Finally got promoted but extremely disappointed about new salary

[Fressia123]

My amazing payrise was £1k!! And I now report to 3 different people, have to use my language skills and have to bring new accounts. (I went from entry level to account manager).

I almost want to cry.

You need to negotiate.

Don't say this to them, but here how I'd frame it in my head: Think of it as giving them a chance to to keep you long term. They've made a mistake, that's led to you starting to look elsewhere. Because of their mistake, they're risking losing a valuable employee, and incurring all the costs of trying to rehire externally. But you'll kindly have a meeting with them to explain what the industry average salary is for this job, so they can fix their error.

Be willing to move if you have to. If you can't in fact walk into another job paying what you expect for these responsibilities, either you are a bit unrealistic about the market is really paying, or you are a bit unrealistic about your own abilities as a candidate.

But also be clear if you want to stay.

Eg "I am really happy working here and this role interests me greatly, but I cannot afford to accept a role paying lower I can get elsewhere."

Hope you don't mind OP, but I've sent you a PM.

Like I've mentioned Im more of an operations manager but they have decided to use my skills this way. I actually got a job offer from Amazon not that long ago that was triple this but could take the job. So I know how much I'm worth but the local job market doesn't help. (I've also tried with London jobs now that WFH is in vogue but most of them see the deep West Country as still to far away for them.

Exactly what @Diva66 said. Do it really well for a couple of months then ask for a raise.

I think there is a lot of good advice here and you need to weigh up the pros and cons of each. Either refuse it and say I will stay as I am. Try to negotiate for more pay. Or do it for a bit so is on CV to make moving on easier.

I voted YABU just because companies can scale promotions however they like.

I haven't gone for a promotion in years because my rate is only £500 pa lower than the next grade starting rate. There would be a massive up step in terms of responsibility and level of work required which I'm not willing to do at the moment...probably something to consider when DD2 is a little older. It's understood that doing well opens the door to negotiated pay rises and eventually I could be on almost £15k pa more than my current rate before reaching the ceiling of that pay grade.

You can either push back immediately, cross reference similar roles externally and ask for at least the market median. Or play the long game and push for substantial performance based pay increases each year as part of your annual review.

I wouldn't suggest dropping the role unless the responsibility really is too much vs the small increase because internal doors may then be prejudiced against offering a promotion to you in the future.

@Fressia123

I've just asked for more and told that it is what is :/ . I'll look for other jobs for sure

Decline the role then. Make them know you mean business. If you don't think you're worth £x they certainly won't.

Ah, OP, I feel you. My partner is due a huge promotion in a few weeks, due to her boss retiring. She will be director...and there's not a penny in payrise due to "covid times." It's bullshit.

I hope there is a way you can go back and tell them that, in reflection, you're disappointed, and given the extra work you'll be doing, you expect to be paid accordingly.

@Fressia123

Like I've mentioned Im more of an operations manager but they have decided to use my skills this way. I actually got a job offer from Amazon not that long ago that was triple this but could take the job. So I know how much I'm worth but the local job market doesn't help. (I've also tried with London jobs now that WFH is in vogue but most of them see the deep West Country as still to far away for them.

Reapply to Amazon. Got a friend who works there and he is very pleased with his package and role.

Never stay in a role where you are underpaid - from bitter experience. I have worked in a few roles where I was promised/not promised/in company fighting about salary and I would always say now - know your worth and leave if not paid well! Depends on colleagues etc of course too but definitely know your worth!

It was meant to mean couldn't take the job . I still look for similar roles at Amazon but haven't seen one in the area ever since.

I would simply get back to them quickly with a counter-offer...state that you appreciate the promotion but that in line of your new responsibilities you expect your pay rise to be at least X amount.

They might settle for something in between.

If they don't offer anything more use your promotion to start job hunting in a few months for a better paid role.

That's honestly offensive and I'd be tempted to say you're not interested unless they're offering significantly more money.

If you don't have a student loan, your original salary of £20k put your take-home pay at £66.30. At £21k, you're earning £68.92 a day. If you're working 8 hours a day, they're given you the princely pay increase of 33p an hour.

I'd go back to them and say that the average salary for that role is xx and is there room for negotiation. If not, I'd say no thanks. It seems unlikely they'll find someone else with that level of experience for such a low salary.

Genuine question, asking for Dd who is in a similar position. How do you benchmark salaries in the private sector?
Most don’t quote salaries in their adverts and if you go to agencies they tend to tell you about the larger salary jobs they have recruited for rather than average salaries.

As an account manager is there no commission attached? Are other roles commission based? Could you ask for a bonus linked to KPIs?

If not, I’d decline the promotion and start actively looking elsewhere

You were already underpaid to begin with.
Since you're highly skilled, is what you should be getting for the promotion £27k.

If Amazon wants you for 3x the pay, I would apply and move.

My last company would give max 10:gor a promotion... Even if off bottom of payband for that grade.
Only advantage would be decent % at next review if off scale/v low on new band for decent performance..
They then changed it so.. 'To new to grade' ... If review in first 6 months.. This stopped people bothering with promotion inhouse

Whoops.. 10%

Please whatever you do, get it in writing. I learnt the hard way (young and bloody naive).

You know your worth! 💪

I had this once and I work in HR - was such an insult. I suddenly had 12 people reporting into me. I really wanted the job for my CV and managed to get a smidge more but lumped it. Has been great for my CV ever since though.

I would speak to the person who has been dealing with it to say you are disappointed in the payrise and is there scope to discuss further.

I had a promotion once and got no pay rise! I did get more holiday and bigger bonus though.

Excellent news, fressia! Am so pleased for you.

Reapply to Amazon. Got a friend who works there and he is very pleased with his package and role.

You'd hope Amazon's packages were good! Sorry, couldn't resist.

OP, I really feel for you! I'm in a similar position - got an internal promotion only to find that I'm on barely any more money than I was before, and my pay was measly to start with. Add to that a massive increase in responsibility and it's enough to make anyone feel disheartened and undervalued, and want to look elsewhere.

Sorry, I don't really have any tips to add to what PPs have already suggested, but do know that you're not alone in this. I'm also looking elsewhere and, like PPs have said, planning to use my current, 'new-and-improved' role as a springboard. The job title looks great on my CV, the reality and salary not so much.