How do I approach this?

[GuinnessBird]

My employer has created a part time role in my team, the job spec is very heavily based on my existing job spec.

The full time salary for the part time role has been listed as over £37K, the pro rata salary has been listed as in-between £26K and over £31K.

My full time salary is just over £29K and I've been in the role for nearly a decade.

The part time role is term time only.

How do I approach this with my manager?

What is the question? Would you prefer part time?

Apply for the role?
Full time or part time, whichever you would prefer. Don't think a discussion is needed for that.

what do you want to approach the manager about? it isn't clear from your post

I don't want to apply for the role, I want to know why the top end of the potential salary exceeds my full time salary.

Yeah I understand what you mean. I think you need to book a meeting and say exactly that. Before the meeting, I would go through all the similarities between your role and the new role. Are there any differences at all? As you will need to make sure these do not give them the opportunity to fob you off.

Because they think they will have to pay up to that much to get someone.

They think they don’t need to pay you so much because you’re happy to do it for your current salary.

If that’s not the case, make the case for a pay rise. But base it on the value you’re bringing, not this new role.

I've just done exactly that and everything listed on the job spec is what I do in my role.

I'm sitting here in disbelief.

Do you know why the role was created, is it for someone in mind or is there additional demand for those hours/capacity.

Think in terms of outcomes. What do you want, a payrise? Or reduced hours for the same work.

I would print both job specs and highlight differences and similarities - be sure you're open to differences which could account for the salary difference. Also look at the open market, what is the market rate for your job?

Then ask for a meeting and open by saying you saw the job, couldn't help notice the overlap with your Job spec but that at face value this part time role is paying more than your full time one, and after looking at the market, it appears you are currently being under paid by X, imagine how that makes you feel with 10 years of service etc. Or put it all in an email for them to review before a conversation if you prefer.

Then you're referencing their document, the market, and asking for a specific outcome. Be open to the fact they might say you don't do/have experience of x and be willing to take on more/undergo training to close the gap.

The reality is staying a long time in this role /company, you are likely being underpaid with inflationary rises only vs the open market. Use this is a wake up call to push for what you're worth.

Thank you that's excellent advice.

The part time role was created as the demand on our team outstrips existing capacity.

Unfortunately hiring budgets are usually bigger than pay rise budgets. If you have been doing the same role for 10 years it may be time to consider a change to what you are doing.

Definitely challenge though - bear in mind salaries often align to the role rather than length of service so even after 10 years the job may still only be worth so much.

The only thing that strikes me is that it’s term time only - is this a job in education? Schools are usually very rigid about pay scales etc and there’s usually very little wiggle room, so it would surprise me if the same job was paid on two different scales. It’s worth asking why this seems to be the case.

It's not education.

So you could apply for the job and see if you get more for less hours ?

Is it a skill set in short supply?

No, it's not a niche skill set but it does require knowledge, however the successful applicant would pick it up as they went along.

Tell them that you expect your salary to be increased in line with this or you will be looking elsewhere for employment.