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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be completely fucked off and frankly insulted

29 replies

InanimateCarbonRod · 10/06/2014 10:39

So I got a pay raise last month. I spent 7 months running the department alone when my colleague left. I was promised said raise as a thanks for the ridiculous hours and the workload over those 7 months. A whole 1.2%. Which after tax means I get €22 extra a month. I felt like it was a slap in the face. I seethed a bit but just got on with it but today an invoice passed my desk for an executive lunch with a bill of €5800. FOR A LUNCH. AIBU to be so fucking annoyed that if they can spend 6k on a lunch, surely they can afford to give better pay raises?

OP posts:
ManchesterAunt · 10/06/2014 10:42

Yanbu!!! But then I wonder if you should have syamped your feet harder when you got 1.2%.

LaurieFairyCake · 10/06/2014 10:45

Unfortunately for all you know, that 6k lunch could have brought in a million quids worth of business.

But we'll never know even though it looks like it sucks big hairy balls.

Amilionmilesaway · 10/06/2014 10:46

You will get some flannel about pay structures and accountabilty blah but YANBU!

Davsmum · 10/06/2014 10:46

YANBU. Bloody typical! I hear stuff like this too often. Thing is - some bosses take advantage of people who are prepared to do more than they are paid for.
I would really, really, have to take the issue up with my boss!

Gen35 · 10/06/2014 10:49

Time to look for a new job since you have lots of new skills that make you more marketable? People who stay in forms a longtime often get underpaid relative to the market rate. Go see what a recruitment consultant can do for you (I'm not one btw :)

Original poster
InanimateCarbonRod · 10/06/2014 10:51

Thanks for the validation. I know there is a lot of wheeling and dealing but it's so frustrating to know that there a people in the office here struggling to make ends meet. I'm fully prepared to leave this job and go to one where I'm appreciated.

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 10/06/2014 10:52

YANBU.

Regardless of the lunch thing, that is a lame pay rise. Sad

ShakesBootyFlabWobbles · 10/06/2014 10:53

YANBU for feeling annoyed about the low payrise and the expensive lunch unfairness.

You need to decide if you are going to do something about it or just be annoyed. If the former, book a meeting with your boss and let them know that you think there has been an oversight, that you singlehandedly ran a department for 7 months and was promised an adequate payrise, which 1.2% isn't. Even if they won't budge on that as a flat percentage rise, give them a counter offer of a one-off discretionary award that you'd find acceptable.

You don't ask, you don't get. Best of luck.

Milmingebag · 10/06/2014 10:53

Learn your lesson and do the minimum until another job comes along. People who over stretch themselves are never appreciated but get more piled on them in my experience.

HeeHiles · 10/06/2014 10:55

Similar thing happened to me years ago - bought in tens of thousands of pounds in new business and was told to look in pay packet for my bonus this Christmas ;-) So excited!!! Ripped open my payslip and discovered my 'bonus' was £35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I left!

Gen35 · 10/06/2014 11:11

Yes I agree with shakes tell them you are not happy with the level of recognition clearly, without making threats and if you get no undertaking to try and do something, then start shopping for a new, better paid job.

JockTamsonsBairns · 10/06/2014 11:17

I'm thinking that actually, that 1.2% wasn't even a pay rise as such, but the annual inflationary jobby that most people get? Is there much movement in your field Op? I'd be looking around at what else there is and, at the very least, using that as leverage to try to get the proper pay rise you were assured of.

AllTheUsernamesAreTaken · 10/06/2014 11:17

I remember working for a firm many years ago when I was a very junior member of staff on a very low wage. My dept head, who was a partner in the firm, told me that if I met my target for that year, I would get a significant pay rise. I met my target but got a rubbish pay rise, basically cost of living. I discussed it with the practice manager who said that the partner shouldn't have said that I would get the pay rise, that he didn't have that authority (despite being an equity partner.) and tough!

You should definitely discuss their pathetic pay rise with them OP, you deserve to be properly remunerated for the extra work you did but only you can make that happen. If they refuse to acknowledge the extra work, then it's time to start looking for a new job.

