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Original poster

Unfair pay?

46 replies

fortygin · 02/11/2021 19:53

Hi sorry for the long post.
I’m looking for some advice. I have worked in the same GP practice for almost 17 years.
I started as a receptionist and now work as a Data Administrator. This involves managing the GP contract work, arranging vaccination clinics and assisting the Practice Manager in various tasks.
I was given a payrise for this role 5 years ago but told not to discuss with other admin staff as they would be not be getting a rise.
It has came to light recently due to staff turnover and recruitment that I am getting paid less than every other member of staff despite being the longest serving employee (including among the GP partners and Practice Manager).
Understandably I am very angry and hurt and approached the PM regarding this. She confirmed it was correct and the reason why she has been encouraging me in the last few months to write a formal letter to the Partners asking for a salary to reflect my position.
I have in the last two days spoken to two of the partners who have promised to try to rectify this but we’re defensive and essentially said that I had never asked for a rise and they thought I was unable to take on more hours or accept a payrise due to other ‘income’ coming into my household being affected!!
I asked did they mean four years ago when my exh had an affair and left I said I was unable to do extra hours due to them not being permanent and so not being able to rely on the cash should my tax credits be stopped and the fact I was now doing the majority of the caring, school runs etc for 4 dc. They confirmed it was.
I should say now that my dc are a bit older I have taken on ten extra hours a week and most weeks I work an extra four hours on top of this to help out. My question is, I have always been a proud and loyal employee and it’s most likely my own fault for not asking for extra money. I just assumes all staff followed a pay scale. They have said they will come back to me in a few weeks with a proposition but I feel hurt and disheartened. I am not sure if I will ever feel comfortable there again and I feel my length of service and willingness for my role to evolve has counted for nothing.
Should I sick it up and stay or is it time to move on.
Thanks for getting this far.

OP posts:
PegasusReturns · 02/11/2021 19:58

I find hurt feelings can often be alleviated by the right financial compensation.

Don’t wait for them to come back to you.

Put in writing a request for an increase in pay based on your experience and scope of role. Specify what you want. Benchmark against similar roles if necessary and be prepared to leave if they cannot meet your expectations.

You are right that they have treated you poorly but give them one chance to fix it.

DallasDerby · 02/11/2021 20:07

At least wait to see what they offer but in my opinion it's pretty poor and they have taken advantage of your situation, loyalty is not rewarded by many companies and when I am taken advantage of by an employer or a supplier I'm inclined to walk away. In this climate I'm sure you'll find something better - I'd also consider asking them for back pay to make up for the years you've been underpaid.

Aprilx · 02/11/2021 20:09

If you are otherwise happy there, then no I would move on because of this. Somebody had to be the lowest paid member of staff and it sounds like you have been quite passive over pay increases and did turn down opportunities without telling them that your situation had changed.

I would chalk this up to experience, pursue the matter now nd going forward be more proactive.

Original poster
fortygin · 02/11/2021 20:17

Thank you all.
Yes I have now submitted a formal letter requesting a review of my wage to reflect the level of work I now do and have been doing for 7 or so years.
I think I now realise my loyalty made it easy for them to over look me and obviously new staff have been given a higher starting salary over the years. I have been told no one has asked for a payrise over the years and it’s just an oversight.
I suppose I was naive and felt my years of service meant something. I certainly won’t make that mistake again!

OP posts:
Original poster
fortygin · 02/11/2021 20:19

I should say I have also contacted a former colleague who used to work with me and is now doing the same job in another practice. I have used her as an example of what I should be getting paid.

OP posts:
GrettaGreen · 03/11/2021 00:27

Would they have been able to know you were no longer affected bybtax credits? I know some of my staff need kept under a certain amount of hours and I be sure to never go over them but it wouldn't even enter my head that it might have changed if I wasn't told.

jclm · 03/11/2021 05:08

Maybe it is time to move on... Can you move for a promotion?

xksismybestletter · 03/11/2021 05:39

Well done for dealing with it op. It sounds like a good letter. Let us know how it goes

Original poster
fortygin · 03/11/2021 06:41

@GrettaGreen yes I have spoken to the PM and taken on more hours over the last year and explained that now the dc were a bit older I was now able to rely less on tax credits and stand on my own two feet. They gratefully accepted my request for more hours and offered me as many as I wanted. This was discussed at a Partners’ meeting before giving me an answer so they were well aware.

OP posts:
Original poster
fortygin · 03/11/2021 06:43

@jclm yes I have asked for a clarification that my role has been a promotion and for my wage to reflect this. They have asked me to give them a month to come back with a number.

OP posts:
Motnight · 03/11/2021 06:54

Op are you on the NHS agenda for change payscale? I had assumed that GP surgery admin staff were.

Original poster
fortygin · 03/11/2021 06:58

@Motnight apparently not as they are a private partnership in Northern Ireland. I was honestly shocked that they didn’t follow a scale. They are all relatively young GPs and very concerned with their bottom line. One said to me yesterday she didn’t become a doctor to worry about wages but to treat strokes and heart attacks.

OP posts:
donquixotedelamancha · 03/11/2021 06:59

They have asked me to give them a month to come back with a number.

