Is it okay for a co-worker to get night shift differential for a day shift?

Employment Law Forum
1

So, my co-worker was hired for an 8-4:30 shift but comes in at 6:30am and leaves by 3pm. Because she comes in early, she’s getting half an hour of night shift differential pay, even though she’s mostly working during the day. We’re in a union job, so I’m curious if there are any rules or laws that could be broken here. Plus, she’s pretty close to the manager, which doesn’t hurt her case. Anyone dealt with this before?

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Sounds a bit sketchy. Have you checked the union contract? Some contracts have specific rules about shift differentials.

3

Teagan said:
Sounds a bit sketchy. Have you checked the union contract? Some contracts have specific rules about shift differentials.

Yeah, in my old job the union was strict about who qualified for shift differentials. Might be worth looking at.

4

@Reagan
Good idea! I’ll go through the contract again and see if anything’s mentioned.

5

If there’s favoritism because of her relationship with the manager, it could be tough to prove unless there’s clear discrimination.

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Magdaline said:
If there’s favoritism because of her relationship with the manager, it could be tough to prove unless there’s clear discrimination.

Exactly, unless it’s tied to race, age, etc., it’s hard to call it discrimination legally.

7

@Hartley
Yeah, favoritism is usually frustrating but not necessarily illegal unless it’s discriminatory.

8

I’d double-check with HR or the union rep. They might be able to clarify if this setup is allowed.

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Morgan said:
I’d double-check with HR or the union rep. They might be able to clarify if this setup is allowed.

That’s a good point, I might reach out just to see what they say. Thanks!

10

It could just be a case of the manager bending the rules a bit for a friend. Happens a lot, unfortunately.

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Zyan said:
It could just be a case of the manager bending the rules a bit for a friend. Happens a lot, unfortunately.

Totally. As long as it’s not affecting you directly, might be best to let it slide.

12

Favoritism can be super frustrating, especially when it seems unfair. Maybe document what’s happening if it gets worse?

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Cody said:
Favoritism can be super frustrating, especially when it seems unfair. Maybe document what’s happening if it gets worse?

Yeah, it’s annoying, but I’ll keep an eye on it. Thanks for the advice, everyone!