To ask for a pay rise

[Alijane46]

I’ve been in my job as school business manager for 7 months and line manage three people. I’m experienced in the role and have worked in another school previously.

The job is going well, think the Head likes me and values what I do.

Recently the caretaker who I line manage asked for more money and for more hours. The head agreed to both as he’s a valuable member of the team and she didn’t want to loose him. He’s now on the same pay grade as me. Is it unreasonable for me to ask for a pay increment as I feel as his line manager there’d should be some differential between our pay grades. Would you expect to earn more than the people you manage or am I being totally unreasonable? It seems no brainier to me.

Advice please.

Just because. You manage someone doesn't mean you should earn more than them. Plenty of people in other industries where a manager is earning less than the people they manage.

Wow no way should a care taker be on the same grade as a school business manger!

I work in schools. Our caretakers are paid at same level as lower level admin (njc 11-13) but business managers are any where between njc 23/33 - this depends on school ie secondary pay more and level of duties.

I think my responsibility as the caretakers line manager should be recognised.

Should I wait for my annual work review in the summer or raise it sooner?

Don’t want to look greedy but it’s beginning to irk me.

How long has the caretaker worked there?

I think YABU. If you deserve a pay rise it should be on your own merits not off the back of someone else’s. Ideally you’d earn more than those you manage but it doesn’t always work that way, and yours is a case in point.

Presumably the caretaker doesn’t know what you earn so it makes no difference in terms of respect and delegation etc so I don’t see an issue personally, apart from your own.

He’s worked there 2 years. My job has more responsibilities than the caretaker’s and I’m part of the senior leadership team.

Caretaker has no idea what I earn and I’m not bothered by what others earn as a rule. Just feel my role and responsibilities aren’t recognised fully.

Yes, generally I would expect to earn more. There have been a few times when I've duly managed people who had specialised skills and they were paid more. I think you should speak to the Head.

You need - as a minimum - clarity on what has changed about his role to mean that he has been regraded. Pay is usually about the post and not about the person.