How do I word this? regarding pay

[sorehead101]

I'm going to be writing up my comments to be put onto my annual review next month and I want to say something about how I'm being paid less than the person who did the job previously. (I won't bore you with the details of why this happened, but it's unfair) My equivalents in other organisations are paid significantly more than me for less work and fewer direct reports. The person before me got paid more than me.

I have been told many times there 'may be opportunities' and that my role is 'up for review' but I'm fed up of being polite and waiting. They've been stringing me along

I do of course still want to be polite... What do I say? I'm disappointed that I am being paid less to do the same job as the previous person/disappointed I'm paid below market rate/disappointed my loyalty and good nature has been taken advantage of????

I have alluded to this in the past but I want to word it more clearly now.

So, what do I say? Or shouldnt I bother...

(Yes, I know I should get another job, but easier said than done!)

[FunkyBoldRibena]

Two ways to address it - make a business case or get another job and leave/negotiate.

If it is easier said than done, why would they change anything?

[sorehead101]

I suppose the business case is, 'if I left, you couldn't get anyone else as good as me for as cheap as that.' - and 'you have treated me appallingly by taking the piss you bunch of shysters.'

I am in a very weak position, I know!

[winnertakesitall]

Have you asked outright for a payrise previously? I think you need to be brave and just put the case forward for a payrise, showing comparables!

[QueenBean]

I would take in cases of work where you've added value to the business, gone over and above for the job - basically gone above your pay

I would definitely have that conversation, say that you're feeling undervalued and so far, you've kept enthusiasm up but the issue of pay will lead you to be demotivated which will be a negative impact on your team and the business

If you put forward a clear case and a proposal for a pay increase they will have real difficulty in saying no. If they do, you can say "please can you tell me what I would have to do then for you to give me this pay increase?". On the off chance that you're not performing as highly as you think, they can then tell you

I would avoid discussing other peoples salaries unless there's a clear banding structure in your organisation, and in which case, only talk about yours (ie "I'm now at management level but being paid a band 3 salary, whereas a band 4 is more appropriate for my level of experience and responsibility")

[EBearhug]

Do you know how your salary compares for your level and experience compared with your industry in general? That can help your case (though they could also say, "well, go and get paid that elsewhere, then.") Have you done anything where you can show where you've either saved your organisation money (e.g. saved £X in paper costs by making the default printing mode double sided), or made them some money (e.g. increased sales).

If there's anything else where you can shown you've improve efficiency or whatever, that's also good, especially if you have numbers to go with it. (Management like numbers, in my experience.) Also, if you are managing more people and have a higher workload than others at the same level, make sure they are definitely aware of that. Make sure you have evidence about how you have reached and exceeded whatever your annual goals are.

And as QueenBean says, ask what you need to do to merit a payrise, if you're not there already - because the answer to that should feed your goals/development plan for next year.