Promotion, lower pay rise than expected
Discussion
I've been working for a company for 5 years and was recently promoted to a senior role (probably 30% of employees are at or above this level). This was 6 months ago, there was no mention of a pay rise at the time and I didn't bring it up as I knew pay reviews happen at the end of the year. Now pay review day has come, and the raise has left me a bit disappointed - I'm not sure if I should be.
The past few years and this one have all been good, mostly unaffected by the recession. I've had the same fixed pay rise amount every year since starting, which has been good given the economy, but obviously has become less percentage wise as the salary has gone up. 11%, 10.5%, 10% the past years. Now, after my promotion and great performance report, I've been given the same fixed amount again, making the raise just under 9%.
Now I realise the past years have been generous, but I had expected that the extra responsibilities and workload (no official extra hours, but probably doing 5-10% more hours a week) would have brought a higher raise. My work also is directly chargeable on a rate to customers - that rate has been higher since the promotion due to my seniority. Am I being reasonable, or have I been paid too well in the past and had my expectations inflated?
The pay review is actually done in employees' absence by the owner, and there are no grades or explanation given for the result, apparently not even to top level staff. We are just informed of the result, and there is no discussion, perhaps intentionally. The only avenue open for me to ask about the situation would be my manager, but I really don't want to risk being called in to see the owner and being confronted.
I enjoy my job and am not considering leaving. Perhaps the company knows this. And the company is up with the best around for pay and being a good place to work.
Should I just be thankful?
The past few years and this one have all been good, mostly unaffected by the recession. I've had the same fixed pay rise amount every year since starting, which has been good given the economy, but obviously has become less percentage wise as the salary has gone up. 11%, 10.5%, 10% the past years. Now, after my promotion and great performance report, I've been given the same fixed amount again, making the raise just under 9%.
Now I realise the past years have been generous, but I had expected that the extra responsibilities and workload (no official extra hours, but probably doing 5-10% more hours a week) would have brought a higher raise. My work also is directly chargeable on a rate to customers - that rate has been higher since the promotion due to my seniority. Am I being reasonable, or have I been paid too well in the past and had my expectations inflated?
The pay review is actually done in employees' absence by the owner, and there are no grades or explanation given for the result, apparently not even to top level staff. We are just informed of the result, and there is no discussion, perhaps intentionally. The only avenue open for me to ask about the situation would be my manager, but I really don't want to risk being called in to see the owner and being confronted.
I enjoy my job and am not considering leaving. Perhaps the company knows this. And the company is up with the best around for pay and being a good place to work.
Should I just be thankful?
worsy said:
By any chance could it be construed that your responsibility increased over the four years for which you were suitably rewarded rather than a big jump in role in the 4th year?
Yep, pretty much. Have gone from trainee to here with many small jumps along the way, the biggest of which was this last one.Vee said:
Sounds like you have been promoted without getting the increase in pay.
I'd expect ANY organisation to have a new salary effective immediately on promotion. If the promotion came without and increase then I'd expect it to have been explained to the employee why not.
Your post sounds like you would have got the 9% even if you hadn't been promoted 5 months ago.
Did you get a new contract for your new role ?
Did anyone explain to you the changes, in terms of your responsibilities, line manager, etc ? Did you not ask about a pay increase to go with promotion ?
Yes I think I'd have got the raise anyway. No new contract, I just started doing the role I'd learnt from working for a previous senior. As mentioned, I didn't ask due to knowing that reviews happen at year end.I'd expect ANY organisation to have a new salary effective immediately on promotion. If the promotion came without and increase then I'd expect it to have been explained to the employee why not.
Your post sounds like you would have got the 9% even if you hadn't been promoted 5 months ago.
Did you get a new contract for your new role ?
Did anyone explain to you the changes, in terms of your responsibilities, line manager, etc ? Did you not ask about a pay increase to go with promotion ?
In summary I think I should be happy, and I am happy. Before bouncing things off you folk, I wasn't sure what to think as I saw my salary as being fair but saw the raise as a disappointment due to being exactly the same as previous years/role. My role changed gradually, and my salary did too. The salary possibly increased faster than my role last year, so that's offset by having the same raise this year despite the promotion.
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