Equal Pay for Equal Work

toadfly

I thought this was law, that if two people do the same job in the same company, that they are entitled to equal pay. Trying to find legislation now it seems its just in relation to gender, race etc.

So I am right in saying two colleagues doing the same job can be paid vastly different wages as long as they are the same gender?

Any info greatly appreciated.

delta_bravo

What if you're just much better at negotiating your salary than I am?

Junglewoman

toadfly wrote: »

I thought this was law, that if two people do the same job in the same company, that they are entitled to equal pay. Trying to find legislation now it seems its just in relation to gender, race etc.

So I am right in saying two colleagues doing the same job can be paid vastly different wages as long as they are the same gender?

Any info greatly appreciated.

Are they both working under the same contract of employment?

TallGlass

Yes. A guy that works beside me is on 35k. I'm on 24k. And its legal.

Amirani

There can be various reasons for people being paid differently for doing the same job. Different experience levels, different negotiating skills, joining at different times.

toadfly

Junglewoman wrote: »

Are they both working under the same contract of employment?

No, one started as a Sales Merchandiser on 25k, got a pay cut to 23.5k, promoted to sales rep and salary never changed since. Other on a sales rep contract, started at 34k, not on 32k. Both with company similar length of time, both doing the same job now.

Stheno

Diego Simeone wrote: »

There can be various reasons for people being paid differently for doing the same job. Different experience levels, different negotiating skills, joining at different times.

Yep civil service/ public sector is a good example of where this has happened due to people joining at different times

Op did your colleague tell you this? They might be on the wind up

toadfly

Its not me, its a friend and his colleague who is a good friend, trust that the info is correct.

The work for the same company so private/civil service not relevant.

Stheno

toadfly wrote: »

No, one started as a Sales Merchandiser on 25k, got a pay cut to 23.5k, promoted to sales rep and salary never changed since. Other on a sales rep contract, started at 34k, not on 32k. Both with company similar length of time, both doing the same job now.

That's perfectly leegal, sounds like the person on lower pay should have negotiated a bit more

Are either of them on commission?

markpb

I don't think there's any legislation that would come close to what you're suggesting. As long as you don't discriminate based on the handful of proscribed areas and you pay at least the minimum wage, you're covered.

Why would such a legislation exist, how do you prove that two people are not only doing the same job but doing it equally well? This is the preserve of unions who believe that all men should be treated equally. In other places they call it communism

toadfly

Stheno wrote: »

That's perfectly leegal, sounds like the person on lower pay should have negotiated a bit more

Are either of them on commission?

No commission.

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

FishOnABike

It's not uncommon to find two people in the same company, doing the same job, same job title and having the same grade being paid different wages even where there are well defined grades and salary scales.

They may have joined the company at different grades or at different points in the salary scale within the same grade. Performance reviews, pay for performance and one persons better negotiating ability over another can also give rise to different pay levels for what is nominally the same job. In a sales position is part of the pay made up of commission or a sales bonus or has one employee developed new customers or accounts for the company?

Whether they are the same gender or not is irrelevant so long as the pay difference is not because of gender (or any of the other grounds covered by equality legislation).

Gone West

Both numbers are mickey mouse money. Fighting to get another 10k is a waste of time, as you simply will not get it. Focus on upskilling so that you can advance your career.

Cuddlesworth

Fuzzy wrote: »

Both numbers are mickey mouse money. Fighting to get another 10k is a waste of time, as you simply will not get it. Focus on upskilling so that you can advance your career.

Only way to get a 10k advance on wages is to move to another company.

Bandana boy

toadfly wrote: »

No, one started as a Sales Merchandiser on 25k, got a pay cut to 23.5k, promoted to sales rep and salary never changed since. Other on a sales rep contract, started at 34k, not on 32k. Both with company similar length of time, both doing the same job now.

So one guy negotiated for a Sales rep role , probably coming from a similar role into that job with the experience and contacts that entails.
The other with no experience has been promoted from a junior role into the same role.
Job description might be the same but it would be unfair to say they are doing the same job.

Your friend though now knows what salary to aim for , it would be unrealistic to think he will equalise in one swoop but he could expect to ask for a raise knowing that getting 4-5K is probably not completely unrealistic