Employer Contribution being paid in salary

Lokolo

allofushere wrote: »

When I was offered the job I was told verbally that I would be on £14k. Only when I had left my other job and started the new one was I told it included the pension.
That's why I feel aggrieved. It was too late then to turn it down. I was willing to take £14k as a starting salary as I believed the new job had the possibility of moving up the pay scale but now in three years I will be back at square one. Unless I manage to get a substantial yearly pay rise, which I doubt.

Right - but what does it say in your employment contract? Without the wording there isn't going to be a valid answer!

grey_gym_sock

since they don't even have a pension scheme set up, the OP's initial salary is in reality £14k, not £13.333k + 5% pension contributions. the contract uses weasel words to attempt to pretend otherwise, but that's the reality of the current arrangement.

so IMHO, changing to £13.333k + 5% pension contributions would be a reduction in salary.

however, if OP has just moved from 1 job paying £14k with no pension, to another which is the same, then they are no worse off - not yet.

taktikback

This is slightly hard work - I agree with the comment saying "what's in the contract". What is the wording? - otherwise this is all guesswork. People do not normally hand in their notice without an offer letter - doesn't matter who said what to who...

allofushere

I realise I may have made mistakes - which is why I am asking for help now. If everyone knew everything and did everything right there would be no need for this website/forum.
I will dig out my actual contract tomorrow for "the exact wording".
Thanks to all for your advice.

taktikback

I wasn't having a pop - I'm just trying to point out how important it is to deal with documents given to you - rather than conversations you may have had.

It certainly is an unusual arrangement. If your contract doesn't make it clear, I suppose you could argue that money paid to you is - well -money paid to you, so it can't be an employer pension contribution, because that has to be paid directly to a scheme...

allofushere

Morning all.
After looking at my contract, it seems pretty much sewn up.
Box "Your Pay Will Be" says '£14000 per an mum'
Box " Particulars of Pensions and Pension Schemes" says ' 5% pension contribution paid as part of £14000 salary.'
Think I m going to have to just grin and bear it or find a new job.
Will be more careful in future.