Discrimination help

[jenny82]

Hi - I was on another forum seeking help but wasn't really able to get any. Though I would try here and ask about discrimination in the workplace, in case someone had been or is in a similiar situation.

So basically, I have been offered an atrocious payrise, compared to a girl who started the same time as me, with a similar workload and same pay. She got £4k, I got £600.

Their reasoning is that I did parttime hours while I was at uni, which is true to some extent. THey let me out for class. However, my workload didn't decrease - in fact, it increased, and I completed a whole project on my own as well and I never missed a deadline. I worked at weekends and nights if I had to to make up for any work that was lacking. We have taken on a lot of other accounts, so not only am I doing my own firm's accounts, but I am also doing the accounts for 3 other companies, work that they charge out for and I get paid £35 a month extra?!?!

I'm stuck as well - they know I can't leave as who will hire a pregnant lady now.

The previous guy in my position got about twice my salary for doing a worse job than I am doing currently. They know that I have completely turned that department around and I have been told soooo many times how much better I am than he was.

Its not even about the money anymore as I'm leaving in 2 1/2 months anyway and get the standard maternity pay. Its just highly demoralising and demotivating. They know I have a baby coming, they didn't carry out any H&S checks. I asked them to move an unused table in my office as I can't even get past it now to get at my files, and they didn't. I have stuff to pay for, a mortgage, a car etc. £35 won't even buy me a weeks worth of nappies!

Does anyone have experience of something like this? Is it worth fighting? I have spent most of the night feeling like something somebody has scraped off their shoe...humiliated.

 

[Mrs Poppy]

Hi hun That does sound like discrimination to me. If I were you I would go to the citizens advice bureau. If you told them everything that had gone on they would advise you if it were discrimination and if it would be worth fighting x

 

[Seraphim]

Yes this sounds familiar, although I have a slightly different outcome, and no comparible collegues to measure against. The fact that you do, is worth it's weight in gold.

Are you in the UK?
I would suggest talking to ACAS 08457 47 47 47 (google them for more info)
They will be able to advise you of your rights and what steps you should take to reach a resolution. Your employers will have to officially answer for the discrepency between your raise and your collegues.

Stay strong sweetie. The fact that you are pregnant/going on leave actually means the law will support you more. I know this doesn't always prove 100% effective, but it's better than nothing x

 

[jenny82]

Thanks for your advice ladies

I actually thought I was going nuts last night. Was just up to a hundred and when baby kicked, it was making me feel sick instead of nice like it usually does

Am going to go to the CAB tomorrow morning.

I've written everything down and remembered another point this morning. The girl in my office who got the better rais - They had originally offered her what they offered me, only one of the MDs told her to lie to the other MD and say that she'd been offered a job elsewhere at a higher rate. With that threat hanging over them, they eventually gave her more money.

I have no such bargaining chip - who is realistically going to hire me?!?

 

[jenny82]

Can somebody do me a favour and read the letter I've pasted below? I have no one else I can think of to check it over before I send it on to my boss and would appreciate some honest feedback...

Thanks!

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Hi XXX

I’ve given some serious thought to the salary changes proposed by you and XXX on Monday and I have to say that I’m seriously not happy.

I understand the reason given for my low payrise, and whilst this could be a valid reason, I had asked at the time about my salary to you and to XXX, and was given no response. Had you given me a paycut at the time, I would’ve understood. However, to refuse a reasonable payrise 7 months later just does not seem fair.

Even whilst I was at Queens, I would say that my workload did not decrease to reflect that. If anything, the workload of the department has increased, and when compared to the workload of the member of staff here before me, I would say that my workload is a lot higher for a lot less money. And not only has the accounts work increased, but I also managed the XXX Awards during this time, and took work home with me at nights and at weekends if required.

During my evaluation in January, you expressed little need for improvement in my work, and if you felt that I needed to perform better in any area, I would prefer to be told about it at the time than punished at a later date for it.

And whilst other members of staff can threaten to go elsewhere at a higher rate of pay, you both know full well that this is not an option for a pregnant lady. I do not have this bargaining tool at my disposal to get a higher wage and it is not fair that some members of staff can do this and get their way, and a pregnant lady cannot.

I have sought advice from the CAB on this. They sympathized with my case and can pass it onto the Labour Relations Agency if I so wish. However, it is not even about money – it is just about being treated fairly, and I do not believe that I have been treated fairly. I feel highly disappointed and demotivated and have to seriously consider where my position lies in this company.


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For background, the previous guy was on £23k - I am on £12k for doing the same job and more. I was part time for some time, but had asked how this would affect my salary and received no response.

Does it sound ok or too pitiful?

 

[Seraphim]

Hey - hope I'm not too late...

When do you want to put this letter in by?
I would be more formal, less emotive and give less away.
If you have time I'll happily help - but wouldn't be able to get back to you until tomorrow eve.

 

[jenny82]

Hi - I sent this email onto a friend of mine and he helped me re-word it as he said it was too angry. So I re-sent another version yesterday, being more factual and highlighting key points and added a nice, polite ending.

I received one back this morning basically telling me a big, fat no. Also she denied offering staff more money to stay on if they threatened to go elsewhere...which I know to be a complete untruth.

I have a friend who works in legal aid, so I sent her all my info this morning and she is going to have a solicitor look over it.

I don't really know what the outcome will be. I don't thinK I'm prepared to cause a fight over it - I just want what I think I deserve and to be treated with some respect.

My mum has to me to forget about and go off sick for a few weeks on stress, as I have been incredibly stressed out and baby has been very quiet :/ However, looking at my company sick policy, I would go to SSP after 4 days so I just can't afford to do that. I just hope work does not become an unbearable place to go to...

 

[Abz1982]

Did you mention about the guy before you? Was he doing EXACTLY the same job? If so, justmention sex discrimination - equal pay for equal work and all that. Dont threaten any legal action if you are not going to see it through as its illegal - or something like that.

 

[jenny82]

He was doing less work actually. The amount of work the business has had over the last year has increased a lot and systems have changed and new accounts brought in, so I've done more than he did in the first place.

I email him from time to time about things also, so I just asked him the other day if he did anything outside of accounts work, in case I missed anything. But he said no..

 

[Abz1982]

I think you should speak to the CAB then. And/or ACCAS