Promotion, so far no pay-rise??
Discussion
Hello all,
Just looking for some help and guidance from people with a lot more experience than myself.
I am 20 yrs old and have been working for a small, family run business for 3 years. We have 5 stores in Norfolk and Suffolk but I work on the website which was started 5 years ago.
There are very small numbers in this department, there was 4 of us until the start of February. My senior left the company on VERY short notice, handed notice in on Saturday and was allowed to leave when I returned on Tuesday.
Now I was shocked as there were no signs of this etc.. but was asked immediately to take over. I don't have much to do with the technical side of the website as that is not done in house. I mainly am incharge of sales and basic maintenance. Also, with staff numbers so low, I tend to now also be incharge of customer service, buying products and meeting with sales reps.
Now due to how quick this all happened, I stupidly forgot to mention money and any raises that I would receive since I was taking on a lot more work with a whole lot more responsibility. Being 20 (nearly 21) a lot of my friends think this will count against me as they will not want to pay someone so 'in-experienced' a decent wage.
Where do you think I stand with regards to asking for more money? How do you think I should go about it?
Any help would be much appreciated guys and girls, I am feeling quite stressed as the amount of work I now have is 10x more than before!
Thanks,
Tom
Just looking for some help and guidance from people with a lot more experience than myself.
I am 20 yrs old and have been working for a small, family run business for 3 years. We have 5 stores in Norfolk and Suffolk but I work on the website which was started 5 years ago.
There are very small numbers in this department, there was 4 of us until the start of February. My senior left the company on VERY short notice, handed notice in on Saturday and was allowed to leave when I returned on Tuesday.
Now I was shocked as there were no signs of this etc.. but was asked immediately to take over. I don't have much to do with the technical side of the website as that is not done in house. I mainly am incharge of sales and basic maintenance. Also, with staff numbers so low, I tend to now also be incharge of customer service, buying products and meeting with sales reps.
Now due to how quick this all happened, I stupidly forgot to mention money and any raises that I would receive since I was taking on a lot more work with a whole lot more responsibility. Being 20 (nearly 21) a lot of my friends think this will count against me as they will not want to pay someone so 'in-experienced' a decent wage.
Where do you think I stand with regards to asking for more money? How do you think I should go about it?
Any help would be much appreciated guys and girls, I am feeling quite stressed as the amount of work I now have is 10x more than before!
Thanks,
Tom
It seems that your employers think that you are the most capable person in your section. So you should give yourself a pat on the back. Well done.
You say that you have been asked to take over, but you don't say if this is temporary or permanent. If it is temporary, then there won't be a pay rise.
Assuming that it is permanent, then you have two options. You could have a chat immediately and just say that you were so pleased with their display of confidence in you, that you forgot to ask about the new role's salary.
Alternatively, you could wait until you feel that you have clearly demonstrated your ability to handle the new role before broaching the subject.
There is a middle way, and this is the one that I would choose. You could mention that you forgot to discuss the pay, but that you are willing to prove that you can do the job before seeking an increase. Then ask if you could have a review after you have been in the role for, say, 2 months.
Don
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You say that you have been asked to take over, but you don't say if this is temporary or permanent. If it is temporary, then there won't be a pay rise.
Assuming that it is permanent, then you have two options. You could have a chat immediately and just say that you were so pleased with their display of confidence in you, that you forgot to ask about the new role's salary.
Alternatively, you could wait until you feel that you have clearly demonstrated your ability to handle the new role before broaching the subject.
There is a middle way, and this is the one that I would choose. You could mention that you forgot to discuss the pay, but that you are willing to prove that you can do the job before seeking an increase. Then ask if you could have a review after you have been in the role for, say, 2 months.
Don
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Or...say nothing, master the role over the next 6 months and become indispensable. Then either mention pay as suggested above or drop casual hints that you are looking to develop yourself further. They may take this as you looking for a new job and so could trigger them in to offering you a huge rise as they now cannot afford to lose you. Whichever, you clearly have potential and are in quite a good situation. Good luck!
Don't throw it in their faces, but be aware that until the replace the senior, or until you take over the senior and they get some in for your old role, that they will be saving the cost of one salary.
I you can do both jobs rolled into one then you might be able to let them know that you feel you can do both the jobs, and even if there could be a pay rise for yourself then you are confident you could still save them money on wages overall.
Also bear in mind that getting experience when young is very important. Once you have been doing the senior role for a couple of years and can put that on your CV then you are well place to go elsewhere and be paid much more in the new job based on your experience.
