4 years no pay rise. what action can employees take?

tir21

ILW wrote: »

It is OP that is asking for something to change.

no im not asking for anything to change. im asking for my salary to remain at a level where i can buy the same things i bought last year without having less money left over

ILW

Southend1 wrote: »

I find it really illogical that some posters regularly advocate finding another job as a solution over negotiation because negotiation may lead to losing your job! In effect if for some bizarre reason trying to have a dialogue with your employer about your pay or working conditions led to you having to find another job then you effectively have the same outcome. Only in the first scenario you made an effort to try to improve your circumstances and in the second you didn't!

OP has asked for a rise and been told no.

AP007

tir21 wrote: »

no im not asking for anything to change. im asking for my salary to remain at a level where i can buy the same things i bought last year without having less money left over

Buy less 'things' so you have more left over

ILW

Southend1 wrote: »

Yes, however the "system" is rigged in favour of the employer because inflation guarantees to erode OP's pay year on year. So things change for the employer without any asking needing to be done. As you mentioned in another post government can heavily influence inflation. In fact it is no secret at all that the government will do everything possible to ensure a positive inflation figure at all times - this is stated policy.

Inflation will also increase the employers costs and if they are unable to increase their prices, the options are freeze pay or sack people. That is not he type of dilemma that trade unions tend to understand as they still believe in the magic money tree in most cases.

notanewuser

Southend1 wrote: »

Yes, however the "system" is rigged in favour of the employer because inflation guarantees to erode OP's pay year on year.

Depends how far over the tax free allowance it is.

Assuming a salary of £18k, in 2011/12 take home pay was £280.80 a week. In 2012/13, with the same salary, take home pay was £284.06 a week, and this year it's £289.57.

Inflation was between 2 and 2.6% and on a salary of £18k a year the taxman covered very nearly 2% inflation.

notanewuser

You need to be a bit careful, OP.

tir21 wrote: »

i work as a driver for a company that has to offer out of hours gp cover 365 days of the year. im on a zero hour contract but have what they call pre-allocated shifts.

the work is not variable because we have to provide continual cover. is it fair for them to keep me on a zero hour contract? its obviously not zero hour because ive never had to leave early. my shifts are always 8 hours long

Southend1

ILW wrote: »

OP has asked for a rise and been told no.

Do you always accept the first answer someone gives you?

Southend1

ILW wrote: »

Inflation will also increase the employers costs and if they are unable to increase their prices, the options are freeze pay or sack people. That is not he type of dilemma that trade unions tend to understand as they still believe in the magic money tree in most cases.

You paint a very black and white picture. There are many other options before freezing pay or making redundancies. How about restructuring debt, reviewing investment decisions, diversifying, altering your product offering etc etc?

Southend1

notanewuser wrote: »

Depends how far over the tax free allowance it is.

Assuming a salary of £18k, in 2011/12 take home pay was £280.80 a week. In 2012/13, with the same salary, take home pay was £284.06 a week, and this year it's £289.57.

Inflation was between 2 and 2.6% and on a salary of £18k a year the taxman covered very nearly 2% inflation.

Though of course it depends how you measure inflation and whether the figures are accurate. But yes I take your point that changes to taxation rules affect take home pay.

Southend1

notanewuser wrote: »

You need to be a bit careful, OP.

Or rather than "put up and shut up" why not make a business case for increasing contracted hours for staff? A mutually beneficial solution could be arrived at.

Again so many posters here believe entering into any form of dialogue with their employer on pay and conditions will automatically be perceived as a dangerous attack on capitalism that will lead to everyone being out of a job!