Promotion - no new contract?

jsj25

Hi all,

Following the departure of my old boss at the start of the year, I undertook a lot of additional responsibilities at work which resulted in me asking for my position within my dept to be reviewed. COVID put a temporary stop to that but I recently had it confirmed that I have received a promotion and a pay rise backdated to March. I have two questions about this that I haven’t really been able to find answers to after searching:

1) Not that I have any immediate plans to leave, but when updating my CV/LinkedIn profile, would it be reasonable for me to list the start date for my current position as March (ie. when they’ve backdated my pay rise to), or would I need to list it as the date it was formally confirmed to me (ie. July)?

2) I haven’t yet received a new contract of employment - is this required for a promotion? My boss has confirmed my new role and remuneration both verbally and in writing (by email), but I’m conscious that I personally haven’t signed anything and that there’s nothing ‘formal’ from HR that I’ve seen. Am I overthinking this? Is a new contract even required? My boss doesn’t really seem sure and has promised to check with HR at some stage (!), but doesn’t seem in any great rush to do so. However, as I am hoping to apply for mortgages in the near future, this is something I’d like to have a little more clarity on. 

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

Your start date for your current position would be March, as it's backdated. You need a new contract with the new terms (salary and title). If you've received the email about the new role and remuneration to your work email, make sure you forward it on to your personal email, and save it. Hopefully, someone will come along to advise on how you can diplomatically push for the new contract.

getmore4less

A physical new contract is not necessary but can be useful to clarify the terms.
if you have been there a while some things may have changed for new starters, check the contract carefully
In particular notice periods and probation reset. 
Someone on here  going through that argument with their employer as they are being made redundant and their  notice period and probation were reset in the new contract.

[Deleted User]

A new contract is not strictly necessary, I've never had a new contract when being promoted. A letter with new title, salary and any other changes acts as an amendment to your current contract, all other matters remain

prowla

nerox said:

A new contract is not strictly necessary, I've never had a new contract when being promoted. A letter with new title, salary and any other changes acts as an amendment to your current contract, all other matters remain

That's the way it's been for me.

JReacher1

If it’s just a salary change you probably don’t need a new contract. In my experience I have only received a new contract when there has been a significant change to my T’s & C’s that I have needed to agree e.g. notice period change.

getmore4less

Sometimes companies have policy documents that supplement the basic contract, with a promotion you need to check there are no clauses in those that may impact you terms. 
I have seen notice periods by graded eg. grades  X and above 3 month min notice where those below is only 1 month.,

TELLIT01

I never had a new contract when promoted in all my working life.  New job title, salary and sometimes new responsibilities were in the letter from management / HR.  Job description for the new role will be held by HR so request a copy from them if you want it.

jsj25

Thanks for your really helpful comments, everyone. My boss’s email to me confirmed the salary and when it would be backdated to, as well as the new title. I was also sent a copy of the new job description (which I more or less wrote myself when I made my case for my pay rise!) as part of that email. Is an email - rather than an actual letter - formal enough in the absence of a contract? (I’ll still pester HR about where things stand with a new contract, but I’d like to make sure I am still covered in the meantime.)

TBagpuss

1) Yes, but it would be sensible to confirm with your boss. The only time it is likely to be relevant will be if/when you next look for a job, and you want to be sure that what potential employers see on Linked In and what your firm confirms in any reference is the same, although unless you are job hunting straight away,  just he year rather than the month will be fine.

2) You don't need a new formal written contract .e-mails are fine to confirm the details, just print and keep copies with your contract. You don't normally get anew contract every time your pay changes, a letter or e-mail, or even just the fact that they have started paying you the higher amount and updated you job title are enough. I wouldn't bother HR  unless you know that your specific employer routinely issues new contracts when someone is promoted, it is not normally something that would be done, as it is not necessary. 

jsj25

TBagpuss said:

1) Yes, but it would be sensible to confirm with your boss. The only time it is likely to be relevant will be if/when you next look for a job, and you want to be sure that what potential employers see on Linked In and what your firm confirms in any reference is the same, although unless you are job hunting straight away,  just he year rather than the month will be fine.

2) You don't need a new formal written contract .e-mails are fine to confirm the details, just print and keep copies with your contract. You don't normally get anew contract every time your pay changes, a letter or e-mail, or even just the fact that they have started paying you the higher amount and updated you job title are enough. I wouldn't bother HR  unless you know that your specific employer routinely issues new contracts when someone is promoted, it is not normally something that would be done, as it is not necessary. 

Thank you, this is all very helpful and reassuring. I spoke to a colleague who was recently promoted and she thinks she was given a new contract when she was given her new title, so that might be worth me checking up on. Apparently various people are away in the HR team at present which could explain the delay, but I'm reasonably assured that, for the meantime at least, the email I've received sufficiently covers my current position.