Original poster
InanimateCarbonRod · 10/06/2014 11:37

Thanks for the words of encouragement. It really is pathetic isn't it? Considering all I've done - including training in two new staff members as my manager is remote. I'm a project manager and my skills are transferable to most projects with the exception of construction as it's a very particular field. What has kept me here is the work from home option and the flexible hours but I suppose I can be a bit more demanding when applying for a new job considering that it's a want more than a need.

Milmingebag I've already reduced my productivity a lot and am doing the minimum I need to do.

OP posts:
Me624 · 10/06/2014 11:46

Ask your boss/manager for a meeting to discuss it. Prepare notes on your achievements etc which justify you deserving higher pay. Present it to your manager as calmly as possible and ask them to review it. Companies all rely on the fact that the majority of people do not have the balls to bring up pay - because it is awkward and difficult and emotive. But if you do, in my experience you will almost always get somewhere.

Also, it sets the scene well for the future. I complained about a poor pay rise (1.5%), justified why I should get more (I don't know what you do OP but for me this was quite easy by reference to financial targets etc) and they increased it to 4.5% without much of a fight at all. The following year they didn't try and fob me off with 1.5% again as they knew I was serious!

GrendelsMinim · 10/06/2014 11:49

Oh, just go and look for a new job.

Get your CV ready, start looking for what's out there, and apply for things that you think are out of your league. You'd be surprised...

carolineannabel22 · 10/06/2014 12:14

I have been in the same job for 8 years and haven't had one pay rise. If I was really shit at my job, it might explain it. However, I think I do a pretty good job and bosses always seem happy with me. Think they are just tight.

I do get benefits in other areas - working from home on a Friday, can always go home if DD ill etc.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 10/06/2014 12:34

At the time you could have refreshed their memory and described the hike in hours and workload.

When are you due a performance review?

Ask them to consider giving you an adjustment or a special lump sum bonus? Nothing ask nothing get.

You may wish to update your CV and start looking elsewhere.

wheresthelight · 10/06/2014 12:44

You got a pay rise, I have worked for the same company for 6 years and never had one

Be grateful you got anything at all! I have done myangers job for months and not even got a thank you

Vintagebeads · 10/06/2014 12:46

I leant this lesson the hard way.
I did move in the end and there was very little thanks for all the extra time I put in.
When I started in my new job I made sure still to give 100% but remind myself that it was a buisness...their buisness and I was not working for free.
They wouldnt get any outside contractor too so why should I.
Its tough but you have to value yourself more.

Gen35 · 10/06/2014 13:09

wheresthelight time to look for a new job then? Seriously why should you just be grateful and not make sure you're paid the market value for your skills?

Original poster
InanimateCarbonRod · 10/06/2014 14:09

wheresthelight perhaps it's time to look for a new job! I shouldn't have to be grateful for the job. I work hard - beyond what was asked so shouldn't I be compensated for that?!

My performance review was in February last. I got a couple of 5s for productivity and performance. My manager said that nobody ever gets a 5 but after all I did she couldn't possible give me less, so obviously I was expecting to be financially compensated to match my review.

OP posts:
teaandthorazine · 10/06/2014 14:17

Be grateful you got anything at all! I have done myangers job for months and not even got a thank you

It's not a race to the bottom.

mrsbucketxx · 10/06/2014 14:26

it may seem like a slap in the face but remember that all of the lunches go through as expenses and will be deducted from their tax bill. if thats less they pay less NI too.

that's in the uk anyway

salaries are are calculated differently, its not as much as a slight but a tax dodge

JeanSeberg · 10/06/2014 14:38

Unfortunately you did things in the wrong order - you did the work before negotiating a pay rise.

The correct process should have been:

"Yes, I'll be more than happy to cover for x colleague who's just left. In order to do this, I will be looking for a pay rise of x per cent. Please let me know when is convenient to arrange a review to agree my new responsibilities and the corresponding salary increase."

Has the colleague been replaced now or is there still a vacancy?