Equal pay for equal work
Discussion
Now I thought this was covered by some form of UK or even EU rule. So I thought Id ask the question. (I'm going to be a bit vague though)
Where I work there are 3 levels of staff. Lets call them A, B and C.
A) Earn the most and are given the most technically demanding jobs.
B) Slightly less money, slightly less challenging work.
C) Are given the (relatively) easiest work, the least money.
With me so far?
I'm currently employed as a Grade C. Though my previous employer was a Grade B. This has been fine for a few years. Until the company had a bit of a shake up.
Now we have been told that we will be given any job. Regardless of whether it fits with our pay scale. So a Grade C can be given a Grade A job.
In my (and a few others) case it's a bit more murky since the employers know that we CAN do Grade B work, but as we're not employed as them they don't have to pay us as such.
So does this contravene anything. Or given they have stated no one will have their money changed in the near future, is it time to move on?
(I will add that I'm a member of a Union, so it may be something I approach them about in due course)
Where I work there are 3 levels of staff. Lets call them A, B and C.
A) Earn the most and are given the most technically demanding jobs.
B) Slightly less money, slightly less challenging work.
C) Are given the (relatively) easiest work, the least money.
With me so far?
I'm currently employed as a Grade C. Though my previous employer was a Grade B. This has been fine for a few years. Until the company had a bit of a shake up.
Now we have been told that we will be given any job. Regardless of whether it fits with our pay scale. So a Grade C can be given a Grade A job.
In my (and a few others) case it's a bit more murky since the employers know that we CAN do Grade B work, but as we're not employed as them they don't have to pay us as such.
So does this contravene anything. Or given they have stated no one will have their money changed in the near future, is it time to move on?
(I will add that I'm a member of a Union, so it may be something I approach them about in due course)
What happens when C cant do something ..
Do they ask A for help ?
IF so it seems It seems like a decent way to develop the C's .without the A and B's keeping the better work for themselves..
You could leave ... as a C or you could try and do the A's and then leave as a better paid A+C
(Dont be surprised if its the Union that has keep bands in place .. rather than paying people based on what they achieve ! )
Do they ask A for help ?
IF so it seems It seems like a decent way to develop the C's .without the A and B's keeping the better work for themselves..
You could leave ... as a C or you could try and do the A's and then leave as a better paid A+C
(Dont be surprised if its the Union that has keep bands in place .. rather than paying people based on what they achieve ! )
Sounds like they're trying to do what most employers do in this day and age - extract more from people in return for less.
There's two ways to approach this...
1: Get the union on side and kick off.
or what I'd do...
2: Get as much "A" work as possible, collect as much evidence as possible of my ability to do it and then get a job somewhere else specifically doing "A" work and paying accordingly.
There's two ways to approach this...
1: Get the union on side and kick off.
or what I'd do...
2: Get as much "A" work as possible, collect as much evidence as possible of my ability to do it and then get a job somewhere else specifically doing "A" work and paying accordingly.
There is nothing stopping the company allocating tasks as it sees fit. There will be a line in your contract that says something along the lines of "....and other duties as the company may see fit from time to time".
On one hand, this is a good thing for the employee as it exposes them (as in your case) to higher-specced work and enables the building of experience at low risk. By that I mean if the company assign you a task that your are not qualified for, do not have the experience of or were hired to do specifically and you make a balls up of it, then there is no come back to you.
There is a line though. If you end up working the majority of your time on higher grade work, then you do have the right to be paid the appropriate rate.
On one hand, this is a good thing for the employee as it exposes them (as in your case) to higher-specced work and enables the building of experience at low risk. By that I mean if the company assign you a task that your are not qualified for, do not have the experience of or were hired to do specifically and you make a balls up of it, then there is no come back to you.
There is a line though. If you end up working the majority of your time on higher grade work, then you do have the right to be paid the appropriate rate.
speedyman said:
C's will struggle with A's work. Plus the A's will get bored doing C's work and will leave, poor management in my book.
No reason why C would automaticaally struggle with "A"-type work. There will be work which overlaps the A/B grade and there will be people at C-grade who will be more than capable of doing B (if not A) level work.It's an excellent opportunity for C to gain experience and maybe even get a pay rise.
Countdown said:
speedyman said:
C's will struggle with A's work. Plus the A's will get bored doing C's work and will leave, poor management in my book.
No reason why C would automaticaally struggle with "A"-type work. There will be work which overlaps the A/B grade and there will be people at C-grade who will be more than capable of doing B (if not A) level work.It's an excellent opportunity for C to gain experience and maybe even get a pay rise.
Countdown said:
boyse7en said:
Why would the Cs get a pay rise? The company already has them doing A work at C wages!
...because they've demonstrated they can do A work and the company can promote them without the risk they would have if they recruited externally.spikeyhead said:
That's what should happen, but doesn't mean that it will
...but doesn't mean it won't eitherIn every business I am involved in we try really hard to promote internally (not just for charitable reasons, it's much cheaper, you know what you're getting and helps staff morale). When the system's been in place for some time you can even get around the stigma of a failed probation period and the staff member dropping back down to a previous level, you just have to encourage a 'have a go' approach.
For what it's worth, as an employee, I would (and have when in similar situations) do everything I could to prove I can do an 'A' job and then put a case forward for payrise/promotion. Seems to have worked OK for me in my career.
sleepezy said:
spikeyhead said:
That's what should happen, but doesn't mean that it will
...but doesn't mean it won't eitherIn every business I am involved in we try really hard to promote internally (not just for charitable reasons, it's much cheaper, you know what you're getting and helps staff morale). When the system's been in place for some time you can even get around the stigma of a failed probation period and the staff member dropping back down to a previous level, you just have to encourage a 'have a go' approach.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff