Pay rise not honoured

smem18

Hello, I am after some initial advice. In September I was offered a promotion. The promotion came with a pay increase but the company I work for insisted on giving this pay increase in two halves (half in October 2019 and remainder in May 2020). I was very sceptical about this, as they knew, because I had previously been burned by my old manager who did the same thing then didn't honour the second half (which I nearly quit over - it was only then she honoured the second half). Due to this I ensured I got their verbal guarantee and also a letter that states:

"As a formal follow-up to our discussions regarding the restructuring of the xxx Department, this letter is to officially advise you that you have been promoted as the xxxx with effect from 01 October 2019. In accordance with the changes to your role, your annual salary has been adjusted to reflect the increase in responsibilities. Your new salary will be £45,696 gross per annum which will subsequently increase to £50,265.60 gross per annum on 01 May 2020."

My boss contacted me yesterday to tell me they would be delaying my pay rise until July. The reason he cited is because our parent company in Germany (we are the UK subsiderary) have put a hiring and pay rise freeze on due to covid-19. I am really struggling to accept this and am furious about it (mostly because its a repeat of what happened to me before!). I already accepted the job and have been doing it for 7 months now. They expect me to continue in my current role as normal, but not on the agreed salary. My question is, is it legally enforceable that I get my pay rise starting May?

I understand the company will have a difficult year due to corona. I am willing to wait to July due to this and make a sacrifice (though is that stupid of me?) but what should I ask for to ensure I get my rise in July, another letter explicitly stating so?

Dox

Sounds like a binding contract and thus legally enforceable - but doing the enforcing is quite another matter in a world where many people are having pay cuts foisted on them. If you are willing to grit your teeth and wait until July (not stupid - probably realistic, albeit unwelcome), trying to get that confirmed in writing could be banging your head on a brick wall. Why not send your boss (cc HR) an e-mail 'confirming our conversation that my contractual payrise will be implemented in the July payroll run. Could I clarify that this will include a backdated increase to 1 May 2020, the date originally promised in your letter of [date]'.

smem18

Thanks. I've been told the pay rise will no be back dated and thats not an option. I've called today and explained I need to revised offer (pay rise starting July) in writing. They've told me they are drafting a letter. So I feel a bit better about that. I've made it clear that if this doesn't happen in July we will need to have a discussion about that job I accepted as it simply is not worth the extra responsibility for the pay rise I received (I took an an additional department and team). I think thats the best and most realistic thing I can do for now

Comms69

How long have you worked for this employer?

TELLIT01

You had a letter with the original dates and they failed to honour that, albeit probably for sound commercial reasons, so having the new date in writing isn't actually going to guarantee anything.

74jax

I'm not sure why you want a letter saying they will increase in July?
You have 1 saying May and it's not enforced.
Rather than carry out the role and wait, I would reply you are happy to carry out the old role until such a time as the job can be looked at with the salary increased as mutually agreed. That way they don't pay more, you don't do more and you won't feel they are taking the mick. 

JReacher1

The problem you have is that the decision has been made by the parent company and it will be difficult for your company to go against that policy. 

Times are hard at the moment and this freeze won’t last forever so you can either wait a couple of months or continue to complain which could end up going badly for you at a later point.