Equal pay

[Dieche]

I have worked for a funeral company for nearly 3 yrs,working by myself until October last yr,until someone else was taken on to lighten my workload.I have just found out my manager has given the other person a pay increase,so they are on �9.00hr for a 39hr week while i am on �7.76hr for doing the same job on a part time 24hr week.The other employee asked the manager about me finding out about his payrise,and was told he could tell me if he liked,but i wouldn't as it will only cause trouble and i am paying you more as you are more use to me.I feel i have been discriminated against and used i have been loyal to this company,but now feel i cannot continue working in this work place.

[undercovers]

if you and the other individual are of different sexes then you have a case for equal pay and possibly sex discrimination, if you are of the same sex then there is not case to answer. Horrible situation to be in but the burden of proof in sex discrimination and equal pay cases has now changed, so if you do that it forward your employer would need to prove you had not been treated unfairly rather than you having to prove you have... makes life easier for you and less stressful (hopefully). I would have a word with your local CAB and see what your options are, hope it all works out for you sounds like a really nasty situation to be in... good luck

[Emily Ball]

Assuming all things are otherwise equal, i.e. you and the newer employee do exactly the same kind of work and neither of you carries out their duties more efficiently than the other, the fact that you work less hours should not have a bearing on your pay. It does sound as if you are being discriminated against and I suggest you go to your boss and tell him you are aware of how much the new employee is getting and would like to know the reason why. That is the first step.

[twiglet4frog]

sounds like u are getting a bum deal but that happens at all places u work, my advice is work out what other jobs pay that much per hour if u havent much experience and decide if u can stick at it. end of the day i wouldnt bother bending over backwards for an employer that treated me like that, but i wouldnt try and cause problems either, just think of it as a rubbish employer and just turn up, do the work and go home. Its a job at the end of the day

[Dieche]

Hi,

   thanks for the replies.I am female and my colleague is male.We both work as embalmers,i was taken on to embalm and he was taken on to help out in whatever area of our place needed someone,so the days i'm not in he does my job and other times he drives on funerals and does removals (bodies not furniture).I also have to do removals but cannot drive on the funerals firstly i have never been supplied a company suit even though i have asked for 3 yrs for one,everyone else is supplied one so thats my reason i cannot drive on the funerals even though i am more than capable of driving a hearse or limo and i am also more than capable of carrying a coffin on the day.I have kept my mouth shut over alot of things from this boss for 3 yrs but i think the pay situation and not been as much use as my male colleague has put the cap on it.

[Emily Ball]

Dieche it sounds as if your boss is somewhat biased towards male employees and does not operate an Equal Opportunities policy. Unless you have refused to carry out, or have demonstrated that you are physically incapable of carrying out certain aspects of your work that your colleague is able and willing to do, you are entitled to an explanation by your boss of why you are being discriminated against, both sexually and in terms of Equal Opportunity. Have a look at this website - it sets out what is expected of an employer and what you can do if you feel you are being unfairly treated:

http://www.eoc.org.uk  

[Emily Ball]

p.s. I've just had another look at that website and it offers some really good advice on how to go about speaking to your boss about your situation. Incidentally, depending on the size of your firm, your boss may not even be conversant with his legal obligations with regard to equal opportunity and discrimination in the workplace,so I suggest you fully acquaint yourself with your rights as an employee and his obligations as an employer. To be forewarned is to be forearmed . Keep your cool, don't lose your temper and get your point across in as professional a manner as you can manage(I realise you may find this difficult in view of the way you have been treated), and leave the ball in his court. Don't expect an immediate result( that would be too much like losing face on his part) but without actually saying it, you can imply that unless you get equal treatment you will take the matter further. Let us know how you get on.

[Greeno]

I think the key to this is in your line "so they are on �9.00hr for a 39hr week while i am on �7.76hr for doing the same job on a part time 24hr week". The manager obviously views a full time employee more important than a part time one. Without meaning to state the obvious the full time employee also works 15 hours a week more. Don't go down the sexual discrimination way because i would be very surprised if that was the case. Without trying to sound cruel either has you feeling sorry for yourself actually obscured your view of the matter? Maybe this guy is a harder working and more productive employee than you? Instead of worrying about it go to work and do the best you can if your boss doesn't appreciate this and you are still on a smaller amount than the other guy speak to him about it, if you don't ask you never get!