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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the real salary should have been advertised?

346 replies

littlepieces · 08/01/2022 01:27

I've just been through over four months of interviews, reference checks etc. for a public sector job. Yesterday HR called me to confirm details and casually dropped the bombshell that they're offering me a lower salary than was advertised. I was meant to qualify for a London salary uplift, as it's a London based role, but because the department is working remotely due to Covid that isn't happening now.

BUT, the department has been working remotely since the start of the pandemic, March 2020.

So why didn't they just advertise the remote salary? I would never have applied and wasted my time if they had. Without the uplift I'll be taking a pay cut. AIBU or would I be right to challenge this?

OP posts:
Needdoughnuts · 08/01/2022 11:09

'Plus' or 'includes' are straightforward, 'subject to' could mean anything. And on another point why should it be a %? If they are implying it's a commuting cost a lowly clerk will pay the same fares as a department head.

Ellie56 · 08/01/2022 11:10

I think they are being very unreasonable and unprofessional telling you after 4 months that the salary is less than advertised. Like you said you wouldn't have bothered if they had put the salary they are now offering.

I would make it clear that unless they are honouring the salary that the job was originally offered at, you absolutely won't be taking it. As PP said above, it may be worth seeking legal advice.

11inch · 08/01/2022 11:12

@Needdoughnuts that is exactly the case though the London weighting is a percentage and doesn't cover all additional costs. It is rather outdated concept as the ripple effect has increased prices.

Spindelina · 08/01/2022 11:14

[quote littlepieces]@cuck00soup The ad read exactly like this:

Role location: London
Salary range: £XX - £XX (subject to X% London salary uplift).[/quote]
Was £XX the higher salary (ie including the London weighting?). Or the non-weighted (and you would need to add X% to get to what you were expecting)?

If the former, then I'd absolutely have read that as a London based job with London salary advertised with the "subject to" being a footnote to explain why it's not the standard rate for the band.

(I'm NHS, so used to similar.)

pixie5121 · 08/01/2022 11:14

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

BungleandGeorge · 08/01/2022 11:15

Salaries are very standardised in the public sector, they’ll have approved the band and can’t negotiate to give you a higher one. ‘Plus London weighting’ is a discretionary bonus, which you won’t get if you’re not required to live in or travel to London. Will you have to move? Do you live in London already? Will you ever be expected to be available or near to the main office? If you are you may be able to argue that you should get the bonus because you’re expected to be available within the London area. Definitely raise it as an issue and see where you can get but unfortunately I don’t think you have a great chance

pixie5121 · 08/01/2022 11:16

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

NYnewstart · 08/01/2022 11:16

Are you actually in a position to turn it down if need be? If you are then issue an ultimatum.
If you just ask but they know that you are just chancing it, they’ll say no. If they know you really mean it and they want you, they’ll try harder to accommodate you.

Pyewhacket · 08/01/2022 11:17

They are deliberately doing it that way to look attractive so as to net the max number of candidates, and then dropping the salary bomb at the last-minute hoping ppl have already bought into it. Personally, I would only take a drop in pay if I was desperate to leave my current position, and there could be many reasons for that.

You'll also be working for an underfunded department and I know exactly what that means in practice and it's more than just frustrating. They will keep giving you more and more to do with less resource and forever trotting out the " we only have a limited budget". In the end people just leave giving you more to do. And if they ever move back to an office location they'll come up with some creative idea, “it's only one day a week”, to keep you on your current salary.

It's like engaging in an abusive relationship so my advice is to think long and hard about it. And then think some more. Ultimately, I cannot tell you what to do but I'd be on the fastest horse I could find, heading in the opposite direction.

