Taking the proverbial

[The Lukas]

So after coming out of my apprenticeship last year, I should have been put on the skilled rate, but since I finished a bit too late (Janurary instead of September) from no fault of my own (how could I do whole module on air conditioning if there is none I can work on) they said that because of their annual workings and the like, I will have to wait till next September for may pay to go up.

I didn't pursue it, untill I asked why again a month later to be given: 'this has been done in your best interest to give you a chance to get to know the site a bit better and gain experience'

I can't argue with that (how can I?) but I don't get taught much, I always work on my own because of the menial jobs need doing (jobs I don't mind doing and carry their fair share of skilled work) and jobs I specialise in.

So here comes Septembers paycheck and I have given the apprentice rate still. After allot of (polite and nice) hounding to my boss, he admits again (like last year) he doesn't know how it works (I was taken on differently from other apprentices) and will chase it up. He then tells me hours later it's all sorted, I'm not on skilled rate but my September will not get backpayed. He explained many technicalities which I lost track of.

I've lost ££££s already from being held back and now loosing more £££s from this months pay. Am I being unreasonable? Do they want to get rid of me? Shall I just turn somewhere else? I'm just sick of it

[Simbu]

I don't think they want rid of you, rather sounds like they've been happy about you having you work there for relatively cheap, and now that you've persured it they've given in. I'd have complained much earlier if i were you, don't expect employers to give away money if they can get away with not doing so.

I'd accept it as a lesson learned and consider aside from the issues you've described if you want to stay there or move on. If you're still learning alot of skills that put you in good stead for the rst of your career then it might be worth hanging around until your pay is out of line with your skills again, or you've run out of things to learn.

Just my 2 pennies worth

[spikeyhead]

In life, you get not what you deserve, but what you negotiate.

[JB!]

I finished my apprenticeship in June, and am still on apprentice wages, despite doing a skilled job full time, however I am in posession of an email from HR that states when I finally get a new role, all pay is backdated to July.

You NEED to push to get full time pay. Especially if your doing a full time Job.

[The Lukas]

Yes I understand that now. There is just no sense of loyalty there anymore I really think they have taken advantage and makes me feel kind of screwedand worthless. Maybe it'll get better. I'm going to fight to get Septembers pay though.

[anonymous-user]

spikeyhead said:

In life, you get not what you deserve, but what you negotiate.

Aint that the truth!! (although NOT always)

[bern]

This really gets my back up.

I had pretty much the same problem when I finished my apprenticeship, and almost every other apprentice I have worked with since has had the same problem.

The issue of trying to get full money or at the very least a mid-way salary is a major one. Personally I found the only way to move forward was to find another job as a skilled worker at another company. Which is a ridiculous situation to be put in, after all the time, money, and effort a company invests in you to mould you into their working culture and practices only to refuse you a proper wage after you have served your time.

By the sound of it you have handled the issue far more professionally than they have and hopefully you will get the proper outcome (and wage) without having to move elsewhere.