I changed jobs in June last year. Took a fairly hefty pay cut (c. 25,000) to go to a smaller firm which could offer me the same job but with a better work life balance and more responsibility. Very standard and expected move in my industry as the hours are brutal at the bigger places.
When I joined I told them a figure I wouldn't move for less than. They couldn't give me it as a base salary as it was a little above the standard band for my level but they topped up the salary with a signing bonus of £6k to make it the round figure to get me to come. I did.
Though potential later pay rises weren't discussed specifically at interview or at that time, the firm is sizeable enough that they review pay once a year etc. I made it clear to my boss I didn't expect a bonus this year as I couldn't meet the target with all the induction training etc and also as they'd already given me the signing bonus and therefore a larger salary anyway.
Today we got letters telling us what our new pay will be from summer. I hadn't expected a rise as I was already a little above what my experience band is, but as I wasn't getting a bonus I did expect them to increase it by the £6k of the signing bonus in order to make it up to the amount I started on. They've increased it by £4K only.
I feel like I've effectively taken a £2k cut. But I think their view would be that the signing bonus was a one off. Given that I made it clear that i wasn't coming here for less than the salary plus the signing bonus as a total, am I really being unreasonable to bring it up and say I feel that I've effectively taken a pay cut?!