Paid less than industry standard yet too scared to go elsewhere

D1ss1lusioned

Hey all,

I have been in my current job for about 5 years now and when I started my salary was way less than I had before but had to take the job as had been unemployed for a year and needed something. I was told it would go up after 6 months with a review but didn't. Ever since then I have been struggling to get a payrise and now am only slightly above minimum wage yet my role normally fetches a fair amount more. Not long ago they employed a new person on an salary that was "attractive" according to the ad and I exceed the requirements for the role and have far more than the experience they require for it. I know quite a few people have left my place as the money is bad and got better money elsewhere.

The thing is I'm scared of aiming higher as have had trouble keeping jobs and feel like many places get rid of people in the first year if they don't 'fit in', e.g. go out and get drunk with them at the weekends etc. If you get a better paid job then they might expect more and there's always another person waiting for the job. Where I am they know it would be hard to replace me for the same money so get a fair amount of lenience with things and flexibility etc. I have heard from one colleague that left that they were started on much less than the role initially offered so it seems they might be doing that.

I feel insulted although don't know what the salary is they are on but don't know what to do about it as it would annoy me if for the need of taking on someone new they had to start them on more money than staff that have been in the role for years and have much more experience.

moneysavinghero

Did you get the review and they decided that you were paid enough already? Or did the review never happen?  Push for the review if you never had it.

Unfortunately you sound like you don't want to go rocking the boat and the employer probably knows this. They think you wont leave (it sounds like you wont) so no incentive for them to pay you more. If you want more pay you have to really sell yourself and let the know employer know what you are worth in the external marketplace and at least give them a hint (even if you don't mean i) that you might leave if your pay does not get closer to the market rate.

Have you had any pay rises in the 5 years?

Sandtree

its a question of how much you value the leniency etc that you mention... it doesn't pay the mortgage but it is a benefit.  

I could go and work in wealth management or investments and probably get an extra £100-£150 a day but the stress would be 10 times worse, hours longer etc. To me its not worth the money.

Don't read to much to salaries being advertised as anything other than a cash value... the number of times I've seen "great rate" or "above market value"  etc and phoned them up to find out the salary/day rate is terrible. 

Thrugelmir

D1ss1lusioned said:

The thing is I'm scared of aiming higher as have had trouble keeping jobs and feel like many places get rid of people in the first year if they don't 'fit in', e.g. go out and get drunk with them at the weekends etc. If you get a better paid job then they might expect more 

With increased pay comes increased responsibility. Sounds as if you need to work on your self confidence and assertiveness. Don' t under estimate yourself nor your abilities. A secure job is worth hanging onto. Take your time and move at your own speed. Keep learning and gaining experience. 

TELLIT01

Thrugelmir said:

D1ss1lusioned said:

The thing is I'm scared of aiming higher as have had trouble keeping jobs and feel like many places get rid of people in the first year if they don't 'fit in', e.g. go out and get drunk with them at the weekends etc. If you get a better paid job then they might expect more 

With increased pay comes increased responsibility. Sounds as if you need to work on your self confidence and assertiveness. Don' t under estimate yourself nor your abilities. A secure job is worth hanging onto. Take your time and move at your own speed. Keep learning and gaining experience. 

At the same time as not underestimating your abilities, don't overestimate them either.  Having the technical knowledge to fulfil a role higher up the chain doesn't mean you have the aptitude for all the other 'stuff' that goes with it.  Higher grade and more pay will almost always mean more responsibility and more pressure.  If you have been unable to keep jobs you need to look at yourself as much as the culture of the company to try to identify the underlying problems.  I'm certainly not the most outgoing of people, and have generally kept my work and social lives separate.  That hasn't stopped me progressing up the tree in various jobs over the years.

Marcon

D1ss1lusioned said:

Hey all,

I have been in my current job for about 5 years now and when I started my salary was way less than I had before but had to take the job as had been unemployed for a year and needed something. I was told it would go up after 6 months with a review but didn't. Ever since then I have been struggling to get a payrise and now am only slightly above minimum wage yet my role normally fetches a fair amount more. Not long ago they employed a new person on an salary that was "attractive" according to the ad and I exceed the requirements for the role and have far more than the experience they require for it. I know quite a few people have left my place as the money is bad and got better money elsewhere.

The thing is I'm scared of aiming higher as have had trouble keeping jobs and feel like many places get rid of people in the first year if they don't 'fit in', e.g. go out and get drunk with them at the weekends etc. If you get a better paid job then they might expect more and there's always another person waiting for the job. Where I am they know it would be hard to replace me for the same money so get a fair amount of lenience with things and flexibility etc. I have heard from one colleague that left that they were started on much less than the role initially offered so it seems they might be doing that.

