Best way to approach pay reviews?
Discussion
Hey folks
I work a low level engineering position at a small aerospace firm, I started about 6 months ago on what I think is a below market rate (by about 10-20% at the time).
To put a long story short, the obvious living cost increases lately have really begun to bite me and I’m seeing my wage as being insufficient for what I need to get by.
Pay reviews are coming some time mid May, I know my firm is going to try & be as lean as possible, struggling for cash really isn’t a position I’ve been in before so I’m really not sure how to best approach it & bargain for more.
To put some figures to it, I’m looking for a ~10-15% bump, based on an office rumour I think the review is going to be about 4-5% across the board.
Some avenues I was thinking about approaching was my position being more junior to the actual work I do, and on a compassionate level I have one of the largest commutes at the company & have seen my commuting costs increase by a good 50% in the last few months (I’m rural, I drive).
Mainly looking for ideas of what people are expecting at the moment, and if it might be time to update my CV.
I work a low level engineering position at a small aerospace firm, I started about 6 months ago on what I think is a below market rate (by about 10-20% at the time).
To put a long story short, the obvious living cost increases lately have really begun to bite me and I’m seeing my wage as being insufficient for what I need to get by.
Pay reviews are coming some time mid May, I know my firm is going to try & be as lean as possible, struggling for cash really isn’t a position I’ve been in before so I’m really not sure how to best approach it & bargain for more.
To put some figures to it, I’m looking for a ~10-15% bump, based on an office rumour I think the review is going to be about 4-5% across the board.
Some avenues I was thinking about approaching was my position being more junior to the actual work I do, and on a compassionate level I have one of the largest commutes at the company & have seen my commuting costs increase by a good 50% in the last few months (I’m rural, I drive).
Mainly looking for ideas of what people are expecting at the moment, and if it might be time to update my CV.
It’s always worthwhile keeping your CV up to date. The length of your commute isn’t really your employer’s problem, but if they are being tight with rises they will find it harder to retain good employees. If I were you I’d try and gather evidence that your are being paid less than your peers elsewhere, and look to see how your job can grow, and be better paid - which should at the same time get you some future training/experience and make you more marketable.
Calite said:
Hey folks
I work a low level engineering position at a small aerospace firm, I started about 6 months ago on what I think is a below market rate (by about 10-20% at the time).
To put a long story short, the obvious living cost increases lately have really begun to bite me and I’m seeing my wage as being insufficient for what I need to get by.
Pay reviews are coming some time mid May, I know my firm is going to try & be as lean as possible, struggling for cash really isn’t a position I’ve been in before so I’m really not sure how to best approach it & bargain for more.
To put some figures to it, I’m looking for a ~10-15% bump, based on an office rumour I think the review is going to be about 4-5% across the board.
Some avenues I was thinking about approaching was my position being more junior to the actual work I do, and on a compassionate level I have one of the largest commutes at the company & have seen my commuting costs increase by a good 50% in the last few months (I’m rural, I drive).
Mainly looking for ideas of what people are expecting at the moment, and if it might be time to update my CV.
If you have only been there 6 months then realistically you might get no increase, many firms won’t increase till 12 months. Few firms would increase staff by 15% unless you are being paid below market.I work a low level engineering position at a small aerospace firm, I started about 6 months ago on what I think is a below market rate (by about 10-20% at the time).
To put a long story short, the obvious living cost increases lately have really begun to bite me and I’m seeing my wage as being insufficient for what I need to get by.
Pay reviews are coming some time mid May, I know my firm is going to try & be as lean as possible, struggling for cash really isn’t a position I’ve been in before so I’m really not sure how to best approach it & bargain for more.
To put some figures to it, I’m looking for a ~10-15% bump, based on an office rumour I think the review is going to be about 4-5% across the board.
Some avenues I was thinking about approaching was my position being more junior to the actual work I do, and on a compassionate level I have one of the largest commutes at the company & have seen my commuting costs increase by a good 50% in the last few months (I’m rural, I drive).
Mainly looking for ideas of what people are expecting at the moment, and if it might be time to update my CV.
Are you past probation periods?
You might speak 121 with your manager and advise him you are struggling financially due to inflation, ask if he is happy with work you are doing, explain you enjoy working there but that you are struggling financially - would there be any scope to review as part of pending annual pay reviews. If the answe is no then you might want to look elsewhere.
bennno said:
If you have only been there 6 months then realistically you might get no increase, many firms won’t increase till 12 months. Few firms would increase staff by 15% unless you are being paid below market.
