Ask for payrise? Or not?

HighHeels_3

Hi, Im posting under a different user name because I know certain people I work with use this site and I would appreciate some advice.

A bit of background first.

I have been employed by company for 2 years almost. I am currently in a position just below a Branch Manager. Over the last 6 months there have been massive changes to staff and we are now at the point where I feel comfortable and able to take the next step up. Over the past month I have taken on all the responsibilities of a Branch Manager and continued to carry on with present role, this has worked quite well because the office isn't particularly busy, however, I see this changing within the next couple of weeks.

I have had talks with a senior member of staff who although hasn't "offered" me the position has intimated that it's on the cards. I feel this is partly due to my lack of interest in the postion over the previous months. We have agreed that I will carry on with both positions with help and support from other offices and senior colleagues until the end of February.

What I wanted advice on was whether at the end of February it's wise to ask for payrise or should I wait?

The company do not give an annual payrise and I'm under no illusion that if I don't ask they will give one automatically. I feel that I am entitled to a rise as I have successfully taken on more responsibility and the job is a lot more involved. However I'm also aware that I'm probably one of the highest earners in my current position, I have been told this was because of my experience.

Not sure what to do.....and also how to go about asking.

Any advice?

Sorry for the long post.

LittleVoice

How big is your organisation?
Do you have job evaluation procedures in place?
You should be paid the rate for the job - whatever your current pay is in comparison with others in your "current" position.

HighHeels_3

Thanks for the reply

It's not a particularly large company probably employs around 150/175 across several branches and departments.

We have monthly 1 to 1's but these are really to monitor targets and performance.

There is no set rate dependant on the position you hold. Staff get paid a basic wage dependant on their experience and performance, I've known Branch Managers who get paid the same basic wage as someone who is junior to them.

LittleVoice

Well, I think it would be worth raising the question when things look fixed. Given that you say the company does not give annual pay rises - if you don't ask, how are you going to get any pay rise at all.

But get all your facts lined up. Precisely what you are doing now. How you are saving the company money. What competitors are paying for similar roles. Positive feedback from superiors, other colleagues, customers. Those kinds of things.

If the revised job you are doing has more responsibility than before, were you paid more than was appropriate before. By that I mean, were you being paid for who you were (experience, whether relevant to the task or not) rather than what you were doing. If you were paid the correct amount for that job, then it seems you should be paid more at least from the end of February. If you don't ask then, you may have missed the boat.

You mention that some people are paid the same basic wage as those below them. Presumably though these managers have additional payments available to them which are not available to the others on the same basic wage and their actual take-home pay is higher. If not, they appear to be poorly paid - unless the other people actually have very valuable skills which are difficult to find and are simply line managed.