Negotiating a Pay Rise

isis2hathoruk

Hope this is in right section - if not then let me know!

Basically I've been working for an electronics company for over 6 months now. I used to work for them under a different company name about 10 years ago and in a different location and have 8+ years experience in this field including MOD aircraft cable harnesses, wiring looms for auto handwashers/driers and slot/arcade machines to name but a few.

I had a long break from this work but have picked it up again overnight and moved from crappy assembly work and simple soldering to the most complicated work in the space of a month.

Now I have been making (ie reading electronics diagrams and building to spec) complicated sections of MOD bomb disposal robots for the Cutlass Project for the last 5 months.

My probation ran out on the 11th April and whilst I know I'm secure in getting the job (they've told me from the get go) I actually feel I'm being underpaid considerably.

I'm only earning £6.50 an hour and I've worked for companies early on when I still needed training for more than that.

I was happy to accept this as a starting wage when I rejoined the company as I thought I would be really rusty but it turned out to be a bit like riding a bike in the end and it's like I never stopped doing it.

They've even had me supervising people and doing 'first offs' for the company we work alongside - ie they give me drawings and box of stuff, I figure it out, make a prototype and the other company use that to decide if they'll give the company a contract. ( They said yes and were really happy with it)

All this and still no personal contract despite me reminding both my supervisor and the managing director. Both times I was told that it wasn't a big deal - there's no way they'll get rid of me and it's just a case of a signature on a piece of paper.

Am I right to be frustrated and how would you guys deal with the situation? Really feel like I'm being taken advantage of at the mo :mad:

SharonHK1

From the way you describe your job, it certainly looks as though you should be earning much more than you do.
I hate asking for pay rises, I should imagine it's even harder if you've just got past your probation period.

Personally I think the best way to do it is to look at what they took you on to do and what they deemed as worthy for the hourly rate you're on, have a look at what you actually do and how that could increase your value to the company and approach it that way. Have your evidence with you.

Not sure if that'll help or whether it's worth taking that advice but it's how I would go about it........I think lol Mind you i'd still have to spend a week working upto it!