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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find salary offered an insult?

508 replies

Willowtree5 · 16/10/2025 14:20

As part of a restructure, I have been asked if I would take on three direct reports (I currently don’t manage anyone, but have in the past - big pull of current role was no line management responsibility).

I said I’d consider it - whilst I know I can manage people, it does add to my workload and the ‘mental load’ of dealing with all the crap around sickness/absence, 1:1’s etc.

My manager said she’d establish what additional uplift to my salary would be possible and let me know.

They’ve come back with an offer of £125,000 (current salary pre bonuses £105,000) which I find frankly insulting given the workload this would add.

AIBU to tell them to stuff it?

OP posts:
Goldbar31 · 16/10/2025 17:45

I earn less and manage multiple teams across UK & Europe.

I think it’s a good offer in the current climate, where efficiencies are being made.

People management can be a real
headache, but in a world where tech is rapidly evolving and AI is able to streamline tasks, it could futureproof your career and make you more valuable (industry dependent).

Marylou2 · 16/10/2025 17:43

I'd see this as an investment in your future. Not sure how old you are but all the payrise and a bit more would need to go into your pension as the tax between £100k and 120k is brutal due to the loss of personal allowance. I know you'll already know this. Future you will thank you though.

Nandina · 16/10/2025 17:41

I'd love to be insulted by an offer of £125k. What do you do, OP?

Galatine · 16/10/2025 17:41

They could insult me with that salary anytime they wished. Nice not so stealth boast OP.

HappyAsASandboy · 16/10/2025 17:41

I would take it and stash the £20k in your pension. Every time the staff piss you off, just think of the pension uplift.

It also gets you well into the dreaded £100k - £150k bracket, which likely means your next job will be above £150k. If you declare a current salary of £105k when you next move jobs, you’ll be unlikely to get >£150k. If you declare £125k when you next move jobs then you likely will. It shouldn’t work that way, but it does.

Christmasjoy6 · 16/10/2025 17:41

Willowtree5 · 16/10/2025 17:10

I find the NHS comparisons a tad strange. That’s a passion job - I agree it’s underpaid, but people willingly do it.

That’s incredibly patronising. Thank goodness we have people who choose to work in health and education. Certainly not a passion job.

indoorplantqueen · 16/10/2025 17:40

You already earn a great salary. On paper it’s a good uplift. I take it you’ll be managing them in work time, so you’re not required to work more hours.
if you don’t need the money then don’t do it.

Lipglosser · 16/10/2025 17:38

Never acceptvtbe first offer, tell them what you expect

Christmasjoy6 · 16/10/2025 17:37

Willowtree5 · 16/10/2025 16:02

No

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Is he not able to?

Okiedokie123 · 16/10/2025 17:34

£125k how dreadful for you.

ThatNattyPlayer · 16/10/2025 17:33

I earn a less than this and have more people reporting to me in a business that makes a lot of money
but I’m also grateful for my job and salary as I know it’s still well above the average salary a lot of people get and given the current climate I would never question it to them.

Andprettygood · 16/10/2025 17:31

Willowtree5 · 16/10/2025 15:19

More fool you for not asserting yourself and negotiating for a fair deal.

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And still no response about what you have done to assert yourself / negotiate!! Which I suppose is an answer in itself fu*k all just mumsnetted about it!

bridgetreilly · 16/10/2025 17:30

I don’t really understand what you are so angry about. If you don’t want to do it, don’t. If you’re so sure you would just walk into another role do that. No one in forcing you to do anything.

ClarasSisters · 16/10/2025 17:29

Willowtree5 · 16/10/2025 17:10

I find the NHS comparisons a tad strange. That’s a passion job - I agree it’s underpaid, but people willingly do it.

Read the first few posts and was wondering if you were for real. Came to this one and realised nope, absolutely just being a goady fucker.

Hurdygurdy123 · 16/10/2025 17:28

Willowtree5 · 16/10/2025 17:10

I find the NHS comparisons a tad strange. That’s a passion job - I agree it’s underpaid, but people willingly do it.

I think that's a bit patronising. When you enter a career you don't often know the pay trajectory or how much you will need the money when your life has moved on decades later.

I'd take the money, siphon it into pension, give it a couple of years, and look for something different if it's not what you want, unless you've young children who'll sense your stress.

StandFirm · 16/10/2025 17:28

HermioneWeasley · 16/10/2025 14:23

A 20% increase in the current climate seems good to me

But 200% increase in aggro!

Namechangetry · 16/10/2025 17:27

LOL my line manager makes less than me! (And a lot less than OP).

Given OPs people skills on this thread, probably best not to line manage anyone for any price.

LooseCanyon · 16/10/2025 17:26

cadburyegg · 16/10/2025 17:24

Not to the tune of 105k!!

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Well, yes. But that is not the point you seemed to be making?

cadburyegg · 16/10/2025 17:24

LooseCanyon · 16/10/2025 17:22

They live in outer London, and they're on UC to top up their wages.

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Not to the tune of 105k!!

InSpainTheRain · 16/10/2025 17:23

I dont think that's an insult at all. Rather than considering the number of people you'll manage what work will you be responsible for? I recently retired but had 180 people in my org and was on 140k. I have included these details to make the point that salary doesn't increase in line with the number ofreports.

OMGitsnotgood · 16/10/2025 17:22

Given your comments in the OP and the way you are responding to people on this thread, I honestly don’t think people management is for you, regardless of how much they offer you to do it.

LooseCanyon · 16/10/2025 17:22

Spookyspaghetti · 16/10/2025 17:11

And where do you think the McDonald’s staff in the London branches live 🙄

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They live in outer London, and they're on UC to top up their wages.

LauraHopkins · 16/10/2025 17:21

I accepted a similar 20% payrise in July to take on a team of 4, as well as more responsibility, so your situation seems fair to me. My friend earns half that managing a team of 70, so, with perspective, sometimes dealing with 3-4 professional, self-motivated people isn’t quite as time consuming or as difficult as one may assume.

Spookyspaghetti · 16/10/2025 17:11

Willowtree5 · 16/10/2025 14:43

Have you tried living in London as a single person with nursery age kids?

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And where do you think the McDonald’s staff in the London branches live 🙄

Original poster
Willowtree5 · 16/10/2025 17:10

I find the NHS comparisons a tad strange. That’s a passion job - I agree it’s underpaid, but people willingly do it.

OP posts: