underpaid by 14k... help!

ceridwen

As regards the comments about whether O.P. might get "managed out". Well - he has been there over a year and therefore has a degree of employment protection. Presumably O.P. belongs to the relevant trade union - just in case of need.

On from there - I googled to see what tactics managers do to try to "manage someone out" and found:

http://humanresources.about.com/od/manageperformance/a/dead_beat.htm

So - I suggest a read of this - in order to see what tactics management might try and the way they might think in this respect. That way - you've followed the Boy Scout motto "Be prepared" and you know how to "fend them off at the pass".

With this - O.P. will have given them nothing to complain about. They would prefer he doesnt mention that he knows he is being underpaid - but you cant penalise someone for that and/or looking for another job. As long as he is doing his job okay and is careful not to be too "open" with the "wrong people" (ie fellow employees that cant be trusted - and there are always some of them:cool:) then he has protected his position.

Oldernotwiser

legendmir wrote: »

yeah very tempting to get angry and tear my bosses boss a new one... but would rather keep this job and stay on good terms if possible..

.

Nobody has suggested that you do this , however, if this is your only idea of assertive negotiation, it might explain why you are in your current situation.

Sambucus_Nigra

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Nobody has suggested that you do this , however, if this is your only idea of assertive negotiation, it might explain why you are in your current situation.

100% agree. No need for this sort of reaction.

nzmegs

I don't know if you are male or female, but statistics show that women get payrises when they move to a new job and men get them within their current job. Simply put, men seem more likely to push for a pay rise when it is due. Difficult economic times will be cited but you need to show how you are adding worth to the company and why you deserve a pay rise. if they refuse you will need to move on unless the good points outweigh the bad.

legendmir

Originally Posted by Oldernotwiser
Nobody has suggested that you do this , however, if this is your only idea of assertive negotiation, it might explain why you are in your current situation.

... just said it was tempting.. im very angry about the whole situation! no seriously thinking of doing this

im not sure how you can aggressively negotiate with someone who is telling you they have done the best they can the situation is what it is the economy is bad the future for the company is not good etc etc (although they can afford to take on new staff??)

re negotiating i think i can only think of:

A) threaten to leave (im not prepared to)
threaten to look elsewhere (he probably already knows I am)
C) threaten to speak to union/HR (i dont know anything about this..?)
D) Tell them i will not perform the extra duties i am doing and will do only what i was doing before the "promotion"

No i am not a member of the union.. do you think this would help?

thanks again

MrRedundant

D is not an option. You have accepted these new tasks and performed them thus are now deemed part of your contract. I am afraid what you highlight is quite common. You are not being "underpaid" however if your not happy with your salary you only have 1 real option to get near them and that is leave and go elsewhere. If you dont want to do this you will need to like it and lump it and negotiate hard at salary reviews to get a few per cent each year; of course they might too.

alanobrien

I have been on both sides of this type of situation and i can tell you they are not going to give you anything unless you force the issue.

Yes there may be a current policy of no raises, and that is true of a lot of companies at the moment but if they have to employ a new person to do your job they will have to do so at the market rate and will probably pay an agency up to 50% of your annual salary to find someone.

You have two real options.
1) Make it very clear that you are not happy at being descriminated against within your skill grade (all things being equal) and that you want to be paid in line with your peers.
2) Find another job in which case they may realise how dumb they have been and may pay you your worth to stay.

Take control and do what you think is right. Best of luck.

Hammyman

Bobl wrote: »

And your actual experience rather than your opinion is?

I own my own business and its not the first I've had. Wage bills are for many companies one of their biggest expenses and the easiest to cut back on partly due to the British nature of feeling uncomfortable talking about money - for example there's one business I'm about to screw into the ground for some stock he's selling because I know he's embarrassed talking about money so my parting comment was "let me know what you think its worth" and when he does I'll umm and ahh, suck air through teeth, make comments about it taking a long time to get my money back and then offer 50% of what he's just said and settling on 75% when I reckon his asking price will already be far less than I think its worth in the first place.

But I digress....

As an employer, if there's Bob who can do the job to the point of being quite invaluable as an employee and is happy to work for minimum wage, I'll pay him minimum wage. If he comes to me and asks for a bit more and I say "as much as I'd like to Bob, I can't really afford to at the moment what with the economy and the like -you know how it is" and he says "OK Jeff, just thought I'd ask" then he'd continue working for NMW.

However if he came to me and said "I'd like a wage rise. As you know I do X,Y and Z for you and you'd be stuffed if I left. Company X and Y offer £x so I don't think I'm being unreasonable" then I've less chance to refuse him. And if he really is that good then when the comments of resignation become more serious the money would be found.

getmore4less

Hammyman wrote: »

But I digress....

As an employer, if there's Bob who can do the job to the point of being quite invaluable as an employee and is happy to work for minimum wage, I'll pay him minimum wage. If he comes to me and asks for a bit more and I say "as much as I'd like to Bob, I can't really afford to at the moment what with the economy and the like -you know how it is" and he says "OK Jeff, just thought I'd ask" then he'd continue working for NMW.

However if he came to me and said "I'd like a wage rise. As you know I do X,Y and Z for you and you'd be stuffed if I left. Company X and Y offer £x so I don't think I'm being unreasonable" then I've less chance to refuse him. And if he really is that good then when the comments of resignation become more serious the money would be found.

A smart employee would then telll you to cough up for the last X years if they want to stay or just say F.O. I'm leaving.

Basic rule for employer and employees never bluff on pay.

omen666

Hammyman wrote: »

Grow some balls. The reason the other people got £33k is because they're not scared of talking money and are able to sell themselves. You've now proven on a few occasions that you can be easily palmed off and saving them £1000s. If it were my business, I'd fob you off for as long as possible as well with you proving such an easy touch.

Nothing to do with this, more to do with the fact they have been promoted internally and moved up the pay structure accordingto standard pay rises