I want a payrise

[peaches36]

I’ve worked at my current job for nearly 3 years. It’s an admin job, however is very involved in the housing industry and involves a lot more than ‘scanning’ and ‘printing’ which is what most assume admin is! I’m part time, but I work full days 3/4 days a week. I have a young child to pay for childcare also. I’m on around £11 an hour which is great, but we’re hiring another member of our admin team to be just under full time so around 35 hours a week. The person is no more experienced than me, they’ve also done basic admin, but nothing in the field we’re in and no experience specific to this job. They want a lot more £ than I’m on, coming in at around £13/ph. The job is the exact same job description as me, there is no extra work for the new starter.

Am I being unfair for wanting to ask for my wage to be matched?

If it’s the same job description & person spec you should be on same salary.

@VillanellesOrangeCoat

If it’s the same job description & person spec you should be on same salary.

The job description has been slightly edited as our workload has increased massively since I joined but the job role is exactly the same as what I do now. No more/less work.

Ask for it to be matched. If they say no, apply for the new role.

Ask for an urgent and officially documented review, taking evidence with you.
Does this newcommer have children or are they male, as you may be being discriminated against?

I’ve never asked for a payrise before and I don’t know if I’m being stupid about it, hence my post.

I interviewed the person, I was asked to proof the job description to make sure it covered my job as we will both be doing the same thing. I will also add that it’s just me in the team at the moment! So I’m doing the job on my own..! This is why I’m confused at the pay difference and wanting to ask for more but I don’t want to come across like a bit of a dick!

@ANameChangeAgain

Ask for an urgent and officially documented review, taking evidence with you. Does this newcommer have children or are they male, as you may be being discriminated against?

Older children (university age I think), female.

By posting this I just wanted some reassurance I’m not being a bit of an arse for wanting my pay to be matched, especially as I’ve been here longer.

Can you apply for the new role?

They may (albeit not very legally) feel that part time roles are so sought after they don’t need to pay as much.

You won't come across as a dick for asking, but you'll be seen as a doormat if you don't. Go for it!!

Thanks all for your reassurance! I’d totally understand the pay difference if this person was higher up than me and/or had a lot more experience, but they don’t.

Ask whether you are eligible for a wage increase due to the increased workload.
Do it nicely backed up with information on how the work load has increased.
Don't go in guns blazing, they may be intending to give you an increase anyway.
It happened me before, though my wage was bumped up at yearly appraisal.

@Boombastic22

Can you apply for the new role?

They may (albeit not very legally) feel that part time roles are so sought after they don’t need to pay as much.

I could but it would be pointless as it’s literally my job! We’d be doing the exact same work as each other, there’s no difference in what we’d be doing but at the beginning this person would be trained by me so I’d be doing that too. All whilst their starting wage is more than my wage after 3 years

I'd 100% ask for a review! I wouldn't frame it in "so and so is getting more so I want more" as making it a personal argument makes it easier to argue against.

I'd make it a completely professional argument - you've been there for 3 years performing well, your role has naturally grown in this time and you've taken on more responsibilities, your original job spec doesn't match the role now (and now you've written an up to date job spec you have proof!) and you think the pay of £11 an hour doesn't match the role you're doing anymore. If you can canvass for what similar roles are paid locally, take this information in too - if you can show a similar role is £13ph (or more!) that's useful for your side too. It'll be harder to argue against if you can show you're now doing an enhanced role.

I did this. Showed the depth of my experience and asked for the correct compensation for my role. Went from £20K to £22.5k
Turns out the manager didn't actually realise how much experience I had.
Payrise sorted the next month and backdated to the start of the year.

You can also add ‘training new staff’ to your JD if it’s not already there.

Put it this way - if you don't ask, you don't get. You have nothing to lose by presenting all of the facts and asking.

Does your company have a pay policy at all?

@gobbledygoook

I'd 100% ask for a review! I wouldn't frame it in "so and so is getting more so I want more" as making it a personal argument makes it easier to argue against.

I'd make it a completely professional argument - you've been there for 3 years performing well, your role has naturally grown in this time and you've taken on more responsibilities, your original job spec doesn't match the role now (and now you've written an up to date job spec you have proof!) and you think the pay of £11 an hour doesn't match the role you're doing anymore. If you can canvass for what similar roles are paid locally, take this information in too - if you can show a similar role is £13ph (or more!) that's useful for your side too. It'll be harder to argue against if you can show you're now doing an enhanced role.

Exactly this

Surely you should have a regular one-to-one review. Just ask for more money.
Industries are paying more to attract new starts but established workers are being left behind pay-wise.

@Hrpuffnstuff1

Surely you should have a regular one-to-one review. Just ask for more money. Industries are paying more to attract new starts but established workers are being left behind pay-wise.

Nope. It’s a small company so I think things like that just get forgotten. I had a payrise per hour (it was literally a few pence) about 1.5 years ago. No review or anything since then. Definitely will be bringing it up :)

An old manager of mine once told me that he has more respect for people who ask professionally, reasonably and with evidence of justification, rather than not bringing it up and inwardly seething.

Matched? You have more experience, I’d want £14 and would negotiate down to £13.50, or however you want it, just aim higher so you can negotiate and still be happy

I’ve never been in this position before, I’ve always been in a larger team but in this job it’s just me and the manager. I’ve also always been the youngest in my job (I’m 26) Im quite an anxious person and I hate thinking I’m being a pain, hence why I’d usually just stay quiet! But this time I’m not because I need the money and I work my arse off. Thank you for all of your opinions, it’s nice to know I’m not just being a brat wanting more money x

Nope. It’s a small company so I think things like that just get forgotten. I had a payrise per hour (it was literally a few pence) about 1.5 years ago. No review or anything since then. Definitely will be bringing it up

They will not have forgotten!
Although, to be fair to them, three years isn't that long to be on the same wage, especially with COVID getting in the way. Were you on furlough? Also, there are shortages of good employees in some areas and in some businesses so employers are having to increase wages.

Good luck.

I

I’ve asked for every pay rise I’ve got (and got every one I’ve asked for).

I won’t wait around for them to offer. In fact in about six weeks I’m asking for another one, and a new job title.