Advice: Manager earning less than new (transferred) Employee ??

CheekyMonkey

In a couple of months time an existing employee from another part of the business will join my team of 8 people. Due to the fact that they are closing the other department the 'new' team member and myself dont have a choice.

The problem I now have, after finally received all the transfer details from HR is that:-

1) the person is on a higher salary
2) they are the same grade, but have never managed
3) they have agreed reduced working hours as part of the transfer.

To say I feel a bit pee'd off is an understatement.
Can my company honestly expect me to manager someone earning more than me??

Weirdlittleman

Yes
Its fairly common where people are displaced for them to work a less job but retain their higher salary. It avoids the necessity for redundancy.

I would be questioning your ability if you dont think you can manage this situation.

CheekyMonkey

Weirdlittleman wrote: »

Yes
Its fairly common where people are displaced for them to work a less job but retain their higher salary. It avoids the necessity for redundancy.

I would be questioning your ability if you dont think you can manage this situation.

So you believe I should just accept the situation. Is that what you would do?

Fluffi

Yes you should be able to manage team members earning more than you, regardless of whether they are the same grade or a higher grade than you.

Its not that uncommon to end up managing people earning more than yourself - especially if they have in-demand skills, for example some technical skills are rare and will pay more than previous management experience.

Weirdlittleman

CheekyMonkey wrote: »

So you believe I should just accept the situation. Is that what you would do?

Yes you should accept the situation

If you feel your salary is currently low for your job then renegotiate it however I would stress that managing someone on the same scale as you or being paid more shouldnt be the catalyst for this.

It actually shows you up as a poor manager if you cannot do it.

CheekyMonkey

OK.........how can I say this without giving too much detail.

New person is a Grade 2 (2nd level, same as me), and is at the top end of that pay structure. BUT they have been and will continue to be doing a Grade 1 job.

Other grade 1's within my team will be earning a lot less, but actually have more technical skills.

Weirdlittleman

CheekyMonkey wrote: »

OK.........how can I say this without giving too much detail.

New person is a Grade 2 (2nd level, same as me), and is at the top end of that pay structure. BUT they have been and will continue to be doing a Grade 1 job.

Other grade 1's within my team will be eaning a lot less, but actually have more technical skills.

Sorry but what are you getting at? We all understood the situation perfectly fine. Its actually very common as when people are displaced the company will give them a grade 1 job but not restructure their salary to avoid redundancy.

As a manager your job title hasnt changed and you should continue to deliver your responsibilities as you would with anyone else. The fact they are on a higher scale than normal is irrelevent, there job title will be the scale 1 i.e you manage them.

You really are making a situation out of nothing and if I was your manager I would be extremely worried about your capability to do your job.

CheekyMonkey

Weirdlittleman wrote: »

Sorry but what are you getting at? We all understood the situation perfectly fine. Its actually very common as when people are displaced the company will give them a grade 1 job but not restructure their salary to avoid redundancy.

As a manager your job title hasnt changed and you should continue to deliver your responsibilities as you would with anyone else. The fact they are on a higher scale than normal is irrelevent, there job title will be the scale 1 i.e you manage them.

You really are making a situation out of nothing and if I was your manager I would be extremely worried about your capability to do your job.

Possibly my original post was a little too limited in content to explain the whole situation and also slightly rushed, so based on the info provided I can understand your comments.

BUT.......we dont all possess your vast knowledge of management and obvious assumptions 'weirdlittleman'. Thanks for the kind assistance though.

terra_ferma

It's not an unusual situation, I've come across it many times, normally with people who had been with the company a long time and were on a higher payscale. Or transferred through TUPE.
In sectors where salaries have been going down (any where they haven't....?) newer staff are paid less.

Obviously managers who are paid less than their staff are not happy, but they don't have much choice.

Savvy_Sue

it should only be a problem if you make it one, because unless EVERYONE knows EVERYONE ELSE's salary, your team member won't know that they earn more than you.

amiehall

It's not necessarily about it being awkward though is it? If you're taking on more work and more responsibility, you'd surely expect to be rewarded with more pay. Otherwise, you might as well be doing the reduced responsibility post.