I'm in- it's not a company- public sector.
The difference is definitely to do with 'grade overlap'. in fact, until recently the starting salary for the level below me was actually HIGHER than the starting salary at my level!! Crazy really.
Tbh, I think it's more of a shambles than deliberate discrimination, but the result does look as if it disadvantages women at my level (there aren't many!!). Does anyone actually know how the law would apply here (out of interest!)? Am not a member of a union and in any case I'm not sure I've got the stomach for a fight.

Just a thought, it's not a place where they've been through a job evaluation process so that some of those on a lower grade are being paid a higher salary as their jobs have been downgraded but their salary protected?

I didn't realise it was public sector! Join the union (sounds like it would be worth gambling the subscription) and get proper advice. You may be in a very strong position!

If its public sector I agree you should join your union and ask them to investigate. My union recently won (well, settled) on an equality case brought on behalf of the women in my grade. As a result all people at the bottom of the scale benefitted as the minimum salary was raised significantly. If women are disproportionately clustered at the bottom of a scale you have a good chance.