Not sure what I should do

RiverStar

I agree with silent...it is great that you have a good atmosphere in your office but eventually the pay situation will eat away at you as it is niggling at you just now.

If you were offered the other receptionist job, then l would negotiate a wage increase. If you are overlooked or there is no chance of an increase, l would definitely look elsewhere.

In fact just now, l would be applying elsewhere.

If your colleagues where in the same position as you salary wise, l bet they would be looking to jump ship.

At the end of they day, l think being paid a decent wage for job done is important, even for your own morale, not to mention income and extra money. While money is not everything, it does help afford things we would like.

Working with folks you like is just as added bonus and most folks are nice once you get to know them and vice versa.

arbroath_lass

Why did your manager not want you to apply? Did you not ask at the time? Next time apply for the job if you want it no matter what anyone else says.

But, in your position now, I'd be looking for another job.

BunnieJ

I'd leave this situation well, well, well alone.
Personnel matters are not other staff's business

I haven't said anything (and I don't think I should) as I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to know any of this information.

At the end of they day, l think being paid a decent wage for job done is important, even for your own morale, not to mention income and extra money. While money is not everything, it does help afford things we would like.

Very true. It's not that I want to be paid vast amounts of money, just what I deserve compared with my colleagues. I would like a bit of a pay increase, the salary that the other receptionists get is decent enough to live off.

Why did your manager not want you to apply? Did you not ask at the time?

My manager and the head receptionist both discouraged me from applying when the vacancy was advertised as I am the only permenent, full-time member of staff they have. To paraphrase my manager, he said something like:

"I don't think you should apply for the position as you're our only full-time receptionist and we can't afford to lose you from reception"

I later mentioned my concerns to the head receptionist who came up with a list of reasons (or excuses) as to why the job would be rubbish and it wasn't worth applying for. She's really nice, however since she's been given more authority she just repeats what the managers of the company say if we ask her anything

Next time apply for the job if you want it no matter what anyone else says.

Yes, in hindsight, I should have just stuck to my guns and applied regardless of them advising me not to. Then what would they have done? Given me a token interview and then informed me that I was unsuccessful (and also be pretty p***ed off that I'd done what they'd told me not to do).

BunnieJ

Update...

I have since been offered an internal interview for a position within the company I work for (not the contractor I actually work for) which I'm really chuffed about! :-)

However, there has been a development in the situation on reception. The member of support staff in question has been asked to leave at the end of next week. None of us had any idea she had been asked to leave (except our head receptionist), we found out through a rumour.

I've discovered that she has already lined up some candidates for interview.

I know I shouldn't be so annoyed, as I have my own interview lined up, but there's nothing to say I'll get that job and I would've really liked to apply for this one (which they know full well!) :-(

It feels like they've been hiding this from me because they never wanted me to apply for it!

Icematikx

BunnieJ wrote: »

Update...

I have since been offered an internal interview for a position within the company I work for (not the contractor I actually work for) which I'm really chuffed about! :-)

However, there has been a development in the situation on reception. The member of support staff in question has been asked to leave at the end of next week. None of us had any idea she had been asked to leave (except our head receptionist), we found out through a rumour.

I've discovered that she has already lined up some candidates for interview.

I know I shouldn't be so annoyed, as I have my own interview lined up, but there's nothing to say I'll get that job and I would've really liked to apply for this one (which they know full well!) :-(

It feels like they've been hiding this from me because they never wanted me to apply for it!

Why would they allow you to apply for it when they've got you so cheap?

Without sounding nasty, you're replaceable. There's somebody out there in your city who's job hunting, and is as good as your job as you are. I would kindly go in and pitch your case. State what you have done, how you have done it and so forth. Kindly ask for a review in your salary. If they no, then thank them for their time and carry on doing your job. If they offer you £1-£2k more, but not the £17.5, then take it and carry on.

You need to start looking for other jobs. Speculatively send your CV across to other companies.

BunnieJ

Why would they allow you to apply for it when they've got you so cheap?

Without sounding nasty, you're replaceable. There's somebody out there in your city who's job hunting, and is as good as your job as you are.

They have got me cheap and plenty of people would love my job. That's why I want to transfer to the support role (more money and hours) then they could find somebody to fill my postition on reception.

It's the way they've gone about it is so slyly and secretively that gets me so mad! :mad:

They've known from day one I wanted to apply for the support staff role and they've deliberately hidden it from me!

Icematikx

BunnieJ wrote: »

They have got me cheap and plenty of people would love my job. That's why I want to transfer to the support role (more money and hours) then they could find somebody to fill my postition on reception.

It's the way they've gone about it is so slyly and secretively that gets me so mad! :mad:

They've known from day one I wanted to apply for the support staff role and they've deliberately hidden it from me!

Companies are all about money; that's why they exist. It's a harsh world that's fuelled by money. You need to think about yourself and start looking for other jobs.

gooders77

BunnieJ wrote: »

They have got me cheap and plenty of people would love my job. That's why I want to transfer to the support role (more money and hours) then they could find somebody to fill my postition on reception.

It's the way they've gone about it is so slyly and secretively that gets me so mad! :mad:

They've known from day one I wanted to apply for the support staff role and they've deliberately hidden it from me!

Did they advertise the role internally? Thought companies have to do that either before or at same time as advertising externally?

Undervalued

gooders77 wrote: »

Did they advertise the role internally? Thought companies have to do that either before or at same time as advertising externally?

No - popular myth!

BunnieJ

Did they advertise the role internally? Thought companies have to do that either before or at same time as advertising externally?

On the first occassion (when told they didn't want me to apply) it was advertised internally and through external agencies. I t seems that now it hasn't been advertised internally (we get an e-mail with internal jobs each week) and I haven't noticed it on there.

I think it has been offered at the agency they use for most of their staff without informing us of the situation. My manager recieved a call from the agency this week and couldn't take their call. I didn't think anything of it until now. My manager would usually openly make calls to them at her desk, but she took the message from me and stepped outside of reception to call them back. They're definately trying to keep it hidden!

I have as much right as anyone to apply for the job, but since my manager hasn't said anything to us about the support staff leaving, I can't say "I heard a rumour that X is leaving and her job is being advertised" without causing trouble :-(