I feel insulted although don't know what the salary is they are on but don't know what to do about it as it would annoy me if for the need of taking on someone new they had to start them on more money than staff that have been in the role for years and have much more experience.

I was going to say 'don't believe all your hear', but in this case it seems to be a case of don't create scenarios in your own mind which are doing nothing but annoy you! An advertisement is hardly going to say that a salary is 'as low as we can get away with'.

If you are so sure you are being underpaid, than nothing at all to stop you job hunting and finding out if anyone else is prepared to pay you more - although whether they will also offer the same 'leniency' is quite another matter. What is important to you?

MattMattMattUK

When I used to work for other people (for 18 years, I run my own company now) I was only ever offered a pay rise unprompted three times. However I asked for a pay rise in various roles at least once a year, and sometimes more often as an evolving role or promotion merited, I was only once declined a pay rise (2008). If you want a pay rise then ask for one and make a case for it, if your work refuses and you genuinely feel you are worth it then find another job that pays you what you are worth. 

D1ss1lusioned said:

The thing is I'm scared of aiming higher as have had trouble keeping jobs and feel like many places get rid of people in the first year if they don't 'fit in', e.g. go out and get drunk with them at the weekends etc.

Aim as high as you want, but accept that does involve changes in job roles. Whilst "go out and get drunk" is not usually required, an element of out of work socialisation usually works wonders for the prospect of promotion and team integration.

You should aim to find a workplace you feel comfortable in, you do not have to have a passion for your job, you do not even have to enjoy it, but to find somewhere you do not hate and resent would be a good place to be. 

D1ss1lusioned

Thanks for all the replies everyone and sorry for my delayed response. I'll go through the questions asked but very much appreciate the advice.

D1ss1lusioned

moneysavinghero said:

Did you get the review and they decided that you were paid enough already? Or did the review never happen?  Push for the review if you never had it.

Unfortunately you sound like you don't want to go rocking the boat and the employer probably knows this. They think you wont leave (it sounds like you wont) so no incentive for them to pay you more. If you want more pay you have to really sell yourself and let the know employer know what you are worth in the external marketplace and at least give them a hint (even if you don't mean i) that you might leave if your pay does not get closer to the market rate.

Have you had any pay rises in the 5 years?

I didn't seem to get a review as such, it's a small company and hadn't been going for that long before I joined so felt like they hadn't really got their act together that much as far as staff management was concerned. Minimum wage exceeded mine and I pointed it out to them so they increased my salary when I told them. Then I got another raise a couple of years ago which is now only slightly above minimum wage. The answer every time I have asked has been that they aren't able to give pay rises as it's 'hand to mouth'.

I have queried it as it's about £2.5k below the lower amount being offered in some job ads for the new person doing the same thing as me. It is being raised now but 'no guarantees'.

Like you say, they think I won't leave so have no incentive to offer more. It's a culture of making people stay rather than rewarding loyalty or work done.

D1ss1lusioned

Sandtree said:

its a question of how much you value the leniency etc that you mention... it doesn't pay the mortgage but it is a benefit.  

I could go and work in wealth management or investments and probably get an extra £100-£150 a day but the stress would be 10 times worse, hours longer etc. To me its not worth the money.

Don't read to much to salaries being advertised as anything other than a cash value... the number of times I've seen "great rate" or "above market value"  etc and phoned them up to find out the salary/day rate is terrible. 

The job security is the main thing as I know up to 2 years anywhere the only case you have is for discrimination against a 'protected characteristic' of which I don't have a case. So ultimately could go somewhere else for more money but if I lose that job then it's jobseekers which is much less obviously than I'm on now.

I have avoided jobs that are a long or hard commute as I really value my free time and to be honest wish I could work part time. I have been offered higher paid jobs but it would be at the detriment of my free time due to time spent commuting etc.

I think like you say it's to draw in applicants then disappoint them in person.

D1ss1lusioned

Thrugelmir said:

D1ss1lusioned said:

The thing is I'm scared of aiming higher as have had trouble keeping jobs and feel like many places get rid of people in the first year if they don't 'fit in', e.g. go out and get drunk with them at the weekends etc. If you get a better paid job then they might expect more 

With increased pay comes increased responsibility. Sounds as if you need to work on your self confidence and assertiveness. Don' t under estimate yourself nor your abilities. A secure job is worth hanging onto. Take your time and move at your own speed. Keep learning and gaining experience. 

Very much so, apparently there is a promotional role coming up possibly but it would be working along side someone that is under a lot of stress and works long hours including weekends. The MD really does work people to the bone to get the maximum he can out of them for minimal reward. Part of me thinks I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth considering so many are out of work so should be happy that I have a job. There are training opportunities as well which are highly valued skills.