WIBU to ask for a payrise?

[TheRealMrsHannigan]

Not right now, seeing as I was given the annual pay review recently anyway.

I am currently undertaking ALOT of training on various systems for my role, as well as starting a course with much more 'depth' later this month to enhance my qualifications. By March/April I will be fully trained up to match one of my colleagues, as my manager has stated he wants our roles to be interchangeable in the event of holidays, sickness absence etc, so we'd essentially be doing the same job.
I am on approximately 5K less than this colleague (who is the same age as me), would it be unreasonable of me to ask, once my training is compete, that my pay be bumped up to match my colleagues?

I have never asked for a payrise before, and I don't want to come across as grasping or ungrateful, so am just worried how this could come across?

I dont' think YABU if you are both doing the same job, you should both get paid the same amount.
I would make sure you job is secure before you ask though

Nothing to lose in asking - however your colleague is (presumably) more experienced than you so you shouldn't necessarily expect your salary to be the same as his.

If you are taking on a new role it's fair enough to ask for your pay to be reviewed.

Alot of training.

Age is not relevant. Not in the slightest. You could retrain now and be paid less than someone who was 10 years younger than you if they had more experience at the job.

If you are expected to be interchangeable (have you got that written down?) and you are both considered to be equally qualified and equally capable then you should be paid the same amount.

If you are expected to be able to cover for one another but one of you is clearly more experienced and there are things that one of you is capable of that the other is not, then it makes sense for the more experienced one to be paid more.

It's mainly from a systems point of view, so experience isn't really a deciding factor, as once you know how to use these systems, you can do the tasks necessary for the job if that makes sense?

My colleague has more experience in this professional area, but in another country, so from a UK perspective, we are on an equal footing. In terms of working experience, we are also equal, having both finished Uni at the same age and started work etc.

It is very much the plan that we become interchangeable, as there are certain times of year where work will peak, so having two of us with the same capabilities is the aim.

I guess I'm just nervous because I've never asked for a payrise before. My manager is very reasonable, I just wanted to sound out whether I'd have a good case for asking.

Try to get it in writing that the two roles are interchangeable, exactly the same, equivalent, of the same value, any other words that mean "the same".

If you're doing the same job you deserve the same pay if you're fully trained.

I would think that your employer wants to keep you if they've took the trouble to train you.

Ask and I should think you will get it.

We've just started our annual review cycle, so are setting our targets etc for the year ahead, so in my review paperwork it's been stated that the roles are to become interchangeable.

Can you conspire with your coworker?

Look here, our roles are to become interchangeable, I think that we should both ask for a payrise (to the same amount), what do you think?

Onlyaninja, that may well be worth considering, thanks!

have they been with the company longer?

Maddening, no they actually joined three months after I did.

yanbu

Well, if you are being trained up to match them then it makes sense that they are paid more at present. Perhaps phrase it that if you are to be expected to take on more tasks etc you presume you will be recompensed for that and perhaps at the end of a 3 month 'probationary' period you would like your pay reviewed?

Go for it!!

Never be shy about asking for what you're worth.

Are they paying for the training? In which case, they are investing in you - after the training, you could walk out and get another job at a higher salary and they'd not get any benefit in having trained you!

Nothing wrong with asking and sounds like you have good grounds if you're supposed to be interchangeable once you've finished (out of interest, does colleague also know this is the plan?)

You don't say whether the colleague is male or female (I don't think?) but if it's a male colleague then you have more scope for getting one if you start mentioning equal pay.

Most of the training is in house as they are in house systems, there is one external course they are sending me on.
Colleague is awre of the intention for us to share the work and be interchangeable, and is a female so there is no gender pay discrepancies.

It's just that I am very aware it will mean quite a large increase in workload and I will still be carrying out my current duties, I'm happy to do that as it increases my knowledge base, I'd just like it reflected in my pay really.

But they are still spending time investing in you - and if the added responsibilities make you more marketable to other companies, they are still taking a risk.

You can ask - and certainly if you'd had the training and spent, say, 6 months acting up to the supervisory role, then you'd certainly be due one. But I'm thinking the answer right now will be no and could actually jeopardise getting that extra training for someone who is interested in a bit of quid pro quo...

Northerngirl41, sorry if I didin't make it clear, I wasnt intending on asking now, but after my training was complete and I'd started taking on the extra tasks and responsibilities.

YANBU to ask for a pay rise once you are better qualified, but you are being unreasonable to expect to be paid the same as a colleague who is more experienced than you, even if that experience is from another country.

I'm glad ninja got there before me re alot

Surely if they're taking a risk that she'll leave and take her training elsewhere, the answer will be yes?

The reason why more women are paid less than their male counterparts (aside from negotiation skills, timing of when they're hired, etc.) is that they don't ask for them.

ASK FOR IT! You've got perfectly justifiable reasons motivating you.

"Should you ask" shouldn't even come into it. If your manager is anything other than a total dimwit s/he will be waiting on when, not if, you raise this as a topic of discussion.

Just ensure that you have a plan for what happens. If they say no, can you negotiate a review 3 months post-qualification? Or rather than a salary increase, can you get an upgrade in other areas of your remuneration package e.g. an extra 5 days leave each year or something?

Clarify exactly what you need to get a yes. Or you might get a yes straight off. Ensure you are well prepared to concisely and pointedly market yourself (I'm not going to call it "argue" your case, as I don't think people do themselves any favours when they see it as a battle of wills).

This is a busines decision, remember - you are a resource that your company needs, as evidenced by the training. If they can agree a mutually compatible salary package to retain that resource (you), great - if not, plan your exit as you are clearly not appreciated.

AThingInYourLife I agree it's unlikely to be a NO based on the OP's facts.

But the level of that "yes" might vary. There's a huge difference between "here's a £500/yr salary increase to add to your £45k/yr package, even though your colleague is on £50k" vs. (say) "here's a £2k a year salary increase to add to your £18k a year salary, whilst that other colleague is on £23k".

1% of peanuts is still peanuts, and all that

it depends on the attitude of the company.

.i work somewhere where 'experience' is valued over ability. my colleague gets paid ten percent more than me and gets five more days annual leave just because they've been here longer. our job descriptions are identical but there are now aspects of my job that they cannot do.

Great advice nogood

Was just querying the advice that she should be grateful they had "invested in her", like it was some kind of treat given from the bottom of their hearts.