How best to negotiate?

[Twentyfour7]

Hi All
I have been offered a job at an hourly rate of £2.50 less than what I have requested. The employer is saying "a performance based review will be conducted in 6 months time where salary will be discussed and reviewed."

This doesnt fill me with confidence , so not sure how to go about negotiating and clarifying how this may lead to a pay rise.

I also asked to see the contract to check all the terms but have been told I can only see this after I have accepted the post. I would like to check sick pay etc . Was it inappropriate of me to request to see the contract ?

Thanks for any guidance !

[fat80b]

Jam tomorrow very rarely works in my experience especially when they are promising a “discussion” in 6 months.

In terms of the contract - no I don’t think you are being unreasonable to ask to see the contract details before accepting. Although things like sick pay etc should be transparent without needing to read the small print.

The way you’ve described it makes them seem unattractive as an employer to me.

[Percy Cushion]

A performance based review will be conducted anyway regardless of the starting salary. That doesn't answer the question you asked.

I'd normally expect to receive and accept the offer before being sent their terms and conditions.

[sam.rog]

You definitely wont get your pay rise in 6 months.
What are they hiding in the contract that they don’t want you to see. You can always accept, get the contract, then say no thank you.

[Welshbeef]

Why not split the difference £1.25/hr more now then step up

Or £2.50/ hour more now then rebate back every month until 6 months are past.

Or have it as a monthly allowance which upon 6 months they turn it into higher basic which is then non usable and pensionable.

How about asking for 6 extra days annual leave without change in salary (then work elsewhere) or sell leave back

[okgo]

What was it advertised at?

I should think when jobs are being paid by your that there’s likely a long line of people behind you that’ll do it. So it’s likely a hiding to nothing negotiating rather than finding a job that advertises what you are after (if that exists).

[The spinner of plates]

I wouldn’t accept any job without reading a contract.
I’d express positive intent to accept if it all sounded ok.
But how could I accept what I don’t have full knowledge of?

They sound a bit shadowy.

[anonymous-user]

Tell them to ps off.

Starting a relationship like that is asking for trouble.

[Hoofy]

Sounds a bit dodgy.

Shouldn't be any reason not to see the contract. As someone said, you could accept it verbally just to see the contract and then decide.

As for the good old payrise promise in 6 months, I'd get that in writing.

But to be honest, it sounds crap from the start.

Edited by Hoofy on Friday 8th April 00:48

[Evoluzione]

Rock up in a TVR. If they don't see it outside sling the keys on the table. They'll soon offer more.

Edited by Evoluzione on Friday 8th April 01:07

[Meeten-5dulx]

Having recent,y accepted a new role there is absolutely no way I would have committed without seeing the contract!
I’d be walking away if they refused to show you the contract before agreeing.

Additionally the higher rate is unlikely to materialise 6m down the line.

Jog on…..

[h0b0]

£2.50/hr works out at £5k/yr assuming 40 hour weeks. Not a small amount. If you are on anything less than £50k/yr, there’s not a chance in hell they will give you a 10%+ pay rise.

Also, no possibility I would sign anything without reading what I’m signing. I wouldn’t accept the job if they came up to your rate and showed me the contract now. They have shown their true colours.

[sutoka]

Relative had this pay review type thing every six months and the only thing that ever seemed to increase was their workload. They have worked the same job for about 5-6 years and recently had someone appointed in charge. Most recent review included trying to remove their job title but still making them do the same job with an increase workload.

They paid an outside company to do a pay review and it cost thousands. What they said was they were significantly underpaying for the workload. In the end it went to the board who decided to give them an increase which wasn't much more than what they'd paid the outside company. Rocks for brains.

Get the pay sorted before you start as it's very difficult to do so when yours already up to your neck in the place.

[Welshbeef]

OP Maybe use this - Tesco and other supermarkets just announced a step up in salary.

The lowest role full time now earns £21k pa
Delivery drivers earn at least £23k pa



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61021465.amp

[Hoofy]

Evoluzione said:

Rock up in a TVR. If they don't see it outside sling the keys on the table. They'll soon offer more.

Edited by Evoluzione on Friday 8th April 01:07

[Jasandjules]

Just on the OP I would walk away from this company.

[JP__FOX]

I would always verbally accept a role subject to contract and think this is pretty standard. Some companies may require verbal acceptance to create your contract and the T&C's, particularly if it's system generated etc. so I wouldn't worry about that.

The question for me is where your current role is in relation to the 2 figures you've mentioned and to understand how they've got to the figure being presented? It also depends a lot on the role tbh, some roles can be specific on pay at each level and reviews move between levels etc.

[Boomroasted]

Evoluzione said:

Rock up in a TVR. If they don't see it outside sling the keys on the table. They'll soon offer more.

Edited by Evoluzione on Friday 8th April 01:07

And wear your Rolex!! 😂

[OutInTheShed]

Twentyfour7 said:

Hi All
I have been offered a job at an hourly rate of £2.50 less than what I have requested. The employer is saying "a performance based review will be conducted in 6 months time where salary will be discussed and reviewed."

This doesnt fill me with confidence , so not sure how to go about negotiating and clarifying how this may lead to a pay rise.

I also asked to see the contract to check all the terms but have been told I can only see this after I have accepted the post. I would like to check sick pay etc . Was it inappropriate of me to request to see the contract ?

Thanks for any guidance !

Is the low rate the going rate?
What is anyone else offering you?
what are other people there doing same/similar jobs getting?

Is there a genuine need and opportunity to prove you would be worth a pay rise in 6 months?
Will you learn a lot in those 6 months?

A lot of places I've worked, it's seemed the norm for people to come in at a good rate, then not get much of a rise the next pay round.

A lot of variables. I've had jobs where the rate has been less than I could get elsewhere, but able to book lots of hours and good for the CV.


Actually seeing the contract, not unusual for that not to happen until you've agreed in principle surely?
But I'd want to have discussed all the key points anyway,

[clived]

Twentyfour7 said:

I also asked to see the contract to check all the terms but have been told I can only see this after I have accepted the post. I would like to check sick pay etc . Was it inappropriate of me to request to see the contract ?

Whoever you are talking to clearly doesn't know what you're talking about, but they are probably just using the word "accepted" very poorly.

The mechanism for "accepting" the post is signing the contract, so whatever happens you're going to see it before you accept it. If they'd have said "yes of course, you'll have the opportunity to review the contract once we've both decided it makes sense to offer you the role" that would be fine - this may be what they mean.