Help! offered salary below nmw but want the job, best way to negotiate?

toberemembered

So i went in for a meeting with the manager today and got him to repeat his offer (which is £12,500 for 45 per week btw) before presenting my position i.e that im not interested unless they pay me a fair amount, at least nmw. He seemed to think that working for under nmw on a salary is quite common and acceptable at least thats the impression he gave, I stuck to my guns and said the lowest I could go is £5.93 per hour and im now waiting for a reply.

The head chef had wanted me to start work tomorrow so they are going to have to get back to me sharpish if they want me to work for them. I have serious reservations even if they do offer me the job as expecting people to work for under nmw and be grateful for the work is taking the ****.

Fingers crossed the guy sees reason and offers to pay me a fair wage!

bundly

I agree with Premier and would add that the pay offered is shockingly exploitative for such a hard job.

But I guess that is just the way things are in the UK right now :-(

Please tell me, what do they charge customers to have lunch there?

toberemembered

Its fine dining style cuisine so £12-£20 for mains in the evening, £5-£8 for starters and deserts. They also run a 12 room hotel in the same building. As a business on the whole I dont think it makes much money, however I know the kitchen is doing well at the moment.

crazyguy

Good on you for thinking about taking this employment to many others would walk away and claim benefits !

From my reading and understanding of this post are you saying that the accomodation is included, if so you need to bare that in mind as that must reflect on the actual amount you earn.

You will have little or no outlay, and will you get free meals as well because if you add up accomodation, meals and the likes then the wage package is not that bad considering granted its not the best but if you were to pay for digs yourself and 2 meals a day surely that would add up to best part of a £100.00 per week ?

toberemembered

It is a definite perk to be fair, particularly as board is included.

I have rather shot myself in the foot though by researching the law about nmw and how much can be charged for accommodation when on nmw.

Regardless of the benefits they still have a maximum amount they can charge for the accommodation and a minimum amount they have to pay me per hour and unless they pay me nmw I wont be working for them.

I dont think this is unreasonable at the end of the day, and I find their expectation that people should work for under nmw on salary pretty unfair. It is a hard job and i'm not there for the experience but to earn a living wage until either something better comes along or I get some chef training and progress.

crazyguy

toberemembered wrote: »

It is a definite perk to be fair, particularly as board is included.

I have rather shot myself in the foot though by researching the law about nmw and how much can be charged for accommodation when on nmw.

Regardless of the benefits they still have a maximum amount they can charge for the accommodation and a minimum amount they have to pay me per hour and unless they pay me nmw I wont be working for them.

I dont think this is unreasonable at the end of the day, and I find their expectation that people should work for under nmw on salary pretty unfair. It is a hard job and i'm not there for the experience but to earn a living wage until either something better comes along or I get some chef training and progress.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/eim05260.htm

Sorry didnt read it but this should explain more to you !

Its not on the right page but will be there somewhere !

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TheNationalMinimumWage/DG_175108

The above is better

toberemembered

Hi, thanks for trying to help, I think that page is more aimed at people on business trips as opposed to long term accommodation. The source i've been using is this http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TheNationalMinimumWage/DG_175108 which is a direct.gov article about accommodation offset and when an employer provides accommodation to people on NMW.

Edit: too slow! thats the page.



To clarify the minimum yearly salary for 45 hours per week at over 21 NMW is £13,876.20 whereas the rate offered is £12,500

The maximum amount that an employer can charge employees for their accommodation when on NMW is £1678.04 whereas they are asking for £2000

When you consider both figures they are offering £1698.26 under the legal rate which equates to £5.20 per hour

I think I am getting too stuck in the details and agree that the having meals on top does add value, the accomodation is take it or leave it however and regardless they are offering a very low rate of pay. Perhaps I am expecting too much in the current job market?

crazyguy

toberemembered wrote: »

Hi, thanks for trying to help, I think that page is more aimed at people on business trips as opposed to long term accommodation. The source i've been using is this http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TheNationalMinimumWage/DG_175108 which is a direct.gov article about accommodation offset and when an employer provides accommodation to people on NMW.

Edit: too slow! thats the page.

Its the same site what it says is allow £4.61 per day for accomodation , also you should account for meals if supplied and think about the point I made in an earlier post if you paid this all out of your wages surely you would pay approx £100.00 per week.

crazyguy

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/WorkingAndPayingTax/DG_10021716

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/hs202.pdf

They may also help you !

getmore4less

Report them to the NMW office,

chances are they are underpaying others.

If you take the job and they are investigated your salary will be made up anyway.