Are you past probation periods?
You might speak 121 with your manager and advise him you are struggling financially due to inflation, ask if he is happy with work you are doing, explain you enjoy working there but that you are struggling financially - would there be any scope to review as part of pending annual pay reviews. If the answe is no then you might want to look elsewhere.
This would be my advice too.Are you past probation periods?
You might speak 121 with your manager and advise him you are struggling financially due to inflation, ask if he is happy with work you are doing, explain you enjoy working there but that you are struggling financially - would there be any scope to review as part of pending annual pay reviews. If the answe is no then you might want to look elsewhere.
Sy1441 said:
bennno said:
If you have only been there 6 months then realistically you might get no increase, many firms won’t increase till 12 months. Few firms would increase staff by 15% unless you are being paid below market.
Are you past probation periods?
You might speak 121 with your manager and advise him you are struggling financially due to inflation, ask if he is happy with work you are doing, explain you enjoy working there but that you are struggling financially - would there be any scope to review as part of pending annual pay reviews. If the answe is no then you might want to look elsewhere.
This would be my advice too.Are you past probation periods?
You might speak 121 with your manager and advise him you are struggling financially due to inflation, ask if he is happy with work you are doing, explain you enjoy working there but that you are struggling financially - would there be any scope to review as part of pending annual pay reviews. If the answe is no then you might want to look elsewhere.
Would definitely not mention your commuting costs. As said above, that isn't your employers responsibility and I think it reduces the credibility of the ask as it has nothing to do with your 'value',
I had an employee give me a long list of reasons why they wanted a pay rise and most were around external factors why he *needed* more money than why he was *entitled* to more money.
I had an employee give me a long list of reasons why they wanted a pay rise and most were around external factors why he *needed* more money than why he was *entitled* to more money.
Early in my career I had a pay review where (following advice from a senior colleague) I took evidence of everything I'd delivered since the last one that was above and beyond. It was a list of what the thing was, monetary value to the company in doing so (remember, savings are the same as money earned) and if appropriate, evidence that it was beyond what my job role expected (this should be well understood in most reasonably mature businesses).
I did the same thing every time I had a review until I stopped working for other people and more often than not it resulted in either a development plan to get a pay rise, a promotion with more money, or just more money.
Stuff like this might be more difficult on some industries than others, but it always worked for me.
I did the same thing every time I had a review until I stopped working for other people and more often than not it resulted in either a development plan to get a pay rise, a promotion with more money, or just more money.
Stuff like this might be more difficult on some industries than others, but it always worked for me.
Given your time there, I'd say your chances of a pay rise are zero. You could look at promotion to a higher pay grade/responsibility, but unless you're exceedingly good and skilled at your job to the point where management have noticed, you're not likely to get any traction on this route either.
Management won't care for your commuting costs unless you're invaluable to the business and by losing you it would seriously impact their bottom line.
Imo your options will be :
1. suck it up.
2. get a more economical car or sell it and get a scooter/bike.
3. move closer.
4. change job to one closer to home or one with more money.
Fuel and living costs are going to keep going up - that's what happens when your "print" trillions in fake money to pay your debts.
Management won't care for your commuting costs unless you're invaluable to the business and by losing you it would seriously impact their bottom line.
Imo your options will be :
1. suck it up.
2. get a more economical car or sell it and get a scooter/bike.
3. move closer.
4. change job to one closer to home or one with more money.
Fuel and living costs are going to keep going up - that's what happens when your "print" trillions in fake money to pay your debts.
How did you establish what the market rate was for someone of your skills & experience
Why did you take a job paying less than that 'market rate' ?
Was it acknowledged by anyone at the time ? (eg prove yourself for 6 months & we'll review things)
As above, entirely possible that they won't even consider you for a rise - depends on their policy. In most firms I've worked for, the annual pay review is a communication and not a negotiation. There can be off cycle negotiations & also some expectation settings on the run up to the review - but on the day, it's a one way communication.
Why did you take a job paying less than that 'market rate' ?
Was it acknowledged by anyone at the time ? (eg prove yourself for 6 months & we'll review things)
As above, entirely possible that they won't even consider you for a rise - depends on their policy. In most firms I've worked for, the annual pay review is a communication and not a negotiation. There can be off cycle negotiations & also some expectation settings on the run up to the review - but on the day, it's a one way communication.
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