Good luck.

pixie5121 · 08/01/2022 11:18

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

Whatayear81 · 08/01/2022 11:19

Just like the private sector
The oh oic sector is making savings where it can
Seems sensible to me
They won’t have done this without legal poring over the legalities of it beforehand

Added to which, I’m pleased the public sector is saving tax payers like this

Op you have posted about your previous employment and all the difficulties

Id you like the job and think it has good growth potential for you, honestly - I’d ask for explicit confirmation in contract that as and when any change to remote versus at office situation occurs, then weighting is introduced

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 08/01/2022 11:21

@littlepieces

As it's public sector with set salary bands and starting salaries, I don't think there will be any room for negotiation.
Always room for negotiation
pixie5121 · 08/01/2022 11:24

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

Whatayear81 · 08/01/2022 11:27

Did you miss my point
About fact that JUST LIKE THE PRIVATE sector….

Babyroobs · 08/01/2022 11:33

It's definitely something which should have been clarified much earlier but I can understand why they would not pay London weighting when working from home.
An ex colleague of mine is till getting a £250 a month car allowance paid for by the charity she works for despite having worked from home for 2 years. To be honest I am quite shocked by this.

Whatayear81 · 08/01/2022 11:36

@Babyroobs

It's definitely something which should have been clarified much earlier but I can understand why they would not pay London weighting when working from home. An ex colleague of mine is till getting a £250 a month car allowance paid for by the charity she works for despite having worked from home for 2 years. To be honest I am quite shocked by this.
Her heating and electricity bills will have substantially increased In all likelihood. Her logic may be the offset?
11inch · 08/01/2022 11:37

Whether London weighting will exist in the future or whether it is fair is not really the point here. If it was advertised then it should be honoured.
In an old job they advertised car parking as a perk but neglected to say the car park was oversubscribed and many within X distance were ineligible. That was dodgy.

Abigail12345654321 · 08/01/2022 11:41

@Whatayear81

Just like the private sector The oh oic sector is making savings where it can Seems sensible to me They won’t have done this without legal poring over the legalities of it beforehand

Added to which, I’m pleased the public sector is saving tax payers like this

Op you have posted about your previous employment and all the difficulties

Id you like the job and think it has good growth potential for you, honestly - I’d ask for explicit confirmation in contract that as and when any change to remote versus at office situation occurs, then weighting is introduced

Lol! You don’t have any public sector experience at all, do you?
Whatayear81 · 08/01/2022 11:42

Your suggestion has been roundly scathed so no comment!

TatianaBis · 08/01/2022 11:42

@Whatayear81

Just like the private sector The oh oic sector is making savings where it can Seems sensible to me They won’t have done this without legal poring over the legalities of it beforehand

Added to which, I’m pleased the public sector is saving tax payers like this

Op you have posted about your previous employment and all the difficulties

Id you like the job and think it has good growth potential for you, honestly - I’d ask for explicit confirmation in contract that as and when any change to remote versus at office situation occurs, then weighting is introduced

I’m not pleased the public sector is wasting money and people’s time, and showing either misjudgment or incompetence.

If OP declines, they will have to go through their list of rejects, many if not most will be based in London, given they will be expected to go in later this year. These candidates are also at risk of declining for the same reasons.

Hankunamatata · 08/01/2022 11:45

I know government and nhs roles that have successfully negotiate top band salary instead of a bottom band as advertised as they have appeal and provided evidence of their experience. You dont ask, you dont get.

hivemindneeded · 08/01/2022 11:45

[quote littlepieces]@cuck00soup The ad read exactly like this:

Role location: London
Salary range: £XX - £XX (subject to X% London salary uplift).[/quote]
Is the new salary offer £8k below the lowest listed salary in that band?

Abigail12345654321 · 08/01/2022 11:46

@Whatayear81

Your suggestion has been roundly scathed so no comment!
Lol!
Whatayear81 · 08/01/2022 11:47

I did when I read some of the comments too!

RandomMess · 08/01/2022 11:50

All you can do is reinforce that you were expecting to work in the London office full time as that is what the job advertised indicates the temporary WFH is a red herring isn't it?