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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to be appointed at top of pay band

121 replies

MsFrost · 05/09/2023 18:29

I've been offered a new job in higher education and I want to go in at the top of the band becuase my current salary is above it.

AIBU to negotiate this? Would it make a bad impression to push for them to match my current salary, even though it means starting right at the top of the pay band?

Their policy is to start people at the bottom of the band.

OP posts:

joelmillersbackpack · 05/09/2023 18:31

I don’t know the ins and outs of the sector but I’ve done this before and been successful

foolishone · 05/09/2023 18:32

I've also done this in a different sector. I was really polite about it but made it clear I couldn't take a drop.

Yellowlegobrick · 05/09/2023 18:33

Of course they want to pay the bottom of their band.

Don't take the job if you aren't happy with the pay.

madnessitellyou · 05/09/2023 18:33

Is it the same sort of position? Or are you moving to an entirely new sector? You can ask, but be prepared for them to say no. Personally, unless I was unemployed/about to be made redundant etc, wanted a role with less responsibility or wanted an 'in' into a new sector/type of job I wouldn't move to a lower paying role.

Redbrickrebel · 05/09/2023 18:34

You can ask but you won't get it.

Unless you are moving between posts internally, you always start on the lowest band, which you then work through during the years.

The fact that you are taking a pay cut is your decision

Jammydodger1981 · 05/09/2023 18:35

YANBU. I got a new job at a different HE institution in Feb and I’m on higher than the bottom of my grade as I refused to take any less money than I was currently on and they agreed to it.

It wasn’t the top though, so be prepared for them to negotiate you down.

GCSister · 05/09/2023 18:35

Absolutely request it.
They will be able to request that you start at a particular point on the scale. It's standard policy in HE to put people at the bottom of the scale but matching your current salary is a justifiable reason not to do that.

ohsoso · 05/09/2023 18:35

I did this in the HE sector and they agreed to put me top of the band. Policy was to start newcomers at bottom but I wanted to start at top to match current salary and they agreed. No issues at all.

ChocolateCakeOverspill · 05/09/2023 18:36

At our place the recruiting manager needs to write a business plan if they want the staff member to go in at a higher spine point. It is possible but it’s not straight forward

MrsPinkCock · 05/09/2023 18:36

Yes, I’ve done this too. In fact in one job I refused two pay offers and accepted the third.

mynameiscalypso · 05/09/2023 18:36

I work for a charity and came in at the top of my band for the same reason. We just recruited someone else at the top of band too. It's not policy but my boss argued for it in both cases (based on our experience and comparison to other people at the same grade in the team already)

GCSister · 05/09/2023 18:37

I should say I work in HE and have often done this for new recruits.
The alternative is not getting the strongest person for the job.

Obbydoo · 05/09/2023 18:38

Was the pay band advertised? If it was then there's less chance. Why would you waste the organisation's time by applying for a role that doesn't meet you salary expectations? That's a conversation to be had much much earlier than at offer stage. On the other hand, if you were not aware of the pay band until offer stage, you've got grounds for negotiation.

Purplecatshopaholic · 05/09/2023 18:38

You can certainly ask. We would consider somewhere within the band potentially (the recruiting manager would need to make a case for it, and the budget would need to be there which it might not be). We would not offer the top though, but defo worth asking.

foolishone · 05/09/2023 18:42

Redbrickrebel · 05/09/2023 18:34

You can ask but you won't get it.

Unless you are moving between posts internally, you always start on the lowest band, which you then work through during the years.

The fact that you are taking a pay cut is your decision

Except other people here have!

sonjadog · 05/09/2023 18:43

I did this when I started working in HE and they gave it to me.

Thewifefury · 05/09/2023 18:45

I recruit and offer a pay band for jobs and certainly don't expect everyone to start on bottom. I offer a band so I can see candidates with a range of experience and we choose who is the best fit and offer pay based on their experience. If someone has a specific pay point we discuss and negotiate.

MrsElsa · 05/09/2023 18:45

Why take a job with a pay cut anyway! Why would you not negotiate salary? Worst case they pull the job offer and you've dodged a bullet.

Redbrickrebel · 05/09/2023 18:46

Variety of responses here then.

I recruit in HE and I wouldn't consider doing this.

Ask away, they can only say no. It's not the private sector though, there normally isn't any negotiating.

SuperCam · 05/09/2023 18:53

Absolutely ask and you may well get - if they’ve advertised a job in a whole band (even if starting salary is advertised as the bottom end) they know they will get applications ranging from people in the band below as well as those with experience within the band. They thought you were best and some of that will be due to the experience you’ve already built up and earned in your current job. Don’t take a pay cut!

HandScreen · 05/09/2023 18:55

I make salary and appointment decisions, and I would award at the top of the pay band in this case.

HandScreen · 05/09/2023 18:55

I make salary and appointment decisions, and I would award at the top of the pay band in this case.

In academia, I should say

IchWill · 05/09/2023 18:57

I've worked in HE last few years. I had to put my current salary on application form and I was earning middle of university salary band.

When I was offered the job, I was offered starting salary. Which when you compared to my salary at the time and company car I had, it was a big pay drop.

I gently pushed back and stated I couldn't afford such a huge drop. The hiring manager said it was their policy to start at bottom of salary band. I said that unfortunately I genuinely couldn't afford to take such a drop and added I was gutted, as I really wanted the job. I also said that I'd be willing to trade some annual leave in if they had flexible benefits.

Hiring manager then came back and oddly offered more than I was seeking and I didn't have to trade any annual leave as they didn't do that.

During my time, I moved up a level in pay band each year and when I hired my team, I sought advice when a candidate pushed for higher and I was told it was up to me as the hiring manager to agree salary. HR added that starting a new job was the only time anyone can negotiate a salary at the university. That included internal hires too.

SoundTheSirens · 05/09/2023 18:59

I’ve worked in HE previously, including recruiting, and we had flexibility to appoint up to two points above the base salary (albeit supported with a business case) but not above that. Every institution will have its own rules so absolutely ask!

BarbaraWoodlouse · 05/09/2023 19:09

Private sector here but the issue in hiring in at the very top of a band is that you have nowhere to go in terms of annual merit increase unless there is a case to promote someone to the next role/band.

That’s not to say that people start at the bottom, it should be based on experience etc but sometimes you are not doing anyone a favour if you bring them in right at the top.

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