In-house promotion but no pay rise... yet

northernsaver

Hi.

I've been with my employer 10 months. In July, we had 2 interns start. I was asked to manage both - even though I'm not in a management role - however another manager kicked up a fuss so we manage one each.

So I've been managing J for almost 3 months. After 2 months, I asked my boss if I could look to have a pay rise, due to this (and other) extra responsibility. When I asked him, he told me that he had bigger plans for me, and he's started the ball rolling to make me in a management role, so then I'd be managing J (the intern) plus 2 full-time workers (one of which is on the exact same pay) doing the same job as me. Then I'd 'get a pay rise and promotion'. I was chuffed, and before I went on holiday was told I'd get both on my return.

I've now returned, and my boss told me 'you'll get the pay rise after 3 months once you've proved yourself' which contradicts what he said before I went, which tells me it's come from HR. The promotion has happened and been announced.

I've never been promoted in-house before without having to apply for the role & be interviewed, so I'm not entirely sure how the money works. Should I have to 'prove myself' when they've already decided to give me this promotion based on the work I've done? Or is this a standard procedure?

Thanks in advance.

PeppaCoin

You need to request a meeting with your manager and HR if possible to ask for some guidance in terms of a timeline for your personal development, training and expected pay increase. You need something down in writing, with specific dates.

TELLIT01

I accept that your boss said you'd get promotion and a pay rise, but a payrise on promotion isn't an automatic thing. If your current salary sits within the payscale for the new role it's not uncommon for this to happen.
HR will generally have a better understanding of the company's policy in this situation so you really should try to arrange a meeting as suggested by PeppaCoin.

MEM62

Some companies do promote with a probationary period attached to the new position - to ensure that it works out for both the employer and the employee. However, it seems somewhat unfair that the salary adjustment only comes after the trial period.

When the promotion was offered this and all the other terms and conditions should have been explained to you along with the expectations that you will be required to meet in your new position.

Ozzuk

I'd find out if you have a grading scheme and ask if your job grade has changed. If it has, what it the new scale and where will you be on it. I'd also ask that it be backdated the 3 months (never hurts to ask, know your worth).

If your company doesn't have formal levels then just ask how much you'll get and when and for it in writing.

But throughout this be positive about the new role, how much you are enjoying the challenge etc - don't be seen as trouble or you could see the chance vanish...

Undervalued

There is no automatic right to a pay rise ever (unless your pay falls below the national minimum wage)!

There may or may not be an internal structure with different pay grades but even then it is seldom enshrined as a hard and fast contractual entitlement.

So they may well be perfectly entitled to say "when you have proved yourself" or something similar.

ohreally

Judge them on what they do not what they say. Perhaps I'm wrong but be prepared to be further strug along.

I'm guessing your ego wants promotion, is reverting to your original role an option to consider?

sangie595

Or is rocking the boat with only ten months in the job a good idea?

If it comes to it, putting the pay rise aside, you have been given additional responsibility and you have gained trust in your ability. You wouldn't have been given the responsibility to manage people if there wasn't that trust. But if every bit of extra responsibility comes with an expectation of a pay rise, you may find that the reaction is "they'll only ask for more money every time, so don't do it". Sometimes you have to invest to get ahead. If you get a reputation for only being willing to do something extra if there is can attached to it, your progression is likely to come to a quick stop.

So you need to think this through strategically. Maybe proving yourself now and not pushing on the money, with only ten months in the job, might be better? If they don't come through with the pay rise that may give you food for thought about the company and your future with it. But if they then do, you have shown that you'll take on responsibility and not view it all as a cash transaction. Experience is also worth money in any market.

Helvetica_Van_Buren

Write to your boss and ask them to clarify their position in writing. Remind them of what was said and ask if you've misinterpreted this. If they take exception to this it's pretty much a sign of their intentions and how they do business - over promising and under delivering. Then get a new job.

74jax

So were you promoted without discussing the details of your new job? Did they just give you your new job title, description and change your terms of employment when you were on holiday?