leavers and back pay entitlement

jesslo_1

I left my last job on 16th May this year, at the time I left the Board we're still passing agreement on an increment that staff members fulfilling a certain criteria should have received from the 1st October 2006. I was one of the staff members involved.
The increment has now been agreed, as of last month, and has been given to all the staff members concerned - apart from me.
When I queried why I didn’t receive the increment payment from 1st October 2006 up to my leaving date they said;
"to cut a long story about the increment, although it was effective from 1 October 2006, it was agreed in August this year, so only applied to employees at the time of agreement. Therefore, unfortunately it didn’t apply to you."
Is this right or should I still be entitled to the increment payments between 1st October to 16th May as I was still in their contract then?
Its not a great deal of money - but just want to make sure I'm not being fobbed off!

Conor_3

I think they're probably right. Morally, not so but there you go.

CIS

Even though it was to be backdated to 1 October, was there a clause which stated you had to be in post on a certain date ?, Ive had employers put a clause like that in the back pay for wage increases. In effect they are saying that only employees as of a certain date will get a pay rise, backdated.

LittleVoice

Similar to bonuses which are, say, paid in December but relate to the company's performance in August to July. If you contribute to the success for a whole year but leave before the December pay date, you get nothing. On the other hand, if you start in July you are likely to get one twelfth of the relevant amount if you are with them in December.