Am I mad to consider accepting a promotion without a pay rise?

[CadburyCrunchy]

Position has become available due to various redundancies (previous manager had been there years and was on a lot more money). I've subsequently been offered the job to manage a team of 11 but the condition / clause is to agree to stay on my current salary for at least a year due to budget restrictions and 'cost saving' strategies...

After a year there may be a pay rise (no guarantee) but no where near that of previous person's salary. The advantage would be I'd get experience in the role so could go elsewhere with that and go up the career ladder but in the meantime I'd have all the extra responsibility and stress without any extra cash in my pocket!

Are they taking the complete piss?

^ agree with this

They are absolutely taking the piss: try to agree some level of pay rise, or a spot bonus

Payrise better as you can use it to negotiate your next job

I wouldn't automatically say no. If it helped open doors in other jobs externally and resulting in a higher pay, then i wojld consider it

They are taking the piss OP.

Sure they are, but if it means in a year you can take your skills elsewhere for more money, you should still do it. Don’t give them your all though - do what you have to to get yourself in a position to get a better job.

I might take it and start applying elsewhere immediately. Or I might turn it down.

What I would not do is take it and stay. Cheeky twats.

They need to pay for your extra responsibilities and benefitting from your skills!! That’s why you are an employee! What an absolute piss take.

This notion of doing free stuff without compensation with the waffle about it looking good on your cv is like when businesses ask people to do free photography / illustrations / catering for ‘exposure’.

If there was any sign at all that they recognised that this was a big ask - a small rise, a written commitment to a rise by a deadline, the offering of some other perk as compensation - then fine. But no - it’s just an absolute cheek.

This is good advice.

This sounds like a fantastic opportunity to me. You are being offered a promotion to replace someone with 20 years’ experience. You therefore know that things will have been done properly in that role.

You may well end up enjoying the role, but if not, you will have a much better opportunity to move elsewhere.

I’m a senior manager and can understand why you are being offered a static salary. Budgets are tight everywhere at the moment and there just isn’t the money to be offering pay rises.

No other man would stand for it. And they wouldn't even try. Makes me so cross.

If you want to stay I would set out some of the points here made by other posters.

But it sounds like a shit company.

Also if the previous person was made redundant, they shouldn't be re-recruiting to the same role.

No way. They’re taking the piss. Politely say you need more money to reflect more responsibility.

I would say no to the new job without more money. Don’t sell yourself short.

I think they’re CF but if it lets you take a step up which might be tricky, I’d do it and then look around within a few months.

I'm fairly sure the 'offer' wouldn't even be put to a man..

Yes I did this and DEEPLY regret it and feel like a total mug don’t do it , I have so much stress and anxiety and I cry about the decision I made it was an internal move, i was so happy in my old job i got head hunted and fell for the bull*tm you know how people can flatter you until you give I ? I thought I was old enough to not fall for it and I made a really exceptionally bad choice

They have offered you the role because they believe you can do it, show them you believe in yourself and show some management initiative by negotiating your terms.

Nope been in that position and it had a negative effect on getting promotions in the future request than positive.

Don't underestimate the value of getting management experience on your CV. It can be a tough catch 22 to crack if you are competing on the open market as an external candidate with no experience at that level.

I'd think of it as an investment in your future and do it for 6-12 months to get CV fodder, then move on.

If and only if you want the development

No, no way. Management is extra stress, 11 people isn’t going to be easy. It’s really not worth it (I’m trying to get out of people management as I manage 16 and it’s just draining)

If i really wanted it on my CV, and i was up against someone else, id consider it.
If i really wanted it on my CV and there was noone else to do it, no way. I'd do the market research and find out how much someone would get paid (not relying on comparison to the previous internal post holder) adjust a bit for the fact you are new (but not too much, as they wont expect less of you or move the goalposts to easier places if you are new to reflect the static salary will they, they'll just expect the same output as before but cheaper) get a number, then very nicely say 'look i really need a pay rise, lets talk' and if they refuse to negotiate watch what they do.... will they talk someone else into it or will they magic some money up because i've seen money suddenly appear before in these situations!

Yes, they are taking the piss. A man would be offered a pay rise.

If you take it without one plan to move on within the year. Use them like they would be using you.

Don’t even think about it .. and don’t listen to crap about budget constraints.
if the current employee wasn’t leaving they would be paying that rate to him … so the budget is already there ..

totally taking the piss … I’ve learned the hard way to know my worth …
please don’t make the mistakes I have ..

good luck

Can they give you other softer benefits e.g additional holiday, flexitime if they really can’t afford it.

Oh yes they are taking the piss, but I’d jump at it. As I’m ambiitous and would rather do a senior role at the same pay than stay stagnant;;;;

Sounds like a stitch up

Yes in a nut shell. If they can not afford to pay you the extra £££ then you need to start looking for another job asap. I am assuming they are not going to backfill your role so they are already saving money.

If you are tempted to go for it then get it in writing that they will not only match what they would have put you on this year but what people next year will be getting so you are not constantly behind what new staters would be getting