Gender pay gap...how to prove

[user1465897392]

Hi all,
I have recently been promoted into a new role, along with a male colleague. He let slip some time ago that he was earning at least £8k more than me. We have exactly the same job title, I have more direct experience in the role and company than he does. I want to make this point to my manager and ask for a rise, but without concrete evidence of his salary I am struggling.... Would anyone have any tips?

I wouldn't bring your colleague into it. It wouldn't be good form, as you've acknowledged you don't have facts and data, and also you don't know the history of his salary progression. Sometimes salaries fall out of kilter due to other roles.

Did you get a pay increase when you were promoted? Was it a significant amount to your previous salary. Maybe they applied a % increase to both your salaries without taking account you were already on a lower base anyway.

Maybe at your next salary review, can you ask to discuss market salary levels and ask whether HR can assess your worth to ensure you are receiving the right salary for your role "compared to my peers". ie. no names mentioned!

I think you would need to prove they offered him that wage in the same circumstances.

So at my company they changed things a while a go. So my position is paid higher than people now moving into the role. They rebanded the salaries.

So a man who has just got the same role as me is on about 3k less.

Also he could have negotiated that wage. We have new people at our company who had a discussion on wages. They were all being paid different. The theme was the people being paid more (male and female) negotiated the higher rates. The ones on lower rates just assumed that was all that was on offer and accepted it with no attempt to get more.

These are the things you need to get round and prove it's definitely down to sex not anything else.

An interesting research study in the US found men negotiated higher salaries on starting work and then, as subsequent negotiations were based on current salary, maintained / increased the differential subsequently. How was your salary decided on promotion? Did you negotiate; did he?

Thanks all, really good points and definite food for thought. The promotion came as part of a 'restructure'.. this guy was, in effect, demoted so has retained his salary. What frustrates me most is that he is the laziest worker (self confessed) and I have a funny feeling he is going to try to palm off his work to me on the assumption that I am in his eyes less senior than me (as he knows I am paid less)..
Either way I'm definitely going to have a conversation with my boss about it.. even if it is one of the more awkward chats to have!
Thanks again all.

If he was demoted he may be on a salary protection which may reduce, where I work it would be protected at 100% in year 1 and then 50% in year 2, so by year 3 it would be in line with expected salary for the job. Also, from what you say about him, he could just be telling you a pack of lies!

You can bring an equal pay claim, or at least you can ask the question, does this male comparator do a similar job and are they paid the same. ACAS has a fact sheet on how to go about it.