pay rise with incorrect letter

Kitten_Pie

Hi All,

I am hoping someone can let me know where i stand before i do something that might be incorrect.

At work i had my annual review (1st review in three years so not sure why it is called annual) where i asked for a pay rise which was agreed however much lower than what I was asking for which is the average wage for my job, i then asked for an extra £1,000 and was told verbally at a later meeting that they would offer £500 which i verbally accepted.

Since then i have received my letter confirming my new pay at £1,000 more than the verbal offer. Having talked to a friend who worked in HR who told me that as it is the only thing i have received in writing that it was legally binding and i should reply to accept the new contract details. I have done this.

Today i received my pay packet which is set at the amount £1,000 lower than the amount in the letter. Does anyone know where i stand legally with this, if i can insist on the higher amount or whether i should just accept that they probably made a mistake.

SarEl

Hmm - difficult! Because people can make mistakes! And mistakes can be corrected! I think this one is down to negotiation and discussion. Because yes, you could insist on the written offer being contractual. And they could start being awkward about "five minutes late", "not agreeing holidays when you ask for them", and "one hour for lunch"..... I think you get the drift?

Kitten_Pie

Hmm I understand that, however they are already !!!ts when it comes to that, I work on average 15 hours unpaid overtime per week with working lunch breaks for the last three years, and they wouldn't give me two weeks off for my wedding. Don't think they could really do worse.

SarEl

Kitten_Pie wrote: »

Hmm I understand that, however they are already !!!ts when it comes to that, I work on average 15 hours unpaid overtime per week with working lunch breaks for the last three years, and they wouldn't give me two weeks off for my wedding. Don't think they could really do worse.

And whose fault is that? I totally understand what you are saying - but there is "not entirely happy" and there is "tense". Legally you would find it hard to enforce a "mistake" - even if you denied it was a mistake, knowing full well that it was because this wasn't what was offered or agreed. But in trying to do so the loss of "goodwill" - however thin - would be to your detriment and not the employers. So yes - they could do worse! As others have suggested - it may not be the best of times, but if you are good at what you do, then there are other possibilities around the corner. Brush off the CV and keep an eye out.

miss_duke

I would def mention to them, and see what they say. As others said you may not want to push it as they could make life difficult for you. Do keep the letter though, if you get an interview and they ask your current salary, use the higher one in the letter lol.

Kitten_Pie

Thank you for your suggestions, i think i will email my HR and mention that the pay is different to what the letter said and see what they say. I don't really want to make a big deal out of it, i am not great with confrontation as it is. I was just hoping that they had changed their mind with regards to my pay rise as it was what i had asked for, and thought it might have been an error hence why i wrote an email to me HR when i received the letter confirming the new pay rise but didn't receive a reply. It would be nice to have and would make a real difference of a month but probably not enough to make my work uncomfortable.

MrRedundant

Kitten_Pie wrote: »

Thank you for your suggestions, i think i will email my HR and mention that the pay is different to what the letter said and see what they say. I don't really want to make a big deal out of it, i am not great with confrontation as it is. I was just hoping that they had changed their mind with regards to my pay rise as it was what i had asked for, and thought it might have been an error hence why i wrote an email to me HR when i received the letter confirming the new pay rise but didn't receive a reply. It would be nice to have and would make a real difference of a month but probably not enough to make my work uncomfortable.

If so why are you trying to force something you knew was wrong?
Was the increase recorded in minutes, notes etc to prove the letter was wrong?

Kitten_Pie

Hi MrRedundant, the verbal pay rise wasn't recorded in any minutes or on any paperwork. It was left from my meeting that they would give me £500 and look into a further increase at a later date, the next thing i receive is a letter stating my new salary at the higher rate. As i thought it might be a mistake i emailed HR to confirm the salary increase but have heard nothing until my pay slip which is at the lower rate.

The only reason i am taking it further is because they have not informed me that there was an error and my friend said that they should still pay it to me. I am just really hoping that i would still be getting it even though i know this is probably unlikely.