employment rights??

spellwoman

Have a friend working for an expanding family run business-they've been there 16 years, recently 2 new people have been taken on & my friend has found out they're both on more money than her yet they're all doing the exact same job. Recently another employee doing the same job also was given a new job title (promotion) & their wages increased-this new opening was never offered/advertised to give anyone else in the company a chance to go for it!
This all definitely doesn't seem right to me-can anyone tell me what rights my friend has or what she should do please?

LowKeyReturn

spellwoman wrote: »

Have a friend working for an expanding family run business-they've been there 16 years, recently 2 new people have been taken on & my friend has found out they're both on more money than her yet they're all doing the exact same job. Recently another employee doing the same job also was given a new job title (promotion) & their wages increased-this new opening was never offered/advertised to give anyone else in the company a chance to go for it!
This all definitely doesn't seem right to me-can anyone tell me what rights my friend has or what she should do please?

Nada except leave.

ted1

Ireland is not a communist country, everyone is entitled to different pay. Your friend needs to renegotiate her contract

punitbook

Its not seem that you can do anything legally in this situation

Rainblow

spellwoman wrote: »

Have a friend working for an expanding family run business-they've been there 16 years, recently 2 new people have been taken on & my friend has found out they're both on more money than her yet they're all doing the exact same job. Recently another employee doing the same job also was given a new job title (promotion) & their wages increased-this new opening was never offered/advertised to give anyone else in the company a chance to go for it!
This all definitely doesn't seem right to me-can anyone tell me what rights my friend has or what she should do please?

There might be an equality claim there.

punitbook

Rainblow wrote: »

There might be an equality claim there.

Equality claim has many attributes. How is possible on this situation?

godtabh

being hired for a new position often gives the employee a chance to increase their wages.

If you are in the company the rate at which your pay increase is very small relative to some one who has the same experience but has just joined the company.

Back in the good old days moving company could get you a 10-20% pay pump. Staying put may only have gotten you 5%. Same applies today but the numbers would be smaller.

As per the promotions maybe your friends wasnt suitable for promotion and hence never asked by staff to interview for it. They dont have to have advertise for it.

seamus

It's not strictly true that two people doing the same job can be paid different wages. Afaik there was a case recently with the LRC where someone won the right to equal pay of a colleague, but I can't find any link to it at the moment.

In general though, private companies are not legally required to advertise promotions or to pay employees equally, especially since grades and duties in the private sector tend to differ from department to department.

That said, if your friend believes she is being illegally discriminated against she can take a case. But in a small family business she's practically ending any hope of having a continued career there.

First thing she can do is go look at the jobs market and see what the going rate is for her. Then approach the employers looking for a raise. She should not under any circumstances mention that she knows what the others are on.

spellwoman

Just also wondering, my friend does not think she ever signed a contract of employment - this surely cannot be right???

Pro Hoc Vice

spellwoman wrote: »

Just also wondering, my friend does not think she ever signed a contract of employment - this surely cannot be right???

If your friend has employment issues maybe a good solicitor can chat with her and tell her the options, it would really be in her interests most local firms will do a consultation for free or a small fee.

dan_ep82

infosys wrote: »

If your friend has employment issues maybe a good solicitor can chat with her and tell her the options, it would really be in her interests most local firms will do a consultation for free or a small fee.

Her union might be better.
Has your friend asked for a raise?

spellwoman

dan_ep82 wrote: »

Her union might be better.
Has your friend asked for a raise?

She approached her employer yesterday & he advised there was a 'mistake' made with the newly hired peoples wages & that they cannot change them now; but will increase her wages to match! They don't have a union!! Sounds like a great company to work for!