Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
Due to a maternity leave extending to a permanent leave – ie the person is never coming back! – I have ended up covering a higher grade job for a period of around six years. I have only just discovered that, as per the company’s policy, I should initially have been temporarily promoted to the position after 13 weeks until such time that the person was originally scheduled to return to work, and then permanently promoted when it became apparent the person wasn’t ever coming back.
However, when I ask the boss about this he refuses to give me a proper reply. As a result I have spent around five years losing out on a higher level of pay.
I’ve asked about backdating the pay, sorting a higher salary going forward, perhaps a one-off lump sum in compensation – it all falls on deaf ears. I’m really cheesed off about this now, but it’s a good job and I don’t want to lose it. I just want to be paid a fair amount for what I do!
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
• This article was amended on 15 December 2015 to correct the spelling of remuneration in the sub-heading.
