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Original poster

To feel undervalued due to minimum wage increase?

63 replies

Littlebittiredoflife · 07/02/2025 08:04

When I first started this job four years ago I was earning enough in 15 hours as if I was working 16 hours at minimum wage. This meant as a family we could access the tax free childcare scheme. However for a while I've not earned enough to access that. I'm currently earning less than what the minimum wage will be from April. I'm just feeling that my time is worth less year on year given that everything else has risen in price. I'm not sure what I can do bar finding another job, but I'm lucky I like my work and they are flexible with hours. Anyone else feeling this way?

OP posts:
Tohaveandtohold · 07/02/2025 08:35

So op works 15 hours currently but her salary is the equivalent of working 16 hours on minimum wage. So with that, she can access the tax free childcare.
Now that the minimum wage is increasing, even though her employer is paying her the minimum wage amount, because she’s working 15 hours a week, though just a small amount, it means she’ll lose the tax free childcare help.
Basically, it sucks but your options are

  1. ask for a small salary increase to meet the threshold or hope they increase it
  2. ask if they can increase your hours by 1.
Glad those on minimum wage gets an increase
VioletSpeedwell · 07/02/2025 08:31

I don't know why people get sniffy about being paid the minimum wage. It was meant to enhance the dignity of workers but many on MN act as though it's a personal insult that (a) some people earn the same as them or (b) they are only deemed worthy of the minimum wage.

GermanBite · 07/02/2025 08:28

Can you ask them to increase your hours to 16 per week so you can access TFC?

Agix · 07/02/2025 08:27

You will at least get minimum wage.

If your employer doesn't want to increase your wage to more than minimum mum wage, that's on them.

Either stay and deal with it, or talk with your feet and find sonewhere else that pays what you want if you believe you and your work are worth it.

Frowningprovidence · 07/02/2025 08:24

I have sympathy.

It's right that minimum wage has increased as the cost of basics have risen.

But more and more roles have been sucked into minimum wage and it is demoralising if you had done extra to get a little more and are now back being paid the legal minimum.

I find mn a bit obtuse on this.i think people often end up arguing no job is worth more than any other and we should all earn minimum wage and be grateful.

BathSpider · 07/02/2025 08:24

I am confused;

Yes your employer will give you the nation minimum wage in April - it’s the law

Is your biggest gripe you don’t currently work enough hours and/or receive enough of a salary to receive in work benefits?

Original poster
Littlebittiredoflife · 07/02/2025 08:20

Catza · 07/02/2025 08:13

When I used to work in a private sector, I always asked for an annual meeting (regular appraisals are not a norm in every company) where I would discuss progression with a view of earning a pay rise. Did you ask for a pay rise at any point in the last 4 years? What was the feedback?

Unfortunately I'm in the charity sector. I did have a pay rise every year from between around 2%-5% which at the time seemed reasonable. It's with the loss of access to tax free childcare (you need to earn 16 hours at minimum wage to get this) and about to earn minimum wage that I've become irked.

OP posts:
Originblueberry · 07/02/2025 08:18

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Original poster
Littlebittiredoflife · 07/02/2025 08:18

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No, the minimum wage is going up in April. Right now I'm earning under what it will be, I hope they will raise it in April to minimum wage and I will talk to them if they don't.

OP posts:
thisfilmisboring123 · 07/02/2025 08:17

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Presumably OP is on something between what the current NMW is and what it will be in April.

Quinlan · 07/02/2025 08:17

Your wage will go up in April then.

Originblueberry · 07/02/2025 08:15

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Catza · 07/02/2025 08:13

When I used to work in a private sector, I always asked for an annual meeting (regular appraisals are not a norm in every company) where I would discuss progression with a view of earning a pay rise. Did you ask for a pay rise at any point in the last 4 years? What was the feedback?