Pay rise not honoured

michael1782

Just need some advise 

In january I received this signed and dated letter off management regarding a pay increase. 
The letter 

"We have reviewed your salary for 2020 and from 1st april your salary will be increased to £amount. 
If you have any questions the feel free to ask" 

On friday just gone the same manager now has said, pay rises are a no go. 

Although I fully understand why he has said this ( covid 19 ) but surely as this letter was sent and both parties, me and him, agreed in january then hasn't this new pay increase be part of my employment contract and he simply can not just turn round and say I cant have it now?

Thanks 

Brynsam

michael1782 said:

Just need some advise 

In january I received this signed and dated letter off management regarding a pay increase. 
The letter 

"We have reviewed your salary for 2020 and from 1st april your salary will be increased to £amount. 
If you have any questions the feel free to ask" 

On friday just gone the same manager now has said, pay rises are a no go. 

Although I fully understand why he has said this ( covid 19 ) but surely as this letter was sent and both parties, me and him, agreed in january then hasn't this new pay increase be part of my employment contract and he simply can not just turn round and say I cant have it now?

Thanks 

But he has, hasn't he? Times have changed, and how, since the increase was agreed. If you've been there for under 2 years (add on any notice period the employer is required to give you), not much you can do; if you continue to carp (and I can understand why you would), you could find a P45 is the employer's next communication with you.

If you've been there for 2+ years, then you are on slightly stronger ground, but frankly not much, given the issues facing almost all employers. You'd do better to take a pragmatic approach and see if you can agree when the agreed increase will be implemented, rather than lobbying for it now when the company may simply not have the cash.

There do seem to be a lot of people on this site who 'fully understand' about Covid-19 but only on the basis that it shouldn't have a negative impact on them. That's not commercial reality.

michael1782

Just over 7 years I've been working here. But my understanding is that if we've both agreed then it becomes part of your employment contract and my employment contract cant be amended by him on his own nor me but both have to agree. Am I right in thinking that?  

lincroft1710

There are times when one is in the right but it is prudent not to assert this. This is one of those times. Making a song and dance about this now could see your career on hold, no more pay rises and being given all the "dirty jobs". Or the company finding a good reason to make your role redundant.

A pleasant, friendly chat with your manager saying you are disappointed not to receive the pay rise but fully understand the reason why and perhaps you could have some reassurance that the pay rise will be implemented when the current crisis is over is far more likely to get results

Undervalued

Brynsam said:

michael1782 said:

Just need some advise 

In january I received this signed and dated letter off management regarding a pay increase. 
The letter 

"We have reviewed your salary for 2020 and from 1st april your salary will be increased to £amount. 
If you have any questions the feel free to ask" 

On friday just gone the same manager now has said, pay rises are a no go. 

Although I fully understand why he has said this ( covid 19 ) but surely as this letter was sent and both parties, me and him, agreed in january then hasn't this new pay increase be part of my employment contract and he simply can not just turn round and say I cant have it now?

Thanks 

But he has, hasn't he? Times have changed, and how, since the increase was agreed. If you've been there for under 2 years (add on any notice period the employer is required to give you), not much you can do; if you continue to carp (and I can understand why you would), you could find a P45 is the employer's next communication with you.

If you've been there for 2+ years, then you are on slightly stronger ground, but frankly not much, given the issues facing almost all employers. You'd do better to take a pragmatic approach and see if you can agree when the agreed increase will be implemented, rather than lobbying for it now when the company may simply not have the cash.

There do seem to be a lot of people on this site who 'fully understand' about Covid-19 but only on the basis that it shouldn't have a negative impact on them. That's not commercial reality.

Actually, no. Only a week's statutory notice counts in calculating your length of service to get over the magic two years. If longer contractual notice is required the employer is still obliged to pay it but only a week counts in the two years. 

Brynsam

Undervalued said:

Brynsam said:

michael1782 said:

Just need some advise 

In january I received this signed and dated letter off management regarding a pay increase. 
The letter 

"We have reviewed your salary for 2020 and from 1st april your salary will be increased to £amount. 
If you have any questions the feel free to ask" 

On friday just gone the same manager now has said, pay rises are a no go. 

Although I fully understand why he has said this ( covid 19 ) but surely as this letter was sent and both parties, me and him, agreed in january then hasn't this new pay increase be part of my employment contract and he simply can not just turn round and say I cant have it now?

Thanks 

But he has, hasn't he? Times have changed, and how, since the increase was agreed. If you've been there for under 2 years (add on any notice period the employer is required to give you), not much you can do; if you continue to carp (and I can understand why you would), you could find a P45 is the employer's next communication with you.

If you've been there for 2+ years, then you are on slightly stronger ground, but frankly not much, given the issues facing almost all employers. You'd do better to take a pragmatic approach and see if you can agree when the agreed increase will be implemented, rather than lobbying for it now when the company may simply not have the cash.

There do seem to be a lot of people on this site who 'fully understand' about Covid-19 but only on the basis that it shouldn't have a negative impact on them. That's not commercial reality.

Actually, no. Only a week's statutory notice counts in calculating your length of service to get over the magic two years. If longer contractual notice is required the employer is still obliged to pay it but only a week counts in the two years. 

Sorry, of course it is. Thank you for pointing out my slip.

epm-84

michael1782 said:

But my understanding is that if we've both agreed then it becomes part of your employment contract and my employment contract cant be amended by him on his own nor me but both have to agree. Am I right in thinking that?  

I'm not a lawyer but the fact your employer said no pay rises the week before that letter would have been effective may be significant as it may only become part of your contract from that date.  There's been loads of reports of employers withdrawing job offer letters due to COVID-19 but I've not seen any reports quoting legal experts saying they can't do that and are obliged to let the affected people start their new jobs.