Pay rise advice

[TROOPER88]

Hi Guys
I am looking for some advice.

I have been the fitness manager of a large West London sports club for the past 13 years.

I actually started on the same day as the general manager in 2013 and we get on very well.

In December a colleague left the company and at the time the GM said that I would get a pay rise as we were not replacing the member of staff that left.

I think I have only had one or two pay rises (small) in my whole time at the Club.

I e-mailed in January and again in February and had no reply.
I discussed it briefly with him in person but it gets brushed under the carpet.

I have just put this e-mail together, is it to strong??:


Dear....

I hope you are well.

Following on from the e-mail sent on the 23/01/2017 and again mentioned in the e-mail on the 01/02/2017, I am yet to hear from you regarding a pay rise.

If I let you know my position it may make your decision easier.

The bottom line is that unfortunately I can no longer afford to work for .................. on my current salary; my outgoings are greater than my earnings.

To continue my role at the Club I require a 20% pay rise.

I fully understand if this is not possible but as soon as I know I can begin the search for new employment.

As I am sure you are aware, for as long as I can remember my work at the Club has far exceeded that of my title and expected duties within the capacity of my role.

I look forward to a reply.


Regards


Paul



The GM is very aware that my contribution to the Club is well beyond what is expected.


Any advice is much appreciated, I have not sent the e-mail yet.


Thank you

Edited by TROOPER88 on Wednesday 1st March 07:30

[MagicalTrevor]

You might want to edit the company name from that!

[TROOPER88]

MagicalTrevor said:

You might want to edit the company name from that!

Thank you!

[Prohibiting]

Seems fine to me and it shows you mean business if that is your genuine intentions by looking for a new job.

Let us know what happens. Good luck.

[rsbmw]

It's too aggressive. IMO this would be better handled in person, they can't brush it under the carpet once you state you will be leaving otherwise.

Find out typical salary for similar roles in your area as ammunition.

[p1stonhead]

rsbmw said:

It's too aggressive. IMO this would be better handled in person, they can't brush it under the carpet once you state you will be leaving otherwise.

Find out typical salary for similar roles in your area as ammunition.

This. It doesnt come across at all well in an email.

Go and do it in person. Emails are much easier to shrug off.

And do you have a reason you want a rise other than say inflationary rises? 'my outgoings are more than my income' is not a reason.

Edited by p1stonhead on Wednesday 1st March 07:50

[NordicCrankShaft]

Agreed, you want a pay rise not get his back up. Sounds more like a threat which could result in hem telling you to FRO.

[TROOPER88]

Hi
Thank you to all that have contributed so far.

The work I carry out is well beyond my job spec and description and the GM is aware of this.

As an example we have a very large plant room for the running of the pool and showers etc. It is very dated and is run with steam.
I know the plant room better than anyone and have 'rescued' the Club many times. This is not part of he role I was employed for; well beyond it in fact.

This is just one example...

We are such good friends that if I mention it in person (which I have done a few times) it turns more into a joke than being taken seriously tbh.

With regard providing examples of similar roles out there, we are a very unique, one of private members Club.

I understand the points about being too aggressive so will try and tone it down slightly. I think the bit about seeking a 20% pay rise is the aggressive part but this is the crux of the matter...

[ReallyReallyGood]

Agree with doing it face to face, a quick chat.

Just say you feel undervalued for the work you do (outline what this is), and that market rate for your role is £X (where you've researched what X is). No threats or ultimatums at this point, perhaps save that for if your request is rejected.

[TROOPER88]

ReallyReallyGood said:

Agree with doing it face to face, a quick chat.

Just say you feel undervalued for the work you do (outline what this is), and that market rate for your role is £X (where you've researched what X is). No threats or ultimatums at this point, perhaps save that for if your request is rejected.

This.

I am going to e-mail the GM now and ask for a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss a pay rise.

I will go into the meeting with all my facts and why I feel I deserve a pay rise.

