Pay Rise and Cost of Living Raise

thecableguy22

My managers have been talking about giving me more responsibilities and a pay rise. With the current position everyone is going through, this is welcome to me. We've talked numbers and things are being put in place. I've since heard amongst colleagues that there may be a large cost of living raise to our pay this year to tackle inflation, much higher than the 1-2% we've had in previous years. My managers have said before that you can't get both a pay rise and a cost of living rise in the same period. I didn't mind so much when I thought I might be foregoing a 1-2% raise but getting a 8-9% raise, but if its true that the cost of living raise that all colleagues are getting will be 7-8% then my actual pay rise will be diluted by the increase everyone else is getting. 

What can I do? Part of me thinks just go with it, as a pay rise is a pay rise, right? But another part of me wants to fight for more.

Soot2006

A pay rise is a pay rise, but do you have any reason to suspect that your new salary won't also have a cost of living adjustment applied to it?

GiantTCR

thecableguy22 said:

 My managers have said before that you can't get both a pay rise and a cost of living rise in the same period.

What is the motivation behind this?

Also what constitutes a "period"? 

thecableguy22

GiantTCR said:

thecableguy22 said:

 My managers have said before that you can't get both a pay rise and a cost of living rise in the same period.

What is the motivation behind this?

Also what constitutes a "period"? 

I've asked but was not given a clear answer. Just that's not how things are done if the cost of living increase is in December and a payrise/promotion in the New Year, you wont get both. Doesn't sound right to me. 

The thing is the higher cost of living figure is only colleague gossip at the moment, so I have no proof to argue both to management if I don't know the full facts. 

Marcon

thecableguy22 said:

My managers have been talking about giving me more responsibilities and a pay rise. With the current position everyone is going through, this is welcome to me. We've talked numbers and things are being put in place. I've since heard amongst colleagues that there may be a large cost of living raise to our pay this year to tackle inflation, much higher than the 1-2% we've had in previous years. My managers have said before that you can't get both a pay rise and a cost of living rise in the same period. I didn't mind so much when I thought I might be foregoing a 1-2% raise but getting a 8-9% raise, but if its true that the cost of living raise that all colleagues are getting will be 7-8% then my actual pay rise will be diluted by the increase everyone else is getting. 

What can I do? Part of me thinks just go with it, as a pay rise is a pay rise, right? But another part of me wants to fight for more.

thecableguy22 said:

GiantTCR said:

thecableguy22 said:

 My managers have said before that you can't get both a pay rise and a cost of living rise in the same period.

What is the motivation behind this?

Also what constitutes a "period"? 

I've asked but was not given a clear answer. Just that's not how things are done if the cost of living increase is in December and a payrise/promotion in the New Year, you wont get both. Doesn't sound right to me. 

The thing is the higher cost of living figure is only colleague gossip at the moment, so I have no proof to argue both to management if I don't know the full facts. 

What can you do? Establishing the full facts rather than being swayed by gossip might be no bad idea - and the only way to do that is a straight question to your employer.

billy2shots

A little tip. 

Don't bring up colleagues pay. 

Concentrate on your individual remuneration. 
If you are happy with the offer for your role and new duties. Great. If not then voice that and negotiate. 

If your new pay doesn't seem to fit your responsibilities then you can turn it down and look elsewhere. 

Nothing worse as an employer than 'I want £X because Joe Bloggs gets £X'

GiantTCR

billy2shots said:

If your new pay doesn't seem to fit your responsibilities then you can turn it down and look elsewhere. 

Extremely bad advice. Why would you do that?

If you're not happy with say a 10% raise, then accept the raise AND look elsewhere. NEVER turn down more money.

You never know how long it's going to take you to find a new job. If it takes you 6 months to find a new job, 10% raise for those 6 months is not negligible. 

billy2shots

GiantTCR said:

billy2shots said:

If your new pay doesn't seem to fit your responsibilities then you can turn it down and look elsewhere. 

Extremely bad advice. Why would you do that?

If you're not happy with say a 10% raise, then accept the raise AND look elsewhere. NEVER turn down more money.

You never know how long it's going to take you to find a new job. If it takes you 6 months to find a new job, 10% raise for those 6 months is not negligible. 

Semantics, I think you fully understood the point being made. 

You have also presumed it was about money. 
The OP could turn down the new role. 

GiantTCR

billy2shots said:

GiantTCR said:

billy2shots said:

If your new pay doesn't seem to fit your responsibilities then you can turn it down and look elsewhere. 

Extremely bad advice. Why would you do that?

If you're not happy with say a 10% raise, then accept the raise AND look elsewhere. NEVER turn down more money.

You never know how long it's going to take you to find a new job. If it takes you 6 months to find a new job, 10% raise for those 6 months is not negligible. 

Semantics, I think you fully understood the point being made. 

You have also presumed it was about money. 
The OP could turn down the new role. 

given the OP mentions percentages and pay rises, I'd say it's pretty clearly more about money than responsibilities.