They don't need a month, you just aren't a priority. Start looking for jobs now because it signals you are serious. If you get an offer you can still choose to stay but you negotiate from strength.

You've learnt from this: employment is simply a market and you need to put your interests first.

donquixotedelamancha · 03/11/2021 07:02

One said to me yesterday she didn’t become a doctor to worry about wages but to treat strokes and heart attacks.

I bet the partners get (at least) high 5 figures. For that money I could probably worry about two things at once.

I hope you told her that speaking to you with such contempt isn't helping.

Original poster
fortygin · 03/11/2021 07:03

Thank you all. I do think it might be time to move on as much as I hate to.
Think a defining moment was a few months ago when we got a new software package that now allows insurance reports to be completed electronically rather than by hand. I’m the only person trained to use this software.
This is private not nhs work and therefore they charge a substantial fee.
Three partners stood around my computer arguing which of them would take the fee when it was ME who handled the work start to finish only showing one of them at the end to get their approval to send.

OP posts:
Original poster
fortygin · 03/11/2021 07:05

@donquixotedelamancha yes I have stood up for myself and told them I feel insulted. I’m not confrontational and I think me speaking up has left them gobsmaked. There is now a partners meeting today to discuss administrative workers wages.

OP posts:
donquixotedelamancha · 03/11/2021 07:20

yes I have stood up for myself and told them I feel insulted. I’m not confrontational and I think me speaking up has left them gobsmaked.

Good for you. Don't jump ship until you have an offer you are sure is better, you liked this job for valid reasons. Equally don't think them fixing the issue changes anything- keep looking.

Make sure all employees know what each other is paid. Consider joining a union, if you were all in one it would be much easier to negotiate for higher pay for all

DallasDerby · 03/11/2021 07:29

@fortygin

Thank you all. I do think it might be time to move on as much as I hate to. Think a defining moment was a few months ago when we got a new software package that now allows insurance reports to be completed electronically rather than by hand. I’m the only person trained to use this software. This is private not nhs work and therefore they charge a substantial fee. Three partners stood around my computer arguing which of them would take the fee when it was ME who handled the work start to finish only showing one of them at the end to get their approval to send.
I think this is called business - you are employed to do a job to make the business money - do you think you should get the fee? Don't be hot headed about this. You have been overlooked - they didn't care to ensure you were well looked after, the excuse regarding your benefit situation is convenient for them, they happily ignored rewarding you because it suited them. A pay rise will not change this management team.
Original poster
fortygin · 03/11/2021 07:47

@DallasDerby no I do not think I should get the fee. I think it was uncouth of them to debate it in front of me especially when the money goes directly to the doctor and not the business .

OP posts:
DallasDerby · 03/11/2021 08:08

[quote fortygin]@DallasDerby no I do not think I should get the fee. I think it was uncouth of them to debate it in front of me especially when the money goes directly to the doctor and not the business .[/quote]
Where the money goes isn’t relevant to you. It’s hard but try to stay calm - getting overly emotional in these situations rarely helps and the more emotional you are the more I think this situation is not good for you and you will need to move jobs or you will be thoroughly miserable.

Original poster
fortygin · 03/11/2021 08:17

@DallasDerby thank you for your reply. You are right. I care very deeply about my job and the practice and probably did get too emotional and hurt about my loyalty not being reciprocated. I have been told by one of the partners that the PM has said if I leave she will take early retirement and go too but I know that emotions are running high at present.

OP posts:
NeedAHoliday2021 · 03/11/2021 08:28

Is it worth using the agenda for change pay scale to give you an idea of what’s in line with Nhs? I know you’re not England but it would be a starting point. What pay band is your equivalent?

DallasDerby · 03/11/2021 08:53

[quote fortygin]@DallasDerby thank you for your reply. You are right. I care very deeply about my job and the practice and probably did get too emotional and hurt about my loyalty not being reciprocated. I have been told by one of the partners that the PM has said if I leave she will take early retirement and go too but I know that emotions are running high at present.[/quote]
Been there and done that early in my career - I cared very deeply, worked very hard and got shafted and my response was overly emotional - I regretted it of course and would now take time to steady my emotions before responding to anything upsetting.
Being treated so badly made me feel very negatively about my role - I wished I'd moved on sooner because I just couldn't trust them to behave properly towards me and the new job I got paid 80% more and my positive outlook returned. Good luck with whatever you decide.

FredDaviesCoracle · 03/11/2021 09:41

Using the agenda for change pay scale would be a good starting point to try and demonstrate what level your salary should be.

Also, how does AfC holiday entitlement compare with your current role?

I used to work for GPs for many years and got a massive pay rise by moving to work at a Trust on AfC, even though my role is a lot easier.

Also working for the doctors I got legal minimum holiday entitlement. My trust recognised my NHS. service with the doctors for the purpose of calculating holiday - and I was immediately was put on the 10 + years level of 41 days a year (inc bank holidays).

The disparity between working conditions for staff at GPs surgeries and Agenda for Change is huge. I wouldn't want to work for a surgery again as the terms and conditions are shocking compared to what I now have

theturtleshead · 03/11/2021 11:05

GPs can be massively entitled and disregarding of the needs of lesser mortals who are, apparently, put on earth to serve their needs.
Leave and don't pass on the knowledge of how to use the system Smile