Does this warrant asking for a pay rise?

£2coinsaver

I'm feeling a bit used and abused in my current job and am thinking about asking for a payrise......

I last received one 2 years ago after a fellow employee received three rises in 6 months which brought her about a grand below my salary. I was only on the salary I was because I have been with the company so long and was getting an increased living rise each year. This person did three courses and seemed to get a rise each time she did one.

Due to the other person being made redundant I have now completed all three courses myself, have taken on her work too and have basically trained myself! I now have someone working along side me 4 days a week who I have trained, and am still training on a daily basis. And also had someone from another site with me training for a week, who I continue to help out now via email or phone.

I have also not had a basic cost of living wage since 2008!

Sorry for moaning, if someone could offer some advice that would be great, I'm assuming I can't just say well I'm not going to train anymore if I don't get a rise because theres probably something in my contract that says otherwise????

scotsbob

I wouldn't advise being as blunt and confrontational as flapjack suggests. They could let you walk and you may not want that.

I would suggest putting in writing the points you have mentioned in the second and third paragraphs of your post with a polite request to have your salary reviewed. I wouldn't advise comparing yourself or your salary with others because there may be reasons you are unaware of.

If your request is refused, evaluate the reasons they give you and then start looking for another job. Worst scenario is the company let you "walk," as flapjack puts it, and you have no job to walk into and no salary coming in.

J-Harrington

I agree with flapjack 123, tell them that you are considering a career move, and gauge there thoughts?

smk77

£2coinsaver wrote: »

I'm feeling a bit used and abused in my current job and am thinking about asking for a payrise......

I last received one 2 years ago after a fellow employee received three rises in 6 months which brought her about a grand below my salary. I was only on the salary I was because I have been with the company so long and was getting an increased living rise each year. This person did three courses and seemed to get a rise each time she did one.

Due to the other person being made redundant I have now completed all three courses myself, have taken on her work too and have basically trained myself! I now have someone working along side me 4 days a week who I have trained, and am still training on a daily basis. And also had someone from another site with me training for a week, who I continue to help out now via email or phone.

I have also not had a basic cost of living wage since 2008!

Sorry for moaning, if someone could offer some advice that would be great, I'm assuming I can't just say well I'm not going to train anymore if I don't get a rise because theres probably something in my contract that says otherwise????

I agree with scotsbob. Confrontation is not the way to go. Your colleague was made redundant which suggests to me that your employer may have been struggling a bit. It's a bit difficult for them to justify giving you a rise if they've made to make other redundant. They might be happy for you to walk. The current economic climate doesn't leave employees is a strong position to demand a pay rise. Making a fuss may make you a potential redundancy target.

Half of the UK population haven't had a rise since 2008 so that really isn't a strong arguement. Also, inflation was offically below 0%. Don't forget, petrol is lower (just about) than it was a year ago (ok, slightly longer - whenever it peaked!). MSE news just to the right on my screen shows Npower cutting prices by 7%.

Just an observation but, you've been doing the same job for 10 years? The other employee got just a grand below you after training (which you hadn't done at the time). Perhaps your employer may feel that you were over paid to start with and are now doing the right amount of work for your salary?

Don't take the above the wrong way. I'm just trying to point out a few things.

I'm in a similar situation to you. I recently found out that my employer took on a grad and is paying them more than me even though my CV contains 9 years of experience and various responsibilities. It's a absolute joke!! I also have someone effectively working for me who earns 46% more than me! Another joke!! I raised both with management and didn't get anywhere. They know that I'm not going to leave even if I threatened to because the current climate means I'll struggle to get a new job and if I did I won't be able to demand a big rise. So, i'm sitting still until the market improves.

If you feel that you could get a new job then go for it. Just be careful before making threats that may back fire.

£2coinsaver

Thanks for the replies. I think I will just put a polite letter together and see how I get on.

We lost half our staff last year as we lost a major contract, although we are a big company so no danger of the whole company going bust. They made the other person redundant but then changed their minds and asked her to stop but she went.

I started in a different dept originally and have taken on different roles over the years. I was put up to a higher rate about 10 years ago due to my supervisor leaving, she was on about 10 grand (!) more than me but after a bit of fiddling around with jobs they told me her position no longer existed.....12 years later and I seem to be doing most things she did!

Yes I agree your situation is totally unfair! I'm sitting still as I'm holding on for my redundancy money as if we don't get a new customer soon I reckon I'll be for the chop.

I'm not going to make any threatening demands about leaving, my boss is quite good I'll just send her a letter and see how I get on!

ajbisgr8

Be sure to stress how much you do for the company, what you bring to your role and why you deserve a raise. It's also worth thinking about exactly how much you want as a raise, or alternatives if they say they can't afford a raise (would an extra day or two holiday help for example, or reducing your hours a little for the same wage).

fuzzball172

With the country and a lot of UK businesses in a bad way, I doubt you will get a raise... You should be happy you have a job still. Ask politely and see what happens, but if you did just loose a shed full of staff, my bet id there aint spare dosh in the pot for a pay rise...

good luck though