to think this is a bit tight of my work

[MrsKeithRichards]

I'm employed part time, been with same organisation for almost 5 years. Fixed term contract (5 year) due to the funding that was secured to start up the service I work in. That's coming to an end soon, no further funding in place so working with the other project workers to wind the service up (think community youth work sort of thing)

It's just the way this sector is, so been looking out for something else. A service almost exactly the same as the one I'm in is starting up soon, through my current employer but different town. The job of project worker was up for grabs, still part time but 5 more hours a week than what I do already. Identical service, identical role, job description and everything.

I apply interview and have been offered the job. Great.

However when I started the procedure was you were placed a point up the pay scale from what you were on in the job you were leaving. As a result of that I joined half way up the scale and due to annual increments I'm now at the top of it.

That policy has been binned, cost cutting blah blah blah. So I'd have to go to the bottom of the scale. In real terms for working an extra 20 hours a week I'd be £60 a month better off but the extra day out the house, travel etc kind of writes that off.

They want me, I've started an identical service from scratch before, they know I can do it but they won't budge on this.

Extra 20 hours a month not a week!

is it 5 or 20 more hours a week?

have you told them what you'd be prepared to do it for? or are they absolutely not negotiating?

x-post

well you could play hardball and say that it's not enough. trouble is how easy will it be to find something else?

No chance of them shifting, policy is policy. If I was being made redundant and redeployed I'd be salary matched but as this is a new job, was advertised externally and my contract is just coming to an end in a couple of months I'm subject to the same conditions as Joe blogg despite my knowledge of the organisation, values etc.

I would just like to get paid what I do now!

that's shit.

they should pay what is needed to attract the right candidate. all this red tape is bollocks and does nobody any favours. they're lucky to have an applicant that is so perfect for the job.

so is there any other way they can accommodate you? cut the hours? other perks?

I'd hardly even get close to the point I'm at because this new post is fixed term for 2 years!

It's a charity. The board have said everyone starts at the lowest point and that's it. There's only about £3.5k pro rata between the top and bottom but my salary is small enough really.

That's shit. You need to look at whether it is worth your while and maybe have a scout around to see if there is anything better for you. The job market is appalling now though, so careful.

Best of luck!

I feel if I do take it I would have one eye on the job section and I don't want to do that. Ideally I'd like to see the service I'm in through to the end, about 10 weeks left which gives me some time. There are things out there, not a lot though.

I hate making decisions!

What about suggesting you WFH for the extra hours? You would then save on your extra travel costs for that day, although would still have the extra Childcare costs to cover.

If their hands are tied due to "policy" then there must be something else they can compromise on for the right candidate. Work out what that can be for you and put it to them?

Good luck, hard decision!

Agree, a quandry, and only you can answer...

A novel idea you might like to try. How about sitting or lying down somewhere in peace and quiet, no interruptions, and being with the question for a half hour or so. Spend some time with it, and see what comes up for you? It might shed further light on your dilemma.

Thanks for the advice. Still not sure what I'm going to do, was offered the job yesterday, just spoke to the manager and agreed I'll get back to them Monday. She's despairing too because her hands are tied. This policy isn't exactly encouraging internal applicants. They'd have to police check, train etc a new member of staff which probably cancels out the couple of grand a year in savings.

The board just won't approve starting a new post anywhere other than the bottom of the scale.

well that's just ridiculous. they're not going to get the best, most qualified person for the job.

whatever happened to a meritocracy? how naive of me.

Take the job. Look for other jobs. If you get offered something better then take it! You can be all nice about it but in the end you need to do what is best for you. It will also do the board good to realise that if they have procedures like this then it may come at a cost.

For various boring reasons over the last year I have become a convert in not shielding managers from there own mistakes!

Because we're a charity some drastic cost saving measures have been implemented since I started and this is one of them. Previously people could negotiate their starting position on the scale but not now.

I didn't want to take it just to move again, I love my work and want to do the best I can for them (in fact more the people I support than the management) but I need to look after my own as well.