Equal Pay Question

[getpooh]

I get paid less then my peers. We do the same job (exactly the same), on the same contract, working the same hours. I am a male while some of my colleagues are male and some are female. I am the only one being paid less. I thought this was illegal now days. What do I do as I asked my line manager and got fobbed off.

[hc4361]

Have you been employed for the same length of time as your colleagues? Do they have qualifications that you don't?

[wolf63]

My previous employer paid us depending upon years of employment/years of service.

[hc4361]

Also, are you younger than your colleagues?

[getpooh]

To answer all three questions.
Some have been employed for longer than me and some for less, We are all on the same contract.
No qualifications are required for the job and your pay is not effected by having any.
Some are younger than me and some are older.

[Buenchico]

Each employee's contract with their employer is entirely separate to that of other employees (unless there are fixed pay scales in place, as in some public services, or where a union has negotiated common pay rates).

As long as an employer doesn't discriminate based upon factors such as gender, race or sexuality (or between part-time and full-time workers) it's perfectly lawful for him to pay staff doing the same job at different rates.

Indeed, in the banking industry you might find two people sitting at adjacent desks, doing exactly the same job,with one employee (who hasn't moved companies since he started work) paid £30,000 pa and the other (who has been actively 'head-hunted' on several occasions) paid £300,000 pa.

[hc4361]

I think you'd find it hard to make any sort of claim under the equal pay laws - if you were the only man and the women were paid more, you'd have a case. Or if all the men were paid less than the women.

As your line manager isn't addressing your question you should speak to the someone higher up the management chain

[Flonska]

Is there an appraisal/performance review system in operation?

[getpooh]

To answer the questions:
All the contracts are exactly the same. Its a public service job. The annual appraisal does not effect pay (and we all got the same good grade). No one has been head hunted. We all applied for the same position over time using the same process. I only noticed by chance when we were discussion deductions and we noticed that my basic pay was lower than everyone else.

[Flonska]

Do you have a pay scale for the job(s) £min - £max. Is there an incremental scale between? Is it fixed? Is it linked to anything? What factors may affect it, if any?

[getpooh]

Its a fixed pay rate and yes we are all full time (same hours). I cant see any reason.

[bednobs]

wha public serviceare you in?

[Flonska]

Although your line manager does not appear to be in a position to assist with an answer (maybe s/he does not know?). If you wish to take the matter further, perhaps you should speak to either the HR or Payroll Dept or the next level of management. After all, there could have simply been a mistake in the calculation of the rate or an increment in basic may not have been applied.

[Old_Geezer]

Discuss with your manager. Ask why you are on a lower rate as you don't accept that you are less competent. See what happens.

[Islay]

Do you have a performance appraisal system ? So are you a civil servant?

[getpooh]

To answer the questions:
The ministry of Justice
There is an annual appraisal system but its not linked to pay in any way.
My manager took the issue to his manager who simply did not know what to do and was not even aware until I showed him the wage slips from myself and peers. He was at a total loss and had no idea what to do. He had no explanation for it and was of no help either.

[Old_Geezer]

If you manager is useless take it up with Personnel/HR.

(Or you could consider yourself lucky to be paid money; you could getpooh !)

[237SJ]

Have you checked your tax code?

[wolf63]

Have you approached your HR people. They are the ones that are 'supposed' to know the answer to questions like this.

Or as 237SJ says it may be due to your tax code or other deductions.

[johnny37]

Employers are allowed to pay whatever they think the employee is worth, unless there is an obvious breach of employment law. This makes for some incomprehensible decisions when pay is awarded at report time which makes no sense. Over a period of years this can make wide differences on pay, with someone at the bottom of the ladder. Even if all are graded the same they do not have to pay your the same.. Ideally this should ensure that everyone is earning roughly the same but rarely ends up like that, causing much resentment. I would put a request in writing to HR asking for a report in writing showing why your situation exist. You can then give your own evidence as to why your value to the employer is worth more, including input from you colleagues and people in other departments/organizatioins with whom you have contact. One other point, you are entitled to any information held about you on computer. This may not help as employers are careful not to record anything contentious.