I you can do both jobs rolled into one then you might be able to let them know that you feel you can do both the jobs, and even if there could be a pay rise for yourself then you are confident you could still save them money on wages overall.
Also bear in mind that getting experience when young is very important. Once you have been doing the senior role for a couple of years and can put that on your CV then you are well place to go elsewhere and be paid much more in the new job based on your experience.
I had a similar situation when I first started work. Taken on as an apprentice in the workshops, helped out occasionally in the parts department, 5 months later the Parts manager walked out.
I then proceeded to take over the parts managers role and after 2 months had had enough of doing all his work for no reward and no apparent signs of them hiring anyone else.
There is a route of financial reward that I looked up then called "acting up" can't remember the details of it all but helped in me getting rewarded financially for what I was doing for the company.
AS has been said though, you could look at it as a chance to improve your skills, gain experience and prove yourself, which, if this person hadn't you may not have gotten the chance to.
I then proceeded to take over the parts managers role and after 2 months had had enough of doing all his work for no reward and no apparent signs of them hiring anyone else.
There is a route of financial reward that I looked up then called "acting up" can't remember the details of it all but helped in me getting rewarded financially for what I was doing for the company.
AS has been said though, you could look at it as a chance to improve your skills, gain experience and prove yourself, which, if this person hadn't you may not have gotten the chance to.
Thank you for all your help and advice people. It is very much appreciated.
I think I will take the patient route and try to learn as quickly as I can to eventually give me a better position.
It has been a busy few weeks, think tomorrow will be a month in charge and so far, figures are up slightly and customers seem a lot happier! I'm telling myself its down to my hard work, as so far I haven't been given any more staff!
Thanks again guys!
I think I will take the patient route and try to learn as quickly as I can to eventually give me a better position.
It has been a busy few weeks, think tomorrow will be a month in charge and so far, figures are up slightly and customers seem a lot happier! I'm telling myself its down to my hard work, as so far I haven't been given any more staff!
Thanks again guys!
Do you have the new title? If you have, at your age that is probably worth as much, if not more, than the pay rise would be. You could go to a larger company in a couple of years and put your managerial experience on their table, practically walking into the same role as you have now, with considerably more money.
Also, bear in mind that the new financial year is only round the corner and a salary review may be on the cards then. Alternatively, if the company has had a good year/good results, they may be in a better frame of mind if/when you do broach the pay rise subject.
Congratulations though mate, you've done well to move up at a relatively young age. Nice one!
Also, bear in mind that the new financial year is only round the corner and a salary review may be on the cards then. Alternatively, if the company has had a good year/good results, they may be in a better frame of mind if/when you do broach the pay rise subject.
Congratulations though mate, you've done well to move up at a relatively young age. Nice one!
Right guys,
Enough is enough, I want to ask for more money. The work load is ridiculous, they haven't replaced the 'senior' member of staff who left and have just expected me to get on with it on the rubbish wage I am on.
My boss is not in work anytime soon and another senior has told me to put it in writing as they will deal with it more efficiently.
Anyone got any tips on how to word my request?
Thanks
Enough is enough, I want to ask for more money. The work load is ridiculous, they haven't replaced the 'senior' member of staff who left and have just expected me to get on with it on the rubbish wage I am on.
My boss is not in work anytime soon and another senior has told me to put it in writing as they will deal with it more efficiently.
Anyone got any tips on how to word my request?
Thanks
Donatello said:
Right guys,
Enough is enough, I want to ask for more money. The work load is ridiculous, they haven't replaced the 'senior' member of staff who left and have just expected me to get on with it on the rubbish wage I am on.
My boss is not in work anytime soon and another senior has told me to put it in writing as they will deal with it more efficiently.
Anyone got any tips on how to word my request?
Thanks
It sounds like they need to hire someone else. Do you think that this new person will be above or beneath you?Enough is enough, I want to ask for more money. The work load is ridiculous, they haven't replaced the 'senior' member of staff who left and have just expected me to get on with it on the rubbish wage I am on.
My boss is not in work anytime soon and another senior has told me to put it in writing as they will deal with it more efficiently.
Anyone got any tips on how to word my request?
Thanks
Don
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TurricanII said:
Don't throw it in their faces, but be aware that until the replace the senior, or until you take over the senior and they get some in for your old role, that they will be saving the cost of one salary.
I you can do both jobs rolled into one then you might be able to let them know that you feel you can do both the jobs, and even if there could be a pay rise for yourself then you are confident you could still save them money on wages overall.
Also bear in mind that getting experience when young is very important. Once you have been doing the senior role for a couple of years and can put that on your CV then you are well place to go elsewhere and be paid much more in the new job based on your experience.
