Co worker paid more than me

[croyde]

Been at my company 3 years now and have raised the issue with my manager 1.5 years ago and many times since.

Had an email from him yesterday saying that he'd been in touch with HR and management and nothing is going to be done about it.

Co worker is female, I only say that for if it was the other way round there'd be an outcry, far younger, far less experienced, in fact I quite often have to correct what she has done and everyone treats me as the senior and comes to me for advice or if a new project has to be started.

I usually get in early, work through breaks to get things done and am not the first out the door at the end of the day.

My co worker is more worried about missing boxercise or drinks with mates.

So, I feel like walking but very risky in the current climate, I'm 60 this year as well.

What avenues can I now explore?

Thanks for any help, cheers.

[Mr Pointy]

Recognise how little the company values you & stop being taken for granted. Take your breaks, don't correct her work, get in just before your start time & leave on time at the end. Do what you are contracted to do but don't put yourself out - when people come to you at the start of a project start directing them to her.

Basically don't be a willing doormat.

[fat80b]

On the face of it, it sounds bad.

But what’s the role ? Are you definitely both doing the “same” job?

[croyde]

Mr Pointy said:

Recognise how little the company values you & stop being taken for granted. Take your breaks, don't correct her work, get in just before your start time & leave on time at the end. Do what you are contracted to do but don't put yourself out - when people come to you at the start of a project start directing them to her.

Basically don't be a willing doormat.

My thoughts exactly.

Not a doormat so much, just proud of my work.

Was freelance for 30 years so still have the mindset of 'You are only as good as your last job' thus sloppy work meant no one booking you than starve.

[croyde]

fat80b said:

On the face of it, it sounds bad.

But what’s the role ? Are you definitely both doing the “same” job?

Exactly, we are on opposite shifts.

[Seventyseven7]

It’s very difficult for 2 people to be doing the exact same job, is your performance exactly the same? You may be first in and last out, but if the other person is more competent at the job their results may be better in their time. Unless it’s very easy to say the exact same results are produced, I don’t think people with the same titles should be paid the same.

If you’ve been there 10 years and got pay rises along the way you worked for, are you happy when they hire someone new and they come in at the same salary as you?

I think you should concentrate on getting a pay increase based on your own performance, not that it’s ‘unfair’ that someone else gets paid more than you.

[Eric Mc]

Leave.

That's the modern way. Equal pay for equal work has not applied in the UK workplace for decades. You fight your case individually. If it has no effect, seek employment elsewhere.

[southendpier]

How long has she been at the company?

[croyde]

Eric Mc said:

Leave.

That's the modern way. Equal pay for equal work has not applied in the UK workplace for decades. You fight your case individually. If it has no effect, seek employment elsewhere.

Yes Eric, very tempted, especially on a sunny day such as today. Not looking forward to time spent in a dark, very chilly room.

To the above poster, we started at the same time, when the company started, and even my boss agrees that I'm the far more experienced and better worker, hence he makes sure that any new projects coincide with my shift pattern.

Like I say, I might start making use of the sick pay.

[The Rotrex Kid]

How much more are we talking?

[grumbledoak]

All you can do is find a better paying job.

Best of luck.

[andburg]

Were you both direct new hires on the same standard contract with just the pay being different? who was in the job first?

There are valid reasons for pay/reward discrepancies

I'm paid less than a coworker who also has a company car and fuel card, raised it with our manager who said he knows but he cant do anything as the business is overpaying him due to a previous tupe and the role no longer requires a car. Our manager makes less than the employee he manages, all he can do is give him a smaller percentage raise when pay reviews occurs.

If you aren't happy with your reward package, look elsewhere

[croyde]

The Rotrex Kid said:

How much more are we talking?

£3000 a year

[sociopath]

Others will disagree, and it's your job, but when I was in that situation once I explained to my boss that I understood the situation, however I would be looking for alternate employment and pay commensurate with my experience.

Once they saw I was serious it was resolved rapidly.

I still left anyway, if they weren't rent going to play nicely, then neither was I

[InitialDave]

Stop correcting her work.

Look at what other jobs are available you'd be interested in.

[Jamescrs]

As above stop correcting her work and start looking for employment elsewhere, you can tell your boss that's what you intend to do which may have the desired effect but you have to be prepared to follow it through and hand in your notice and walk if it comes down to it.

[Monkeylegend]

croyde said:

Like I say, I might start making use of the sick pay.

Based on your post above about sloppy work I am sure doing this will not sit well with you.

For your own personal satisfaction, doing any job to the best of your ability should be your aim. Anything less is letting yourself down, and if you feel you have to play these "games" then you are working for the wrong company.

I never wanted to know what my peers were earning, and I never told those I was responsible for what their colleagues were earning either. It breeds unrest.

Salaries for the same jobs varied based o quite a few factors, so it was difficult to do a direct comparison and argue you were under or over paid.

You are either satisfied with your personal rewards or not, again if it is the latter it is time to either decide to stick with it, particularly in mind of your age, or try to move on, which gets more difficult as you get older.

Just my own view which I accept many will disagree with, but getting onto a "tit for tat" scenario is very unprofessional

[dudleybloke]

Change your working pace to be slower than her to make up for the pay gap

[brickwall]

As Eric says - Leave.

If everything as you say, then you should have no problems finding a better deal elsewhere.

(And if you can’t find a better offer, then your employer is paying you what you’re worth in the market and you have to suck it up)

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

A problem that needs some lateral thinking...

Strike up a relationship with her, get married, get a joint account, and share your combined salary 50:50.

On a more serious note, not correcting her work would be problematic as based on what you do and the shifts, I'm guessing the deliverables are essentially combined.

I'd probably start looking elsewhere for a job. If it takes 6 months and you've spent the last 6 being a perceived PITA, then any reference (formal / informal) may reflect that. You work in film and TV IIRC. It's a small industry so I'd want to leave on good terms.