The case in summary Two employees in the East police district, a man and a woman, were offered different pay for the same job. The man was initially offered NOK 25,000 more than the woman. The woman complained and got a pay rise, but the police also increased the pay of the male applicant. The Discrimination Board has determined that the woman was discriminated against because of her gender. This is the first time in two years that the tribunal has reached such a conclusion. The woman was awarded compensation of NOK 20,000 and a salary increase to NOK 875,000 in October last year. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. For the first time in two years, the Discrimination Board has established that a person is treated differently with different pay because of gender. This is revealed in a unanimous decision from October last year, which news has gained access to. Two employees in the East police district, a man and a woman, applied for two completely identical jobs as police lawyers in 2022. Both got the job, but one thing separated them. The man was offered NOK 850,000 a year. NOK 25,000 more than a woman. She complained and had her annual salary set at NOK 850,000. At the same time, the police increased the salary of the male applicant to 875,000. The woman then complained to the Discrimination Board. – After this, the tribunal has come to the conclusion that the differential treatment of A is not legal and that A is being discriminated against because of gender, the decision states. news has been in contact with the woman, but she does not wish to contribute to the case. The Eastern police district is held, among other things, here at Grålum. They also have offices in Ski, Lørenskog, Lillestrøm. Photo: Benjamin Vorland Andersrød / news The HR director will not be available for an interview. news has been in contact with the Eastern Police District and asked for answers to several specific questions. The police do not wish to be interviewed, but have given a written comment. – It is clear that we should present to a greater extent what kind of assessments formed the basis for salary offers and salary determinations. We do not discriminate based on gender, writes department director for HR Britt Stine Strand in an e-mail to news. Among other things, news has asked these questions: What concretely does the Eastern Police District think has happened in this case? Did the male candidate get a pay cut after the woman reacted and got a pay cut? When the Eastern police district has now fallen to the tribunal, what do they think the consequences of this are for the police department? Strand says they don’t want attention around this case. – I therefore think that it would not be right for me to appear for an interview in connection with this case, says Strand. – Right-wing strangely out In Norway, it is forbidden to discriminate against employees with different pay based on gender. Studies show that women on average earn 8.6 percent less than men. – This case sounds strange. If you increase the salary of the man in the same category, then you are just as far, says Steinar Vagstad, chief union representative for the Researchers’ Association at UiB. Professor and chief trustee at the University of Bergen, Steinar Vagstad. Photo: Johan B. Sættem As a trustee, for several years he has seen many different foundations for how pay is viewed at the university. Vagstad believes that employers care more about education and CVs than about the actual work tasks. – If someone takes on the job of negotiating salary, that does not give you grounds to jack up someone else’s salary. It often happens that people in the same job receive different wages, he says. Attention will increase awareness In 2023, the case from the East police district was the only one still with an offense in the “equal pay for equal work” category at the Discrimination Board. The union Politijuristene reacts to the police work. Head of the trade association Politijuristene, Marianne Børseth Steensby. Photo: Tore Letvik / Juristen – Perhaps there has been a lack of legal knowledge in the police district. It is worrying that something like this is happening in the police in recent times, says leader Marianne Børseth Steensby. In October last year, the woman was awarded compensation of NOK 20,000 and a salary increase of NOK 875,000, according to the tribunal’s decision. Steensby thinks it is unfortunate that such a mistake occurs in the police department. – Here you show that you do not have the competence that you should. A note about such a case will increase awareness, she says. Are you thinking of something? Hi! Would you like to advise me on a possible case? Feel free to contact us by e-mail.
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Field for differential treatment of pay between women and men – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
