Advice on Salaries!

desiman

Hi,

Need some advice, got a bit of a dilemma about work. I went for an internal vacancy within our organisation and I got the job, I've kinda been working as a liason with that team for a while and have a good rapport, the manager there said it was practically mine but needed to go through a formal process. I also know it was advertised externally too. In the external advert, the salary advertised on there was 50% more than what I'm currently on....! (I printed the advert out and kept it for reference)

When the manager told me I got the job, he said he would speak to HR and they would send me a formal letter etc. I asked what would happen to pay issues, he said that it would be dealt with as part of an internal annual salary review, which is in January. So I said, wait, does that mean I've got the job now, but wont be paid for the job until January? He gave me a vague kind of answer, which is fair enough, I didnt expect him to know figure details, I think thats more of an HR thing in our firm.

So now, Im waiting for this letter, to see what figure it is, and mentally preparing myself for the worst and for any negotiation. I think its pretty unfair if I have to wait until our annual Internal pay reviews in January.

I confided all this in a mate who also works in the same team, although senior than me. He said that in his opinion there isnt really a way where I would get the external advertised because the gap is too big, PLUS the figure they advertised externally isnt a realistic figure, rather a 'lets pull the punters in' sort of thing to get more applicants. He said I should be aiming for halfway between what im currently on and what their figure is - at least. He also said not to use the external advert as it might make the situation sour.

This is my first real job and my first internal promotion and i dont know how these things are supposed to work, and as we all know its the kind of thing that isnt discussed within office environments. So, Im just waiting for confirmation from HR about my new appointment and salary etc. and will take things from there.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can expect from HR if Im not happy with the figure they give me, and should I use the printout as 'evidence' (look you're giving XXX figure in the press but only offering me YYY which is a lot less).

Coupled with the fact that our first is due in June, money worrys are starting to creep up! Thing is i really am looking forward to the new job and working within that team, so at the same time i dont want it to make things bad between myself and the new boss!

Any advice appreciated!

mountainofdebt

advertised on the internal advert as I think this is more of a true reflection of what your salary is more likely to be.

To be honest (and please don't take this personally) I hate this sort of recruitment policy by companies. It just wastes everyone's time and raises hopes of the external candidates - i had the misfortune once of attending an interview where it was obvious who the successful candidate was going to be (yes you've guessed it, the internal candidate) and it got to a point where I refused to go to an interview when I learnt that there was an internal candidate for the position.

desiman

There was no salary on the internal vacancy (they dont write them on any internal ones). I only know that the external advert was for the job as Im applying for as it lists the individual specfic aspects of the job which arent for any other firm.

I agree with you about the policy. If I was the external candidate i'd be pretty miffed at it too. I guess they just have to do it to satisy some HR rules or something.

purplepurple

Are you a member of a union? If so, could you ask them for advice?

lynzpower

basically, if they are changing your job, you have a right ( i think) to a new contract.

If they were willing to pay higher for an external candidate that didnt know the team or the work then they should give AT least that to you. If they had say 30k advertised then someone somewhere would have budgeted for this.

My line would be, particulalry if they are bumbling and avoiding the issue, then be upfront and say, I saw his was the salary you advertised? Can you confirm thats what you are giving to me? If not why not? Then mutter something about legal advice litigation and discrimination and shuffle off leaving them in the dark as you are now.

Speak to your union, this is I think, illegal to pay less than an advertised salary, unless they make it absolutely clear that the salary quoted was a typo or similar.

desiman

Thanks Lynz, Im not a member of a union, no. I work for a legal firm so Im going to have to be sure what I mutter! Thats what I thought, if they advertised the job externally with a figure, it would be wrong for them not to offer me that.

I may know more about this tomorrow, so will update you all.

dora37

I don't know how relevant this is to your situation, however may help.

My OH applied and successfully got a position in a large global company, he since found out that his salary is way above people who already work there but on the same level.

The salary that he receives was advertised at this rate to attract 'the correct type of person' to the role.

It must be really annoying to the other people doing the same role knowing somebody is getting paid much higher than them.

Perhaps this was the tact of your company - to attract outside interest at the market going rate.

Penny-Pincher!!

Do you have a salary in mind? Does the job carry more responsibility etc than your current one? How long have you been with the company? Will you be going back after baby is born? These questions are what I would be asking myself and employers and take it from there.

Went for an internal promotion about 5 years back and they offered me another 2k for a job that carried alot more hard work. I had seen a similar job advertised in the company externally and they were offering 5k more. So, I fought my corner and said I would not be prepared to take the position unless I got a 6k rise stating I already knew the job inside out and a "new" person wouldnt need to come in and find their way. I was offered an 7k pay rise in the end, but I turned it down because another job came along with an 11k pay rise:eek:

State what YOU want and think is reasonable and if they want you-they will give you what you want.

Good Luck

PP
xx

gibson123

This seems unreasonable to me on a number of counts.

It is unresonable that your employer has not told you what salary to expect in your next wage, how can you plan your finances?

You should have a new contract, if not what reason has your employer given.

I am assuming you are male, but if by any chance you are female and receiving less than a male colleague for the same work you may have a discrimination case.

Here is what I would do

Write to HR, ask them to reply to your key points, level of salary, which day of the month you will be paid, any bonuses or increments you may be entitled to and ask them to reply within 7 days. If you do not get the answers you expect, make an appointment with your boss to discuss your concerns and talk about your future prospects. (DO NOT waylay him after a meeting or catch him in a corridor), make sure he knows what the meeting is about and give him a chance to prepare/think about your circumstances. Take notes into the meeting and be assertive, but not agressive, make your points but don't accuse or spit the dummy. If you are getting no-where, politely retreat (thank him and excuse yourself) and leave it for a month, then repeat the process. For more on your rights look at the ACAS website.

desiman

Thanks for everyones replies.
I am male, but my OH doesnt work anyway so any increase is a godsend!
with regards to your Q's PP, its an internal vacancy so I am going back after my paternity leave sure. I agree I should have a new contract and also (in my view) they should pay me at least what they have advertised externally (even though it may be around 50% more than what Im currently on).

The job does involve a lot more responsibility so the salary reflects that.

I think first things first, I will wait for a formal letter from our HR dept with my new contract and my new job description, as without that Im just speculating what might/will happen. It will also have a figure in there, so if I find im not happy with that I'll take it up with them. Like someone has mentioned already, If they managed to put a figure on the external advert, then someone somewhere has budgeted for this. I feel I have proved myself by working with this team and I have a good rapport and a lot more experience now, so that should all count for me.

Good point about ACAS, I'll check them up if, after the HR letter things arent what I expected.

Then again, I may get the letter with the desired salary on there and I might've been worrying all this time for nothing

Lucie_2

Why are companies so vague about salaries? Mine is the same. When I went for the interview for my current position (June 05) I asked about the salary & got a mumbled vague figure. The salary I got was OK for the time being, but my responsibilities increased massively in the first 6 months. I fought my corner in January & ended up getting another £3.5K without actually trying too hard, which makes me think a) they knew I should be paid more & were just waiting for me to ask rather than offer it on a plate & b) the higher salary was in the budget all along, so I've saved them a fortune in 6 months.
If you don't get the salary you wanted then ask when it will be reviewed. When are you expecting to get the letter?