Job Role and Pay Difference Query

[Sammb6]

Long time lurker in need of a bit of advice!
Just a query really to see if theres anything that can be done (besides leave!) I have been in my current role for around 4 years, they are advertising for one of my colleagues replacements (same job role) at around 5-7k a year more than I am currently earning (and considering what I am earning that is considerably more percentage wise!) Is there anything illegal about this? Any advice is helpful. Thanks,

[anonymous-user]

It isn't illegal, as long as your pay is in line with the minimum wage rules etc.

But you should go and ask your HR if you can apply for the advertised job and see what happens...

[singlecoil]

I think the legality might depend on the reason for the difference, for instance if the departing colleague is white, male, heterosexual and Christian, and the op is none of these things, then that would be illegal, AIUI.

[GadgeS3C]

Pay bands can be very broad in some roles. Where you are on a pay band may well be dictated by the salary you negotiated when you started.

But - you now have some ammunition for a discussion as to why they are advertising "your" role at considerably more than you are being paid for it. A great opportunity to raise how good a job you're doing (with evidence) and asking for a pay rise.

[voyds9]

Alternatively they think you are rubbish at your job and they are trying to make you leave.

[Sammb6]

Haha I was waiting for a reply like that, knew it wouldnt get far without one Thanks for the replies guys, at least I know where I stand. It definitely gives me scope to speak to the management.

[Amateurish]

Could be evidence of discrimination e.g. if you are being paid less because of your sex, religion, disability etc etc

[ging84]

apply for the new job

[General Fluff]

You've been handed a gift my an incompetent HR person. Grab it with both hands.

Similar things have happened to me in the past and generally resulted in a nice fat payrise.

[Snowboy]

Speak to your boss.
Then apply for the new job.

[GreigM]

A lot of big corporations play this game, particularly prevalent in the financial sector. Early in my career I worked for one of the big financial houses (recently heavily fined for being naughty, who had a strict policy that to discuss your salary with a colleague was a disciplinary offence - this is always a clue). I started on the same day as another bloke, in the same role with roughly the same background.

After about a year I left, worked a few other places, then returned 4 years later and got offered a salary appropriate to my current salary and experience. This time around the other bloke was my "team leader" even though he was on the same official level of the company hierarchy.

One night after several beers he got onto the subject of money, he was suspicious of my lifestyle and flat-out asked how I could afford it. I told him my salary. I was being paid more than double. He resigned within the week.

Loyalty is not rewarded by large corporations, certainly not financially.

[freshmicropig]

GreigM said:

Loyalty is not rewarded by large corporations, certainly not financially.

Amen brother

[creampuff]

Changing job is the best way to get a big payrise!

[Mr Scruff]

GreigM said:

...who had a strict policy that to discuss your salary with a colleague was a disciplinary offence...

O/T, I always wondered whether this was actually enforceable? Surely being able to talk about your salary, should you so wish, is your own prerogative?

[pitmansboots]

Apply for the advertised job and others outside of the company.

[anothernameitist]

Mr Scruff said:

O/T, I always wondered whether this was actually enforceable? Surely being able to talk about your salary, should you so wish, is your own prerogative?

See equal pay act
http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1811

OP you might be able to use this act, but not with the current comparitor.

However the more you are armed with the better.

Best to have a word with your boss and then apply for the vacancy

[Engineer1]

freshmicropig said:

GreigM said:

Loyalty is not rewarded by large corporations, certainly not financially.

Amen brother

Most companies work out that the vast majority of employees will be happy enough if they just get incremental pay rises from their starting salary, so if you start om £25k then you will get you yearly increases of a few percent if the market rate rises for your role then a new starter may come in at £30k and again get the few percent increases so a long serving employee can be on less than the new starter in their department.

[Devil2575]

Engineer1 said:

freshmicropig said:

GreigM said:

Loyalty is not rewarded by large corporations, certainly not financially.

Amen brother

Most companies work out that the vast majority of employees will be happy enough if they just get incremental pay rises from their starting salary, so if you start om £25k then you will get you yearly increases of a few percent if the market rate rises for your role then a new starter may come in at £30k and again get the few percent increases so a long serving employee can be on less than the new starter in their department.

Indeed. Where I work it's not uncommon for the company to have to offer new starters a higher salary just to get them through the door. The only time exisiting members of staff get cash thrown at them in the same way is if they put their notice in and the company doesn't think it can easily replace them.
As a strategy it fails in many cases though. We lose lots of good people simply because once they've decided to leave they are far less likely to stay no matter how much money the company offers. Once people have jumped the mental hurdle to leave the company it's only a matter of time in my experience. My emplyer used to be the king in it's sector and used to have Ts&Cs so good they were known as golden handcuffs, these days they aren't but they still haven't really accepted it.

[Genks]

[quote=GreigM]

One night after several beers he got onto the subject of money, he was suspicious of my lifestyle and flat-out asked how I could afford it. I told him my salary. [quote]

God loves a bull-stter.....

[KingNothing]

I'm assuming it's not listing the usual job advertisement trick of "£20k - £1M" as the wage bracket when in reality the wage you'll get is always closer to the bottom rather than the top if it isn't that and is an actual solid figure being listed; I'd gather some evidence of your work/abilities etc. as to why you think you should be getting the wage that is being advertised, and try and put a case forward.

For what it's worth I don't particularly agree with the equality act pertaining to equal pay in some instances either.