Covering a role above for 7 years.

[m8rky]

Hi, I work for a large national organisation, worked for them for nearly 25 years and since 2008 have been covering managerial positions.
I have never been offered for this position ,which involves covering leave, sickness & managers on projects, to be made a managerial grade and consequently my pay drops to my basic money when I take leave.

My two questions are, is their a time limit that you should be made up to a grade you are covering above your regular grade and given my companies own rules, which have been ignored say that staff covering roles for more than 13 weeks are temporary promoted would I have a case to claim the difference in pay that I lose when I take leave?

Given the recent ruling about average overtime payments I think it would fall under the scope of that.

Also interested to hear peoples thoughts and experiences of coverinng roles but not being offered the job.

I had a Google but not much info to be found.

To add I receive the pay of the grade I am covering while I am covering that role but not when on leave.
Many thanks.

Edited by m8rky on Tuesday 20th January 07:27

[m8rky]

Anyone?

[edc]

It's a little hard to understand exactly what questions you are asking. Is it
- should my salary be at the managerial grade salary all the time not just when I am covering
- should my holiday and overtime pay be calculated based on my average pay which includes these periodic but significant uplifts

Perhaps unrelated to your question but I would question why you are relied upon as cover for 7 years but no promotion opportunity has presented itself. Stand up/in cover can be a good way to get exposure and on the job training.

[m8rky]

Thanks for reply, sorry if unclear but the question I was asking is that after that amount of time should I not be made up to the grade I am working at? and is their anything in employment law that would back this up.

Various jobs have been applied for but despite passing the assesments others have got the job, I almost feel that with my knowledge of so many units they dont want to place me in a fixed position.

[randlemarcus]

They have had a lovely seven years of you acting as manager, and remaining on a non-managerial grade, with small uplifts for when you are covering.

If you cannot get an internal promotion, why on God's clean earth have you not looked outside? I would have done about five years ago

Alternatively, if you can live on your non-managerial pay, simply decline their kind invitations to cover their arses, and stay where you are. Will have some effect, it's just not predictable what

[m8rky]

randlemarcus said:

They have had a lovely seven years of you acting as manager, and remaining on a non-managerial grade, with small uplifts for when you are covering.

If you cannot get an internal promotion, why on God's clean earth have you not looked outside? I would have done about five years ago

Alternatively, if you can live on your non-managerial pay, simply decline their kind invitations to cover their arses, and stay where you are. Will have some effect, it's just not predictable what

Just to add that I have been used in this position permanently over this time, I have not looked outside as they are a good employer in most other matters and also the reward for some of the higher graded roles I cover doubles my money for some weeks.

[randlemarcus]

m8rky said:

Just to add that I have been used in this position permanently over this time, I have not looked outside as they are a good employer in most other matters and also the reward for some of the higher graded roles I cover doubles my money for some weeks.

They are saying to you "we see you as good enough to do the job while we are looking for someone else, but not good enough to make it permanent". You have done this for long enough to make them think you are fine with this. You need to make it clear that you aren't. You can do this by:
talking to them
working to pay grade
leaving

I don't care which, but waving a rulebook in their face probably won't help.

[edc]

Are you in the public sector and perhaps with a final salary pension? Is your pension contribution based on your lower contractual basic salary? If you are talking about the uplifts doubling your salary then that is also a lot of potential pension contributions to be missing out on over 7 years.

Why don't you ask the question of the relevant managers. Ask in a sales-led way, what is stopping you from appointing me to X manager grade position? What can I do to make you appoint me?

[MissChief]

They're getting all the benefits of you doing the management job on a ragular basis but saving the money they would be paying someone permanent. Can you see who is benefitting here? (Clue: not you) As above you either need to refuse and keep doing your own job, put your foot down and say 'Look, if I'm expected to do this, make it permanent or ask for applications and create a role' or look elsewhere.

[MitchT]

m8rky said:

I was asking is that after that amount of time should I not be made up to the grade I am working at?

Unlikely. Anyway ... it sounds like my job ... The scope of my role and my experience (20 years) has me firmly in the upper echelons of 'senior', borderline director, but my salary and the way I'm positioned in the department has me in 'junior'. Problem is, I've put up with it so long without saying anything that when I finally did the best response I could extract was "we have no plans to change the structure of the team". Do as I am doing ... get all your virtues well documented and seek work with another company who will employ you on the correct basis.

[Martin4x4]

This is known as "Acting up". The results will largely depend on the organisation, public or private sector. The public sector will usually have a policy.

Either way you should enquire directly with HR and ask for a copy of the organisations policy on "Acting up".

Take it from there, but basically you need to put forward the demand on the grounds of "custom and practice" is a de-facto promotion should be formally recognised.

Edited by Martin4x4 on Friday 23 January 10:33

[Pit Pony]

Go contracting. There are only 2 questions to ask 1) what is the rate? 2) How many hours can I get that rate for in a week before the client gets jumpy?