Basically I've just come to the realisation that my job description is the same as more senior colleagues (different title, i.e. not junior). This is quite annoying as they are on a different grade and subsequently get paid a higher rate. I work in a local authority and therefore we have pay grades.

It's apparent that the job description is the same (ony difference title) and the author has done a copy and paste. The tasks are the same and I actually have more of them (similar complexity) and have being doing them successfully. It is also apparent that a colleague who has the same title as me has a completely different job description which reflect the anticipated differences between the role.

I feel a tad annoyed and want to know whether this is legal and subsequently what I can do about it.

Thanks in anticipation

Why would they legally be REQUIRED to pay you the same as anyone else? Sorry, the real world doesn't work that way. Would you be as annoyed if YOU was the higher paid person? I doubt it.

What can you do about it? Nothing... there are pay ranges in every grade... unless everyone has maxxed out in grade... then everyone doesn't get paid the same. you could make a stink and give them a reason to get rid of you. Trust me... in this current economy... it won't take much. Or you can do can try to negotiate something around your annual review time. Or you can start sending out resumes and negotiate a better deal at your next employer before you start.

It is legal and you can find another job. Unfortunately, that's about it. I've been in that position before and, after discussing it with the owners and them not doing anything, I left for another job and never looked back.

Smoothy

To clarify different grades but same role,

I've actually worked at a place where 5 coworkers doing the same job with the same title with very close to the same amount of time there got paid thousands of dollars different a year... Just doing your job well is not enough. Even being the best at what you do isn't. THe person who gets the most has the most tact and is the best at negotiating what they want.

You will probibly have to find another employer to make back that lost ground... which is possible. I managed to double my pay within one year of getting fed up enough to quit that one job where I was the person everyone came to to solve a difficult problem... but I wasn't the best paid by far. Quitting that job was a major turning point in my life and almost 27 years later... I still don't regret doing it. I only regret not doing it years sooner.

Been there done that. When I started in underwriting my title was Junior commercial auto underwriter. I was doing the same job as the senior underwriters in my department, but I was being paid half what they were. Why? I didn't have the experience they had, and I hadn't been there as long as them. Even once I became a Senior underwriter (because of classes I took, and diplomas I achieved), I still wasn't paid as much as the people that had been there 20 years as opposed to my 5.

I even worked two jobs at one time (our typist was out for 6 months with cancer and I did her job and mine for that 6 months), and my pay never increased, even though I had to come in weekends to even come close to doing two full time jobs, and I was never paid for those weekends.

Bottom line, do you want this job or not? If this is really bothering you, quit, find another job. Otherwise, do what everyone else does. Suck it up, work hard, hope to get raises reflecting the work you do, and shut your mouth if you don't think things are fair. There are millions of people that would love to take your place. Do not for one second think you're irreplaceable. You are!