Is it legal to pay parents more than childless workers?

[_angel_]

I wouldn't expect to be paid more than a childless person.

Flexi time and an understanding employer when kids are sick would be far more reasonable.

 

[Belushi]

I don't see why it would - people don't begrudge people getting help for an ickle baby

I would - its not help its blatant discrimination.

 

[Orang Utan]

I would - its not help its blatant discrimination.

I don't see why it is!

 

[Fullyplumped]

Surprised on another thread when a poster said that parents are paid more than the childless in his organisation, is this legal? dont think I've ever come across it before.

I'd be hopping mad if that was the case in my workplace!

What thread, what country?

 

[zenie]

I don't see why it is!

Never heard of positive discrimination?

 

[Orang Utan]

Never heard of positive discrimination?

Yes, but I don't see what's wrong with helping out someone when they have a kid.

 

[christonabike]

Imagine if:

"It's great, just got a pay-rise cos of the sprog, it's great, I spend it in the pub!"

 

[Belushi]

I don't see why it is!

Because your being paid less than someone who's doing exactly the same job as you!

 

[Belushi]

What thread, what country?

UK, OU's working at xmas thread.

 

[christonabike]

Yes, but I don't see what's wrong with helping out someone when they have a kid.

They get help in that they get parental leave and childcare vouchers, I presume

And all the second-hand clothes from friends with kids

 

[Orang Utan]

Because your being paid less than someone who's doing exactly the same job as you!

I don't have a kid though

 

[Biddlybee]

No it's not

People choose to be a carer or not. Not saying it's an easy choice, but it is a choice.

 

[zenie]

OU You're far too nice!

 

[Orang Utan]

People choose to be a carer or not. Not saying it's an easy choice, but it is a choice.

No they don't - some people have no choice at all - do you think my Dad should just dump my disabled Mum in a home and fuck off?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

If you don't like it, don't take the job

The spirit of Keith Joseph lives on, I see.

 

[Orang Utan]

OU You're far too nice!

Is that a bad thing?

 

[Belushi]

I don't have a kid though

But thats got fuck all to do with pay equality, you should be paid the same as the perosn doing the same job - employers shouldnt be discriminating against certain employees because they've decided they dont need so much money!

 

[Brainaddict]

I think it's perfectly reasonable and I'm surprised people find it so objectionable. It seems people are so used to thinking individualistically that they see things only in terms of narrow individual rights and so this is 'discrimination'. To my mind, making sure kids are raised with a good quality of life is a social responsibility (i.e. something we should all ensure collectively) and I don't see why employers can't shoulder some of that.

It should be extended to other dependents for consistency of course.

 

[zenie]

Is that a bad thing?

When someone's walking all over you and treating you like a doormat I think it might be yeh.

 

[Orang Utan]

I think it's perfectly reasonable and I'm surprised people find it so objectionable. It seems people are so used to thinking individualistically that they see things only in terms of narrow individual rights and so this is 'discrimination'. To my mind, making sure kids are raised with a good quality of life is a social responsibility (i.e. something we should all ensure collectively) and I don't see why employers can't shoulder some of that.

It should be extended to other dependents for consistency of course.

Excellent post, I was waiting for a clever, articulate person to come along

 

[Belushi]

What happens when the kids become independent, does the employer then cut the wages?

 

[Orang Utan]

When someone's walking all over you and treating you like a doormat I think it might be yeh.

No-one is! You may think that they are, but you come over as bolshy and unreasonable and I know what I'd rather be like

 

[Orang Utan]

What happens when the kids become independent, does the employer then cut the wages?

Yeah, you lose it when your youngest gets to 14

 

[Biddlybee]

No they don't - some people have no choice at all - do you think my Dad should just dump my disabled Mum in a home and fuck off?

No need for you to be arsey with me. No I don't think he should, but I do think it is a choice he's made.

 

[Orang Utan]

No need for you to be arsey with me. No I don't think he should, but I do think it is a choice he's making becuase he loves her.

And I think that kind of love should be rewarded, not punished.

Didn't think I was being arsey.

 

[christonabike]

To my mind, making sure kids are raised with a good quality of life is a social responsibility (i.e. something we should all ensure collectively) and I don't see why employers can't shoulder some of that.

It should be extended to other dependents for consistency of course.

I must admit that in an ideal world I would agree, and then all members of the work-force would have an equivalent benefits, ie. we all get paid more, and we all get the extra days off to do as we please

Ta

 

[Biddlybee]

But, you're not punishing someone by not increasing their pay.

 

[christonabike]

No, you are rewarding everyone in their life choices that they make

Two people on £500 000 p/a, how much will you pay the person that has a baby? £600 000 p/a?

 

[Kanda]

The spirit of Keith Joseph lives on, I see.

Rubbish. I just think that if the company has a set benefits structure that you know about before you join then when you sign the contract you agree to it and are happy with it.

I agree with OU. I wouldn't begrudge someone with kids earning a *set and outlined in company policy* amount more than me.

 

[Fullyplumped]

UK, OU's working at xmas thread.

Thanks. Not illegal in the UK. Unless you could show it was indirect sex or disabliity or race discrimination, which would be difficult if parents of both sexes and all races and disability status who are parents were paid the same higher rate. Arrangements like this were very much more common in the UK until the Equal Pay Act, as was the custom of a woman being required to leave work on marriage.

Daft, though, in my view. The tax credit system provides very significant advantages to parents, and quite right - children in low-paid working families are very likely to experience relative poverty and tax credits do help significantly. But to administer fairly different rates for parents would require a lot of admin to minimise risk of unlawful indirect discrimination, and would mean less tax credits for the higher paid ones.