Line managing someone who is higher paid.

[Hazelnut55]

I don't want to give too much away, but here goes...

I have been asked to 'step up' in my employment and line manage 3 members of staff (we are currently a team line managed by someone much higher up). Job descriptions are all being re-written and mine gives potential to go higher on my current band, although I'm currently at the bottom of my band.

But one of people that I have been asked to manage is already higher on the same band as me. I know this as I have been asked to help review the job descriptions. Is this a bit odd - managing someone that is being paid higher? My manager is telling me that it's quite common.

I'm feeling a little stitched up...

It's quite common in my business - I'm higher paid than my manager as I'm in a specialist banding .

very common in my industry also, where contract specific managers are paid more than the generalists managing them. I guess that's similar to OP where specialists are managed by generalists.

Ex HCP here - was always managed by lower grades

Assuning public sector - payment within bands is based on seniority not skills, so people who have been there longest get paid more, not because they are worth it. The whole system needs changing. a manager should be paid more than subordinates.

Thank you for your replies. You're right Caroldecker, I will be managing someone that has been there for donkey's years, but I am more qualified and have as many years experience in different organisations.

Thank you everyone for your input - much appreciated.

It is common, yes. I've seen it loads of times - when someone has been redeployed with their higher salary ring fenced, when people are recruited at a time of urgency, when people were taken on longer ago when a company had more generous terms.

Just have to suck it up really. If your pay is fair for your job then that's what matters. If it's not then you can ask for a rise or leave, but they're not obligated to pay match with other colleagues (unless there's a specific company policy).

I've done it. In private, I wasn't best pleased about it, as we have none of the transparency of bandings and levels. The person had less experience then me but was recruited in on a higher salary to start with. I knew I was being shafted tbh.

I got a pay rise shortly after anyway but would have had to suck it up otherwise or risk looking sulky or unprofessional.