equal pay

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I have worked for a local Council for nine years. Some colleagues have just received a financial adjustment due to being underpaid. Have I got grounds to make a claim? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-10-01 11:45

I have been working for a local Council in a non-teaching role at a local school for nine years. I have recently heard from fellow colleagues that they have received a financial adjustment due to being underpaid. Have I got grounds to put a claim in?

I own my property 100%. What are the ways of covering this in a Will to avoid any tax being paid or any fees having to be paid if I am taken into care for any reason? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-09-22 10:54

I own my property 100% and I am unencumbered. What are the ways of covering this in a Will to avoid any tax being paid or any fees having to be paid if I am taken into care for any reason? I have four children and at the moment would like to leave them equal shares if I die. Will they get the full amount? My estate is currently under the £312,000 threshold.

If a person dies without making a Will, how is the estate divided and does the suspicion of suicide make any difference? — by mariam — last modified 2008-09-01 17:45

A member of my family has died. He had a wife, children and property but had not made a Will, how is the estate divided or inherited? What, if any, difference does the suspicion of a death by suicide make?

My male colleagues are being paid more than me for doing exactly the same job, where do I stand on this? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-24 17:36

I have worked for my employer for two years. During this time two male staff members were employed who do exactly the same job as myself but they are on a higher salary. The work that we do is exactly the same and there is nothing to differentiate between the roles that we do. Where do I stand on this and what steps do I take next?

My colleague is paid at least £5,000 more than me but we do the same job. Is this legal? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-04-14 17:46

I have been working in my company now for a year. Everyone in my department is doing the exact same job, although we are split into two grades. I am in the lower paid grade and I know the guy who sits beside me (who is on the higher paid grade) is getting paid at least £5,000 a year more than me. Is this even legal? Do I have grounds to take my company to Court or can I demand equal pay?

Same job two different pay scales: can I get equal pay? — by Charlotte Colquhoun — last modified 2008-03-31 17:41

I have been working in my company now for a year. Everyone in my department is doing the exact same job, although we are split into two grades. I am in the lower paid grade and I know the guy who sits beside me (who is on the higher paid grade) is getting paid at least £5000 a year more than me. Is this even legal? Do I have grounds to take my company to court or can I demand equal pay?

I was involved in an accident which was not my fault but my insurer has offered me less than the value of the vehicle and deducted £100 excess. Is this right and why are my insurer dealing with payment to me when the third party's insurers are liable? — by conrad — last modified 2008-03-30 13:13

I was involved in a minor incident whilst in a queue of traffic where the third party ran into the rear of my car. The third party admitted liability I rang my insurers to inform them with details. After numerous phone calls I have received a letter from my insurer telling me that the car is to be written off and that the book value is £385 of which I will forfeit £100 in standard excess even though my voluntary excess is Nil leaving me with £285. This is not enough to replace my car to an equal standard as market value is £597 for the same age and model. They have since told us if I accept the money I can buy it back for £70 but why should I have to pay out for a car which is legally mine and I was not to blame. Can you tell me if my insurers can do this as the accident was not my fault the other party has admitted liability? Can you also tell me why my insurers are paying me and not the third party's insurers and why should I lose the £100 and buy my own car back? Surely the third party's insurance should be paying all of this?

I am divorced and my ex-wife has declared herself bankrupt: what will happen regarding the property and assets from the marriage? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-03-19 01:53

I am divorced. I placed a Matrimonial Homes Notice on the marital home which was in my ex-wife's sole name. She did not pay the mortgage and the property was repossessed. It has been sold - apparently the mortgagee applied to remove my interest from the property. I was not informed of this. Can they do this? My wife has declared herself bankrupt and now the only property in joint names may have to be sold. She has had many assets from our businesses and I believe she may have some cash stashed away. What can I do?

Firm has job rotation scheme but people are on different salaries: are the lower paid people entitled to refuse to do the work normally undertaken by the higher paid people unless they are paid an equivalent rate? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-03-18 22:20

Our works terms and conditions state that any employee doing the same job as someone else must be paid the same wages. We currently have a job rotation scheme but most people are on different salaries with no structure in place to ever allow the lower paid people to ever catch up with the higher paid people so the difference is only going to get bigger. Are the lower paid people entitled to refuse to do the same work as the higher paid people?

My husband owns our home and I want to leave but do not have the money to do so: can I ask my husband to release money to enable me to leave or can he just order me to "pack my bags" as he threatens to? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-03-07 21:28

My husband of 3 years owns our home. He had it before we met. I want to leave but do not have a job to support our daughter who is 2 years old. Would I be able to ask him to release some equity from the house to help us move? Also, does he have the right to ask us to "pack our bags"? Nothing has gone wrong in the relationship - I have not cheated; he is just very aggressive and would be happy to leave if I could support myself and my daughter.

Can we claim for back pay in an equal pay claim prior to when we had a change of roles? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-03-07 15:49

I have worked the night shift in a residential home for the past 17 years. About 4 years ago we had the chance to either take a senior care officer role which there was only 2 jobs available on nights or change from senior care officers to care assistants and keep our grade 17. There are currently 5 staff on nights who thought they where grade 17, but 2 members of staff have had letters and are only receiving payment for their contracted hours and have only been based on grade 6. We also have further responsibilities as we have recently opened a new EMI unit and one member of staff must work in this unit at all times. Because of the level of dementia most of the old 17s have n.v.q. I have level 2 and 3, plus I am a qualified first aider. Do we qualify for different claims as our job title has changed? I am contracted 20 hours per week, but because of the new unit we always work 3 or 4 nights.

