Advice on getting a payrise?

falko89

I am in my current job 18 months now earning the princely sum of £6.50 per hour. Its rubbish considering the amount of work I am expected to do, it wouldn't be so bad if my co workers were on similar but I know for a fact they are not. I mentioned before accidently finding a migrant workers wage slip and she was on £7 something per hour and she does a non essestial job, namely tidying up. My coworkers always comment about the boss exploiting the migrants, and that they are cheap labour, If they are cheap labour what exactly am I?

At the time I took the job I was unemployed, I had no bargaining power, I either take it or refuse and get a JSA sanction, either way I am no better off now than I was on JSA and its really disheartening.

So how would I go about getting a payrise? I remember at the interview I asked would there be a pay review as £6.50 was crap the answer a firm "NO"

I should add about 5 years back I went for an interview with the company I currently work for, I was working elsewhere at the time, but I did get offered the job at £8 per hour which I refused, it was a much less skilled job that what I currently have, Its all about bargaining power and being unemployed at the time I had none.

martinthebandit

How about going to your boss and asking for a pay rise?

When (OK if) he says no, say OK thanks for considering it and then ask if you can rely on a good reference from him when you start applying for other, better paid jobs.

It worked for me.

Southend1

You could make a case to the management based on your value to the company e.g. High productivity. You could try to appeal to their sense of social justice by explaining the concept of the living wage and that you do not earn enough to provide the essentials of life. You could join a union and seek collectively with your colleagues for a deal to implement the living wage or a decent pay scale. If management are resistant it's not going to be easy. But now that you have work it may be easier for you to find a better paid job at another company.

falko89

Southend1 wrote: »

You could make a case to the management based on your value to the company e.g. High productivity. You could try to appeal to their sense of social justice by explaining the concept of the living wage and that you do not earn enough to provide the essentials of life. You could join a union and seek collectively with your colleagues for a deal to implement the living wage or a decent pay scale. If management are resistant it's not going to be easy. But now that you have work it may be easier for you to find a better paid job at another company.

I've been applying for anything and everything since I got this job with no joy, I actually think one of those employers has tipped my boss of about wanting to leave as for the past month I have been training someone to do my job "for the security of the company" as the boss put it, so he has been tipped off.

falko89

martinthebandit wrote: »

How about going to your boss and asking for a pay rise?

When (OK if) he says no, say OK thanks for considering it and then ask if you can rely on a good reference from him when you start applying for other, better paid jobs.

It worked for me.

He'll probably say no to both

ILW

falko89 wrote: »

He'll probably say no to both

You will never know if you don't ask though.

Dunroamin

Are you in a trade union?

Denning.

Get a job elsewhere and leverage it.

falko89

Dunroamin wrote: »

Are you in a trade union?

No I am not, I know some workers who are though mostly from previous employment, they have raised various issues and the union has been of little use, not that they are of little use really more than my employer doesn't listen to them

falko89

ILW wrote: »

You will never know if you don't ask though.

True, its something I don't like doing, I did it once in the past and got turned down so I guess that has put me off ever since, I usually find a job elsewhere, hand in my notice and state I am leaving for better pay which usually works, sadly finding anything else is a dead end I've given up on that route.

Laurajo_2

Before you approach the boss have a think about WHY you deserve a pay rise...consider the following: (nb these are not necessarily my view point, but how your boss may feel)

1. You took the job fully aware it was £6.50 with little or no prospect of an increase. What have you done above and beyond what is in the job description that would merit a raise? Do you do things that are outside your remit?

2. How easily replaced are you? Bearing in mind it's very easy to fill a lot of roles at the minute due to the job market, if he can just have you leave and replace you with someone happy to work for £6.50 ph.

3. How much of a raise do you want? Just a cost of living increase? Or a significant chunk? Bare in mind that at the minute, a lot of businesses aren't giving staff any pay rises whatsoever.

4. Have you been appraised/reviewed for work performance? If so, what was the outcome? If not, could you request one to make sure your hard work is being recognised?

5. Rather than a wage, is there anything else you can negotiate on ie shorter hours, more holidays, guaranteed or better shifts.

I would avoid mentioning any other members of staffs salaries - it looks unprofessional (and it is), plus it really isn't any of your business - galling as it might be.

I'd be a bit concerned that your boss is already training someone up to do your job...to me, it indicates that they aren't overly fussed if you walk...however I am assuming that you only took the job as a stop gap and not planning on working for the same company forever anyway.

It might be that you could agree a higher salary with the raise repayable if you leave within a certain time?

It's always worth a shot, the worst he can say is no - and what have you lost? A little pride, maybe but that's it.