A little long - apologies
I've been working in the same place now for quite a few years. A few years in, I went part time (3 days/week) Relatively speaking compared to most, it's a great situation as
a) It's a not an industry where part time work is the norm. So a rare thing.
b) It's a relatively well paid job
c) I have some flexibility in when I work each week.
d) My workmates are a good bunch
e) The work is, most of the time, reasonably interesting - though I could do with more of a challenge more regularly as I like to be stretched. I've made this clear recently - though the scope for this is limited.
The company too is onto a very good deal with me compared to a full time worker imho, as my output is easily as good as some similar grade full time workers despite working less and being a lot cheaper. No sick days (just rearrange for later in week) etc as well. All round it works. The company is more than happy with me.
Also worth mentioning I was promoted a few years back, but didn't really get much of a pay bump. More of a more prestigious title thing - not a lot really changed. I said I wasn't over the moon about it at the time, and at each review since, but it hasn't been rectified - although I know that my new manager's manager was surprised at what my salary was when he saw it for the first time.
Basically, I know that if I was a full time worker, this would have been fixed by now. From discussions in the office, although no-one talks about salary directly, it's pretty clear that quite a few people (less senior) are on more than me (equalising for full time work), and looking around job sites too, I think I get a significant bump elsewhere.
They know though it's probably a much harder thing for me to leave then others, and maintain the part time work. However...
....I've recently been approached by a lot of recruiters, and made it clear that I'm reasonably happy where I am given everything. One has now said this might be a possibility to have a go at moving. The role potentially would be a > 30% bump in salary - up to a very tasty sum indeed.
It does have me thinking. If I can get another part time job offer, I'd have proven that it's not impossible, and I am worth the true market rate.
If that situation happens, and the other job is good and also offers growth ops, I would probably take it. If however, it wasn't necessarily the best fit (but the money was much better), would I be unreasonable to turn that job down, but 'use' the offer to get myself back to the compensation I think I should be on?
I'm not interested in wasting the other companies time, but I do feel the situation I'm in allows my company to not exactly have much incentive to bump my pay otherwise. Or is there another way
(well done for reading all that!)