Am I being underpayed?

Lb7721

I've been in the same job now about 3 years. I started working in a Poundshop when I was 17 only part-time, now I'm full time and have recently been promoted to Supervisor.
I started off on 8.65 per hour and then when I got my promotion I was raised to 9.50 an hour. When the new minimum wage came in to 9.15 my boss wouldn't put my wages up until I told him I'm not working for an extra 35c an hour to do everything I do, so eventually he put me up to 10 an hour.
In the shop I literally do everything, I work on the shop floor, tills, I open and close up the shop, I count all the tills at the end of the day, I sweep the floors at the end of the day, I put money in the safe, I give out change to local shops and have to lodge that money back into the safe, I create new layouts for the new guys, I get dragged off to the warehouse by myself for 9 hours with no one with me, there's no lights or toilets in the warehouse so if I've to pee I've to literally do it outside against the wall or if it's the other one I've to go to the cafe across the road and go there which is embarrassing, I've had to clean off maggots off busted dog food and put it back on the shelf, I could go on and on.
My girlfriend recently got a job in a huge clothes retailer and is starting out on 10.50 an hour and gets pay and a half of a Sunday. I work Sunday's too and get no extra pay or bonus I only get 10 an hour.
Am I being over dramatic and be happy with what I have or should I be getting more wages for what I'm doing?
Thanks for reading,
L

Hollister11

10 per hour for a shop isn't bad.

HelgaWard

I think you should start looking at supervisory positions in other retailers, it's very likely you'll be able to get better money working for a different retailer, and probably nicer conditions.

livedadream

seems like more than the wages your unhappy with.

Lb7721 wrote: »

I started off on 8.65 per hour and then when I got my promotion I was raised to 9.50 an hour. When the new minimum wage came in to 9.15 my boss wouldn't put my wages up until I told him I'm not working for an extra 35c an hour to do everything I do, so eventually he put me up to 10 an hour.

its low compared to other roles, ie Lidi etc but i dont think its too low.

Lb7721 wrote: »

In the shop I literally do everything,
I work on the shop floor,
tills,
I open and close up the shop,
I count all the tills at the end of the day,
I sweep the floors at the end of the day,
I put money in the safe,
I give out change to local shops and
have to lodge that money back into the safe,
I create new layouts for the new guys,

all this seems normal for a supervisor role to me, but ive not worked in retail in a loooooong time.

Lb7721 wrote: »

I get dragged off to the warehouse by myself for 9 hours with no one with me, there's no lights or toilets in the warehouse so if I've to pee I've to literally do it outside against the wall or if it's the other one I've to go to the cafe across the road

why are you going to the warehouse?
no lights seems unsafe to me...
peeing against a wall is definitely something you shouldnt be doing at work.

Lb7721 wrote: »

I've had to clean off maggots off busted dog food and put it back on the shelf, I could go on and on.

this is disgusting and unhygienic, even for dog food.

Lb7721 wrote: »

I work Sunday's too and get no extra pay or bonus I only get 10 an hour.

check your contact. are you on salary etc?

Under the Working Time Act, if you and your employer dont have an agreement then, your employer must give you one or more of the following for Sunday working:

A reasonable allowance
A reasonable pay increase
Reasonable paid time off work

snubbleste

Well, you are getting an acceptable wage for that particular retail environment imo.

Lb7721

I wasn't actually given a contract, I just came in and was told I have the job didn't have to sign anything etc

Mrs OBumble

How many other jobs have you applied for?

BrokenArrows

The only way to know if you're underpaid is if you can get another job that pays more.

Its a poundshop! I guess they probably operate on a very tight budget and are never going to pay more than they have to.

I suggest you simply start applying for other supervisor roles and see what comes of it.

livedadream

Lb7721 wrote: »

I wasn't actually given a contract, I just came in and was told I have the job didn't have to sign anything etc

legally you have to have a contract of employment, it doesnt have to be fancy but does have to have certain things on it.

to be honest and like other posters have said it seems like a reasonable payment for the role.

Poundshops arnt exactly Harrods, you seem to be paid in line with what the company can afford and what the expectation is.

for the record Harrods hourly staff are on approx £9.77 in euro thats about €12.50ish

if you want more ask, a dumb priest never got a parish etc etc.

or go somewhere you will be paid more.

WoolyJumper

Perhaps it's time to move on, 10 euro an hour isn't bad but there are probably other retailers that offer better pay and better opportunities to progress if thats what you want. I have seen worse than that though. From retailers you'd expect better from. I used to work for a certain large Irish Toy retailer. I walked in with not much experience in retail and got the same pay (a few cent above minimum wage) as people who've worked there for years. People who were acting supervisors of different departments in all but name (they were too mean to give them the title and pay rise along with it) but they did all the work of supervisors. This wasn't long ago either.

livedadream

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

How many other jobs have you applied for?

dont think the OP is looking for a new job just asking if their being paid fairly.

Hollister11

The likes of Penneys, Dunnes and Tesco pay a few cent under €10 for new recruits. Most pay up to €14 after a few years working for them.

jimmycrackcorm

livedadream wrote:

dont think the OP is looking for a new job just asking if their being paid fairly.

As long as he is getting above the minimum wage then being paid fairly is dictated by whether or not he would get more in another outlet.

He'd be better of applying to aldi or Lidl who are going for the living wage as a minimum.

livedadream

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

As long as he is getting above the minimum wage then being paid fairly is dictated by whether or not he would get more in another outlet.

He'd be better of applying to aldi or Lidl who are going for the living wage as a minimum.

which i said in my first post.

Lb7721

Cheers everyone! Ill be starting college in September and most likely won't move due to flexibility of hours, was just asking out of curiosity as its my first job and genuinely didn't know the average going rate