Annual payrise but they will not back it?

Rugrats9903

I work in the private sector and we have a payrise each yr which has always been backdated to 1st April. This year a 2% increase was refused and now its taken until last wk to agree to increase pay to 4% but they will not be backdating this? Is this right? Can they witheld to backdate us? 

itsthelittlethings

They can, yes.

elsien

Count yourself lucky that you’ve got to a pay rise at all. Just because something’s happened previous years, doesn’t mean it has to happen every year.

Flugelhorn

used to be a thing in public sector too - pay rise but only from half way through the year etc or not superannuable - goalposts changed all the time to save a bit of money

Grumpy_chap

Rugrats9903 said:

I work in the private sector and we have a payrise each yr which has always been backdated to 1st April. This year a 2% increase was refused and now its taken until last wk to agree to increase pay to 4% but they will not be backdating this? Is this right? Can they witheld to backdate us? 

Yes, they can.
They could also have said "4% from 1st January 2026" (or any other future date).
They could also have said "4% from now if we reduce staff numbers by 5%"

Undervalued

Rugrats9903 said:

I work in the private sector and we have a payrise each yr which has always been backdated to 1st April. This year a 2% increase was refused and now its taken until last wk to agree to increase pay to 4% but they will not be backdating this? Is this right? Can they witheld to backdate us? 

As others have said, yes.

There is no legal right to a pay rise ever, unless due to inflation your pay has fallen below the current national wage. 

There might be a contractual right to a pay rise, although that would be unusual and most likely "discretionary" so not actually an enforceable "right" at all.

Anything else is a matter for negotiation. Part of that negotiation may or may not include an element of backdating.

flaneurs_lobster

Rugrats9903 said:

I work in the private sector and we have a payrise each yr which has always been backdated to 1st April. This year a 2% increase was refused and now its taken until last wk to agree to increase pay to 4% but they will not be backdating this? Is this right? Can they witheld to backdate us? 

You need to have a word with your Trade Union rep.

TELLIT01

Unless your pay will fall below National Minimum Wage level there is no automatic entitlement to any payris unless it is stated in your contract of employment.  If/when a payrise is given, and under what conditions, is entirely up to the employer.

EnPointe

is there are contractual  ( or other legally binding ) right to a pay rise ? 
does the contract also state the date  from which the pay rise will be implemented ?  

the reason the public sector often get their  pay rises backdated  is  because  the   review process and the date at which the review should be completed   and  the  pay rise  determined  are 'baked in' to  the  contracts 

TELLIT01

Even if a contract states that salary will be reviewed annually it doesn't mean there will be a payrise following that review.

MyRealNameToo

Rugrats9903 said:

I work in the private sector and we have a payrise each yr which has always been backdated to 1st April. This year a 2% increase was refused and now it's taken until last wk to agree to increase pay to 4% but they will not be backdating this? Is this right? Can they witheld to backdate us? 

What does your contract state? 

Normally you have no contractual right to a pay rise and the law simply requires you be paid at least minimum wage so as long as you're on or above £12.21 it all comes down to your contract.