Employment and Salary 5 May 2022 at 11:28PM in Employment, jobseeking & training 22 replies 692 views

[Deleted User]

Hello forum, 

I am looking to relocate from London with my current employer to Greece, since there is a tax entity n GR. 

Question: I am at a relatively senior level within the business, as a I run a few accounts and have about 20 years of experience. 
My employer suggested that my salary package would be reviewed to be in line with the pension, and healthcare system in GR, which I completely understand. 

What I need to challenge them on is this cost of living approach. If I am doing the exact same work from another location, with the same responsibilities, the same hours, why do I need to negotiate my salary? 

Can you please advise as to where to look for information? 

Many thanks

Andy_L

Presumably everyone who works in the Greece office is paid less than their equivalent in the UK office? So the tricky bit is you need to convince them why you should be paid more than everybody else who works in the Greece office.

Do they have multiple UK offices? If so do they have regional pay differences and an existing policy on what happens if staff move between them?

Who's instigated the move, you or the employer?

Jillanddy

I'm not sure that what you are asking for exists. You are asking your employer to relocate your role to Greece. The terms upon which they are willing to do that are up to them. I am assuming - and it is only an assumption - that since the cost of living is lower in Greece than it is in the UK, they would pay less to people at your level doing your job, so they wish to ensure harmony of salaries in Greece. But in the end, they can decide anything they want and if you don't like their offer, then you stay in the UK. 

Grumpy_chap

Deleted_User said:

Hello forum, 

I am looking to relocate from London with my current employer to Greece, since there is a tax entity n GR. 

Question: I am at a relatively senior level within the business, as a I run a few accounts and have about 20 years of experience. 
My employer suggested that my salary package would be reviewed to be in line with the pension, and healthcare system in GR, which I completely understand. 

What I need to challenge them on is this cost of living approach. If I am doing the exact same work from another location, with the same responsibilities, the same hours, why do I need to negotiate my salary? 

Can you please advise as to where to look for information? 

Many thanks

Will the customers be in UK when you work in Greece, or will there be a different, local customer base?

Penguin_

Are they going to pay anything towards the cost of relocation?

Mands

Jillanddy said:

I am assuming - and it is only an assumption - that since the cost of living is lower in Greece than it is in the UK, they would pay less to people at your level doing your job, so they wish to ensure harmony of salaries in Greece. But in the end, they can decide anything they want and if you don't like their offer, then you stay in the UK. 

If Katia is in Manchester, as per her username, and is going to Athens (rather than Thessaloniki or Larissa for example) then the differences in cost of living will be significant.

https://www.numbeo.com  gives ...

"You would need around 2,584.64£ (3,035.02€) in Athens to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,600.00£ in Manchester (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax). You can change the amount in this calculation.

Consumer Prices in Athens are 18.01% lower than in Manchester (without rent)

Consumer Prices Including Rent in Athens are 28.20% lower than in Manchester

Rent Prices in Athens are 50.45% lower than in Manchester

Minimum wage in Athens is sub 800€ a month; average salary is not much more.  So a £50k (58k €) salary would, most likely, be entirely out of line with all other employees.

Jillanddy

Mands said:

Jillanddy said:

I am assuming - and it is only an assumption - that since the cost of living is lower in Greece than it is in the UK, they would pay less to people at your level doing your job, so they wish to ensure harmony of salaries in Greece. But in the end, they can decide anything they want and if you don't like their offer, then you stay in the UK. 

If Katia is in Manchester, as per her username, and is going to Athens (rather than Thessaloniki or Larissa for example) then the differences in cost of living will be significant.

https://www.numbeo.com  gives ...

"You would need around 2,584.64£ (3,035.02€) in Athens to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,600.00£ in Manchester (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax). You can change the amount in this calculation.

Consumer Prices in Athens are 18.01% lower than in Manchester (without rent)

Consumer Prices Including Rent in Athens are 28.20% lower than in Manchester

Rent Prices in Athens are 50.45% lower than in Manchester

Minimum wage in Athens is sub 800€ a month; average salary is not much more.  So a £50k (58k €) salary would, most likely, be entirely out of line with all other employees.

Yes I agree. I haven't assumed anything about the OP's current location but I am "in the north" and also happen to have a property in the Peloponnese, and I can still live out there at a fraction of what it cost me to live here last year - now I would be quids in after my latest fuel bill came in! But a quick google suggest that depending on factors and locations, Greece is anywhere between 18% and a whopping 48% below the UK. So even if there aren't issues around salaries of other employees, the company may be looking to get their share of the benefit that the OP is gaining from going to live in Greece.

Grumpy_chap

I guess, in a way, what the OP wants is an extreme version of WFH.

There was a law firm on the BBC website recently saying that staff could either return to the office full time or choose to continue WFH post-lockdown but those choosing to WFH would have to accept a 20% cut in salary.  From the headline, that seemed outrageous but when the article was read, the company representative explained the rationale that staff choosing to WFH would no longer need to pay for commuting and would no longer need to maintain a house in London / Home Counties.  The rationale was that this would give the staff the opportunity to be better off overall should they choose than being in the office, or they could stay as is and be in the office.

The OP seems to want the lower cost of living of Greece but still the UK salary which could be unfair to those already working and recruited locally in Greece plus those recruited and working in UK.

Jillanddy

@Grumpy_chap Yes I saw that article. I did have a slightly different take on it though,  because much as I would rather eat mud than live in London or the Home Counties (home to what? ) it did seem rather extreme. If someone wanted to relocate to Barnsley, then yes,  they'd gain some potential benefits in terms of property prices. But many costs are the same.  Your electricity and gas,  for example,  doesn't cost less in Barnsley, and you'd be paying a lot more for the pleasure of using your home to work from. So no commute,  but 10 hours fuel build five days a week being paid by the employer instead of you - now that is something to think about now. 

That said,  if my employer would agree to me working in Greece for a (reasonable) pay cut, I'd be on the next plane out.  Regrettably they will not. 

[Deleted User]

Andy_L said:

Presumably everyone who works in the Greece office is paid less than their equivalent in the UK office? So the tricky bit is you need to convince them why you should be paid more than everybody else who works in the Greece office.

Do they have multiple UK offices? If so do they have regional pay differences and an existing policy on what happens if staff move between them?

Who's instigated the move, you or the employer?

Thanks Andy, it is myself who instigated the move, and yes they do have regional offices in US, Asia, Europe. I am not aware of whether they have regional pay differences, or an existing policy for staff moving between them. 

[Deleted User]

Grumpy_chap said:

Deleted_User said:

Hello forum, 

I am looking to relocate from London with my current employer to Greece, since there is a tax entity n GR. 

Question: I am at a relatively senior level within the business, as a I run a few accounts and have about 20 years of experience. 
My employer suggested that my salary package would be reviewed to be in line with the pension, and healthcare system in GR, which I completely understand. 

What I need to challenge them on is this cost of living approach. If I am doing the exact same work from another location, with the same responsibilities, the same hours, why do I need to negotiate my salary? 

Can you please advise as to where to look for information? 

Many thanks

Will the customers be in UK when you work in Greece, or will there be a different, local customer base?

it will be the exact same customers I serve today - it will not be a local customer base