Sound advice, I'd say. Ask your boss for an informal discussion about prospects. Clearly they trust and value your contribution, and any decent company (and nothing you've said makes them sound anything but)will be prepared to pay to keep a good employee. There is nothing unusual about asking for a chat about your future with the company - indeed, they are likely to respect you for it. It may be that they can't afford to give you a rise in the current climate, but ask for some sort of timetable where you may expect a decent rise. If this doesn't come about, you will be able to give a good answer to other potential employers you may apply to when the inevitable question about why you are considering a change arrives - makes you look ambitious, which is good!I you can do both jobs rolled into one then you might be able to let them know that you feel you can do both the jobs, and even if there could be a pay rise for yourself then you are confident you could still save them money on wages overall.
Also bear in mind that getting experience when young is very important. Once you have been doing the senior role for a couple of years and can put that on your CV then you are well place to go elsewhere and be paid much more in the new job based on your experience.
Donatello said:
Well when the other person left they told me I was 'taking over'. So as far as I'm concerned, any new staff will be below me. I am happy to keep going, sales are steady and customer service is much improved but not for what I earn now.
Who do you work for?? Are there local competitors that do the same thing that you could jump to?Agree with the polite approach to a point. After a certain amount of time, do they not come to the conclusion that they don't even need another member of staff (senior or not). As you have already said things are running Ok so what motivation do they have to offer you something extra??
Can you apply for other jobs? Could you force their hand by handing in your own notice (assuming you're confident they won't accept it?)
It's a brave (some would say stupid approach) and one I'd only play out if I had another job I was happy to go to but it may give you the opportunity to state that you don't want to leave but no sign of promotion/progression/pay increase etc etc
Donatello said:
Well when the other person left they told me I was 'taking over'. So as far as I'm concerned, any new staff will be below me. I am happy to keep going, sales are steady and customer service is much improved but not for what I earn now.
Be patient.It's only a couple of weeks since your first post. You are not really not out of pocket at this stage. It is only a few weeks since you took on the extra responsibilities. Even if they had given you a pay rise at the time, you wouldn't have much extra cash now.
If you take the advice that I gave in my earlier post, then you are likely to be better off in the long run.
Do not write a letter, whatever you do.
I give this advice as someone who was 20 years old a long time ago. Now I run a family firm.
Don
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If you definitely feel you can do the job then let them know this ASAP otherwise they may just hire a person above you purely because they see you as a junior member of staff. Point out that you can do the job and that they can rely on you to support a new junior member of staff. Hopefully you can gently point out that it should be cheaper to give you a payrise and take on a junior at minimum wage/apprentice rate. Also offer to add a contract amendment to your new position - that you will revert back to your junior role if performance figures are unsatisfactory. Then work your ass off!
Hello all,
I'm back onto this topic again as I am a bit fed up. It has been 3 months now and I decided my best course of action was to write a letter.
I explained how I had taken on a lot of extra work and responsibilities, so I felt my contract of employment and my pay should be reviewed (adjusted?) to reflect that.
I have been told today that 'Company Directors have taken a massive pay cut blah blah blag, so from now on, we will be setting up a bonus scheme for all staff'.
I appreciate times aren't great but still, I am being paid the same as the others in this department but I am the one being dragged into meetings about performance and problems relating to staff in this department!
All in all... not a happy bunny and I think it is time to move on, the company feels dead in the water over the last month or two!
I'm back onto this topic again as I am a bit fed up. It has been 3 months now and I decided my best course of action was to write a letter.
I explained how I had taken on a lot of extra work and responsibilities, so I felt my contract of employment and my pay should be reviewed (adjusted?) to reflect that.
I have been told today that 'Company Directors have taken a massive pay cut blah blah blag, so from now on, we will be setting up a bonus scheme for all staff'.
I appreciate times aren't great but still, I am being paid the same as the others in this department but I am the one being dragged into meetings about performance and problems relating to staff in this department!
All in all... not a happy bunny and I think it is time to move on, the company feels dead in the water over the last month or two!
ridds said:
Yep that's a massive fob off there.
Bonus scheme that you'll never meet the targets on..
agreed. i worked for a company years ago that pulled the "profit related pay" trick. no payrises, but if everyone worked really hard there's be a quarterly PRP bonus which oddly we never quite managed to reach. i say oddly as the fBonus scheme that you'll never meet the targets on..
king chairman and MD both rocked up in new cars not long after the second one.long story short i decided to retrain and educate myself and i now do a job i love for better than i ever would have earnt by staying there.
good luck to you mate.
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