Am really stuck- HR help please

[spacedog]

I'm in the NHS and took on a post where I was told by my manager they would upgrade it to match other identical, same title posts. He also told me he had written my JD at the higher banding. 2.5 years later I am on the same payscale as when I started, despite continually being told at appraisals and in conversation that it is in progress. In the summer I had to go through a humiliating process whereby my manager was asked to prove why I should be on the same pay scale as others doing identical jobs. I was told this was successful but nothing has happened. I have now been told (a completely new 'rule') that senior people further up the chain have decided that all people at this next level should have MSc qualification (which I don't have, none of the others already in these existing postions have this and I have been effectively prevented from doing an MSc for reasons of managing more people than others at similar positions and an equal clinical workload in part time hours- everyone else is full time). I really don't know where to go with this now. The goalposts seem to constantly shift. To add insult to injury I am being paid the same as those I manage. Any thoughts on what to do?

I'm sorry you felt humiliated by the process you went through in the summer, but really it's absolutely right and normal that a manager wishing to upgrade someone should provide suitable evidence for that, otherwise any manager could just say 'oh I think x should be upgraded' and the practice could be open to abuse. It's important that there is objective evidence for that kind of thing in place.

Having said that it seems despite your manager appearing to have followed the appropriate process things haven't progressed. Is your manager being supportive and helpful? As well as following the appropriate steps he needs to be fighting your corner and ensuring that things are followed through. I would say your first step is pushing him to kick up a fuss with whoever is appropriate on your behalf. Next step could be a formal grievance but I would suggest a meeting with your manager asking him what is happening to push this through, asking for him to do what's necessary and asking whether he thinks you putting in a grievance would 'help'. He'll probably rather you didn't so may be more inclined to sort things out for you if you mention it as an option.

Thanks Flowery, yes my manager is always supportive of me, I believe it has been people further up the chain responsible for all the delays. Unfortunately the process in the summer was handled badly and I felt bullied for various reasons, I was told the outcome was that I would be upgraded, so feel particularly aggrieved now it still isn't resolved. I feel this goes against the NHS agenda for change guidelines about equal pay for equal work, the fact this was promised to me when I took the post, and because of the arbitrary way the goalposts keep moving to suit them. My manager is suggesting I meet with those holding it up so they can explain. Although they haven't been particularly forthcoming so far. I will ask whether threatening a grievance will help, unfortunately I feel it might be the only thing which might have impact.

Doesn't the NHS have a pay review body? I know someone who recently had her grade raised based on evidence and the good news is that she received back pay from the date that her grading should have been raised.

Is it possible that your boss doesn't understand the process, so while supportive, the bureaucracy is baffling?

Would it be worthwhile to find out how a pay review works and the process for appealing etc?

Thank you, I will contact my union to seek advice and support also. I think a pay review might be the way forward.