If this fails to materialise I will then go down the mail route in a week or so.

Thanks

[p1stonhead]

TROOPER88 said:

ReallyReallyGood said:

Agree with doing it face to face, a quick chat.

Just say you feel undervalued for the work you do (outline what this is), and that market rate for your role is £X (where you've researched what X is). No threats or ultimatums at this point, perhaps save that for if your request is rejected.

This.

I am going to e-mail the GM now and ask for a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss a pay rise.

I will go into the meeting with all my facts and why I feel I deserve a pay rise.

If this fails to materialise I will then go down the mail route in a week or so.

Thanks

Dont tell them what you want a meeting for. They will fob you off.

Just say you need a chat.

[TROOPER88]

p1stonhead said:

Dont tell them what you want a meeting for. They will fob you off.

Just say you need a chat.

If they fob me off then I will end the original e-mail.

Thanks again for the advice. I know the GM well and am sure he will meet for a chat.

[Doofus]

I really think you should drop "I hope you are well".

If you see him regularly, you'll know if he's well or not. He's not your pen pal.

[rsbmw]

ReallyReallyGood said:

No threats or ultimatums at this point, perhaps save that for if your request is rejected.

I somewhat disagree with this. Personally I don't play the 'cold steel to the temple' game, but I am very happy to have an open an honest discussion making it clear that whilst I haven't started seeking other employment yet, I require progression and appropriate recompense. My gambit (face to face) would be along the lines of

"I started here on X, I am now on X + 10% after 13 years. I am aware that similar positions in the area are at X + 50%, even discounting where I go above and beyond the call of duty. My personal position now requires that I earn more money, whilst I would prefer it to be here I will have to start seeking a position outside of the company if this isn't possible."

I've been very successful with this in the past.

[condor]

Do you have performance appraisals? sounds like you don't.
I'd suggest asking that a formal appraisal procedure is put in place - which is where payrises and performance criteria are usually discussed.

[TooMany2cvs]

TROOPER88 said:

...The bottom line is that unfortunately I can no longer afford to work for .................. on my current salary; my outgoings are greater than my earnings.

To continue my role at the Club I require a 20% pay rise.

Not sure I'd be justifying it like that... Your outgoings are not your employer's problem.

[rsbmw]

Disagree, if you're valuable to the business and they realise this is a serious issue for you, one that is likely to see you move on, they will fix it.

[FrankAbagnale]

Id probably build a bit more of a case for a pay rise...

Dear xxx,

I am writing in relation to my current remuneration and would request a meeting to discuss the possibility of a increase in pay.

I have worked for XX Leisure for 13 years and my current job title is xxxxxx and responsibilities entail xxxxxx xxx xxxxx. For a considerable period of time and more so since xxxx left his/her role I have assumed greater responsibilities of a more senior job role.

Through my research I can see that the average salary in this area for a xxxxxx is £xxxxx and I believe the responsibilities in this role encompasses my position.

When xxxx left their role I was informed verbally that due to increase in workload and responsibility I would receive a pay rise. I have chased this a couple of times with emails on xx and xx but am yet to receive a response.

I thoroughly enjoy working at XX Leisure and have been a loyal, hardworking, reliable member of staff for 13 years and very much hope I can continue. However, without a significant payrise that reflects my current skillset and responsibilities, I will have to consider my options.

Edited by FrankAbagnale on Wednesday 1st March 09:06

[ReallyReallyGood]

rsbmw said:

... I've been very successful with this in the past.

Fair enough. I suppose in a way, asking for a pay-rise threats or not, the threat is implied by the fact you are even asking and are not happy with how things are. At the end of the day hiring new people is a pain, fraught with danger and unknowns, so throwing a few extra grand at the guy who's already doing the job is the best for everyone..... *if* they value you.

[mr_spock]

You should have a clear list of the additional duties you perform so that in your meeting you can trot it out without stumbling. And be prepared to walk - don't threaten to leave unless you're prepared to do it.