PAYRISE RETRACTED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. Is this legal? Please help!

[Deleted User]

Would any of this matter if you were happy in your new job?

So sorry it is legal to say something and do something different - the company I worked at last year were masters in not putting anything in writing... but more insulting is as when I was being told when my salary would rise, my boss was secretly looking into the process to furlough me, if he hadn't already completed the process. *It is probably for the best, I didn't have to sit and listen to you are being furloughed conversation as I am sure I would be sitting in a locked room by now!*

Like you, an improved opportunity seemed to pop up with better earnings... again, little did I know if I carried on job searching, I would find the position I thought I was offered re-advertised just before start date and on my third day up popped the new role holder. My first day was rather fun, as I totally wasn't aware they had re-advertised the job even at that point, you cannot imagine my fear when in the afternoon, all I could overhear were interviews being set up for what I thought I was employed for; what a stick to beat new person with I thought!

My advice keep a strong eye on your HMRC account in these times.  In my case both old and new employer was the devil which is why I ask about your new job.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Snuggles said:

Thrugelmir said:

YESSRYAN said:

Mickey666 said:

k3lvc said:

So what happened between 1st and 16th March that the relationship deteriorated to such an extent that you resigned (apparently before they retracted your payrise) ?

Good question. 
Especially as the OP said "This was great news to me as we'd recently had our first child who had started nursery so the additional salary was incredibly welcomed."

Seems like a bad time to resign.

 I began looking around January time and so by the 1st-16th Feb I was still in interviews / negotiations with a new job offer and therefor I didn't mention anything as I hadn't signed a new contract yet. 

In other words you hadn't been WFH. During time paid for by your employer you had been seeking employment elsewhere. Then you still expect a pay rise? 

How have you reached that conclusion? People WFH can take time off too you know...

They can of course often also find the time to spend half an hour sending emails and making phone calls, and if they feel they need to just tack on some extra time at the beginning or end of the day (or the next day) to compensate.
Before anyone jumps in I realise of course that not everyone can do that, but very many can, and assuming anyone "hasn't been working" because they were calling a few employment agents is an unwarranted leap.

YESSRYAN

Thanks for all the support - UPDATE: I did receive the difference back from my previous employer on the 25th May after they admitted they had fundamentally agreed a payrise and therefor a change in contract so appreciate all the help from those who posted. Special thanks to those who decided to try and piece together my personal circumstances and ridicule my decisions that were in no way relevant to the advice I was seeking! Here's one for the little guys vs big businesses. Cheers again everyone.