Company messed up salary- unsure what to do

There isn’t a “disagree” button. You can only see those who agree. Not exactly getting the whole picture.

Why would you press agree when you don't?

But you have not answered re the terms. How would you start in a role not knowing/understanding the terms of the contract? By starting the job, you are essentially agreeing to terms you know nothing about. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you are wrong, I’m just finding it baffling.

I understand that some contracts have standard terms you won’t be able to negotiate (have had that with our NHS equivalent, public service) but others do. Irrespective, it seems common sense to understand what you are agreeing to before agreeing🤷‍♀️. My kids give me their contracts to review and go through before signing to accept any job. ETA - The most recent one (for a huge 😲multi-national) they negotiated the standard notice period for their position down from 6 to 3 months, and had the timeframe for a non-compete clause altered. If they had of been merrily sitting on a seat working before receiving the contract, their bargaining ability would have been zero. Similarly, many people with wfh ability have now clued that contract detail is key and instead of accepting the usual wishy washy clauses are negotiating having minimum 2/3 days wfh and remainder in company location as directed etc, to avoid getting burnt with verbal promises and then 12mths later a 5 days wfh return to office mandate.

Really not! The OP did nothing wrong, has been handed a barrel of excuses & hasn't had a paycheck yet.

It's not even clear what she was told, or 'checked' the £15 vs £140 against.

So no, "most" people aren't secretly agreeing with you, they are wondering what you have to contribute to OPs actual predicament other than being a complete bitch to her.

HTH.

Is your life so sad you can't enjoy humour? Anyway there are more people agreeing with me (albeit secretly) than there are snowflakes saying" oh my God how dare you criticise anyone".

Of course you are entitled to what you signed a contract for and what was advertised.

I am just checking-is the issue that your takehome is lower than expected or the base salary?

I can't see your response in thread, but check your quoted salary isn't quoted pro rata, and dedications are reasonable (student loans are notoriously overcharged but you will also be paying pension etc.)

I would also check tax codes are correct (you may be being charged as if this were a second job if your resignation hasn't worked through).

And good luck in your new post

Employment contracts are legally binding on the parties to it just as any other contract ie mortgage contract etc.

Employer made a mistake. Tough on them especially you will tell them this is misrepresentation leading you to accept the job which you wouldn’t have done at the lower salary.

Your union must make sure guarantees are given by your employer against any constructive dismissal and meanwhile start looking for another job at your higher salary.

Next time in the interview ask questions about proposed salary.

What a bitchy comment. Is your life so sad you need to hit out at others?

Well, yes. Hence jobs related to education... My apologies if it has others as well.

Isn't it the Times Educational Supplement?

The contract had rhe same salary as the job advert....

Honestly, id look for another job. You can be honest, its not your fault. Just say they advertised a salary of x, put that in your contract, then announced they'd got it wrong and changed it to y. Say your confidence is them and trust has been badly breached .
Or just say the actual job isn't as advertised and you feel its time to cut your losses.

They are very much in the wrong, but id just get out ASAP whilst keeping your seat warm and not wrangling with hr. You can tackle them legally later but do check this all with ACAS.

All the best to you

@EnidSpyton had the nail smack on the head. Do what she posted.

Then talk to ACAS or your union if you're in one. You have a legal contract to be paid what you signed for. They can't reduce it because someone on their side was too lax to check the details in the paperwork & now wants to reduce what they've contractually stated they will pay you.

As someone in private sector, I too would never dream of resigning without a signed contract in hand. I always make sure there are 2 inked copies signed by both parties. I keep one and the employer gets one. I absolutely accept that other sectors may work differently, but a verbal contract can be a legally binding contract still.

In OPs case, the contract will be stood up on the advertised salary AND the fact she signed paperwork on it. Getting railroaded by some muppet trying to backtrack their departmental error does NOT constitute a new verbal contract.

And start looking for another post with an organisation that can distinguish its arse from its elbow OP!

Id ring acas they sre really good £140 is a lot and doesnt bode well as an employer to treat you like this

Ah... It seems you have a Contract paying the salary advertised for the job. And you've signed it...

They will find it incredibly difficult to demonstrate that you should be paid anything else. I wouldn't talk to HR. I'd talk to Payroll. They lied to you about this whole "£15" thing anyway. Just point out that you have a signed contract that says you are to be paid x amount which is what was advertised for the job. And don't accept less.

And agreed, if you're in Education and not in a Union... Join one. The NEU is open to pretty much anyone who works in Education. If your workplace doesn't have a Rep, your local branch will be happy to advise you.

Well yes but what would you do if literally all teaching jobs are the same and you want a teaching job?

Happened to me. Your salary is what you signed on. If they try to reduce that you have tribunal case.

As this thread and the OP's predicament demonstrates, everything works fine .... until it doesn't.

@Anyahyacinth mentions a number of areas of employment where it is rare to recieve a contract before starting work, although an offer letter can be regarded as being legally binding unless it contains a clause such as "subject to satisfactory references" or something similar.

On the other hand, in private industry it would be unusual for anyone to start work, or even resign from their current job, without having seen and signed a contract of employment. I have seen it explained that for reasons of liability, the new recruit cannot so much as set foot on the premises (obviously they can enter the reception area on their first day) and certainly cannot touch any machinery, access any computer systems, speak to any customers or drive any company vehicle etc. unless and until they have signed the contract and have officially become an employee.

In teaching you have to resign by three specific dates in the year (e.g. 31st May to start a new school on 1st September). Interviews are very often in the week before these dates. If you waited until you had a contract to resign, you'd never leave or start a teaching job in England. It's just not how the education sector works.

Solicitors, NHS, Probation, Victim Support, Court Services, Local Authority, Charity Sector ....none sent contracts out before starting work...offer letters yes...contract no

I have never known of this for myself or anyone else, over several decades in the workforce. I’ve never resigned from a job until I have a signed contract and it would be a cold day in hell before I’d step foot in a workplace without a signed contract. Every contract I’ve had, or indeed offered to anyone over the years I’ve hired people has always had the commencement date in it. What you describe seems absolutely batshit as who would even accept an offer without reviewing the terms of the contract? What if you accept a job, start and then are given a contract with unsuitable terms? That makes no sense.

Technically an employer doesn’t have to give you a contract until day 1 but that is the latest. Always ensure you have your contract and have it signed before you resign from an old job and at least before you start work.

OP - your salary on your contract, which I understand is the one you assumed all along, is now your salary. If they say they’ve made a mistake you simply say no, this is what I agreed and was issues and signed. Stay firm. I say this as someone who has worked in HR for 20 years.

Everyone - you can check your salary and tax/NI very easily using these links.

https://listentotaxman.com

https://www.gov.uk/check-income-tax-current-year

OT

@SerendipityJane wrote But generally incompetence on that scale is rarely lonely.

I’ve not heard that phrase before. I like it.

In my first teaching job, the county council that was employing me acted like me questioning where my contract was (after starting work) was completely outrageous and they were just focusing on ensuring everyone got paid, didn't I know?

Well I’m ‘not being funny but’ I was responding to someone saying all Op had to do was take the salary and divide it by 12. And it’s not that simple because there are different take codes, some people have student loans, pension contributions etc. So dividing the annual salary by 12 doesn’t give you your take home wage. You need to look into it, use an online calculator, check the details, which is exactly what she did once she had time. So next time you decide to ‘not be funny’ why not read what I’m actually replying to first?