Won an equal pay claim three months ago but I have yet to receive written confirmation, back pay or uplift: is there a time limit for this or should I file another grievance? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-01-31 06:30

I had a formal grievance hearing with my employer on an equal pay issue three months ago. I was informed a couple of weeks later by phone (no letter as yet) that I had won my case and that they would uplift my pay and calculate my back pay. I have still not received the uplift or the back pay yet. Is there any limit or should I put in another grievance?

Involved in an accident on a roundabout but have discovered I was not insured: will the lack of insurance be taken into account when liability is decided by a court? — by conrad — last modified 2008-01-23 09:08

I was involved in an accident, which I do not believe was my fault - the other party however has a different opinion! I have later found out that I am uninsured (I was driving my old car; I believed I was covered 3rd party only on my new car insurance, but I am not covered if I own the other car). I was exiting a roundabout on a dual carriageway in the right-hand lane. The other driver was going all the way round in the left-hand lane and collided with me. I have now received a letter from the other driver claiming damages and threatening court action if I don't settle. Should I pay, even though I don't think it was my fault? Would the court find me at fault because I had no insurance?

Cyclist injured by car had to leave work and wonders if he was right to reject insurer's first compensation claim offer... — by conrad — last modified 2008-01-11 18:14

In Nov 06 I was struck by a car whilst cycling to work in N.Ireland. I suffered a crush fracture of Lumber3 and soft tissue injuries to my neck and lower leg. I spent 2 weeks in hospital and wore a fracture jacket for the next 4 months. The driver accepted full responsibility and has since been prosecuted. Due to the nature of my work I could not return and had to seek alternative employment 8 months later. 13 months later just before Christmas the insurance company made their first offer via my solicitor for £8000. I feel they have tried to use the lure of Christmas and not considered my pain and suffering. I therefore have refused the offer and a writ has been served. Do you think I have done the right thing and why should insurance companies be allowed to get away with cheap tactics?

Underpaid examiner's wages not raised sufficiently to cover responsibilities... — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2007-12-14 07:32

I have a question about equal pay. In July 2006 I was recruited by an exam board as a Junior Test Developer. I was offered £26,000 after saying I would accept £25,000 in an interview. I have 5 years teaching experience and 5 years as a grade A marker for the papers I was recruited to design. At the time I (wrongly) presumed that those above me would have superior expertise/subject knowledge. Another colleague who is also female and 16 years older than me was recruited as a Senior Test Developer. She had 1 year teaching experience and little or no experience on the exams we were designing. She was an internal appointment. I have since discovered that when I started she was on approx £36,ooo! After 3 months in my post I was promotoed to Senior test developer like her as it was clear I had the skills and experience. I was offered £31,000. I accepted as I did not know what she was earning at the time and it seemed like a big upgrade. However, over the past 12 months it has become clear the she doesn't have an aptitude for the work and has resigned. I am very annoyed as I know she has earned thousands more than me in the past 18 mths - even though I have worked harder and achieved more in the same job. To add insult to injury they have advertised the job for CIRCA £35,000 dependent on skills and experience!! I'm beginning to feel very ripped off by my company and requested a pay rise. They offered me a lousy £1900 and I turned it down immediately. They had my job externally benchmarked and have said the outcome is 'positive', although for some reason they are keeping me dangling on the actual figure. Do I have a legal right to request the rise be backdated to when I first requested it at the end of October 07? And do I have a chance (though I doubt it) of recouping some of the earnings I feel I was conned out of over the past 12 mths? I'd really appreciate some legal advice on this. For the record I wish to stay with my employer for now, but am looking around for similar work with another exam board which will pay me fairly and not take advantage of my naivety!

Equal pay claim: time limits of six months — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2007-09-15 05:23

Having worked for North Lincolnshire council from 2001 until 2006, I was told in July about a potential equal pay claim informed to staff in July 2007. I emailed human resources that day and asked why I hadn't been informed of this and even though I no longer worked there the prejudice took place during the time I was there. The reply was that if i hadn't claimed within 6 months of leaving I was too late to receive anything. I spoke to the union (although I am no longer a member) and expressed my concern that if the women that worked there didn't know about any possible claim how were we supposed to know about the time rules? The union sent me a letter to send to the woman at human resources for them to re-consider it. I sent it on the 10th August 2007,and have not received any acknowledgement since. I have since found out that my ex co-workers are receiving their pay outs. I feel cheated and angry that no one either from the school where I worked nor human resources wrote to tell me about a possible claim. Any suggestions or advice on this matter please?

Equal pay claim: time limits of six months — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2007-09-15 05:23

Having worked for North Lincolnshire council from 2001 until 2006, I was told in July about a potential equal pay claim informed to staff in July 2007. I emailed human resources that day and asked why I hadn't been informed of this and even though I no longer worked there the prejudice took place during the time I was there. The reply was that if i hadn't claimed within 6 months of leaving I was too late to receive anything. I spoke to the union (although I am no longer a member) and expressed my concern that if the women that worked there didn't know about any possible claim how were we supposed to know about the time rules? The union sent me a letter to send to the woman at human resources for them to re-consider it. I sent it on the 10th August 2007,and have not received any acknowledgement since. I have since found out that my ex co-workers are receiving their pay outs. I feel cheated and angry that no one either from the school where I worked nor human resources wrote to tell me about a possible claim. Any suggestions or advice on this matter please?