AIBU to stay in a job that is under paid?

[Tuile]

I am a professional working in an expert role in a regional government role. Many years of thankless training and sacrifice to get to this point and I’m lucky enough to earn about 90k. I enjoy the job, like my colleagues and work 99% from home (as in, I go in once every few months for a meeting).

When I started I was put in the wrong pay band. There is a standard way of paying professionals in my niche role that is adopted everywhere else, but here HR said no. But I took the job anyway because I liked the look of it and thought if it bothered me I could leave.

5 years later, it does bother me but I don’t want to leave! Other roles would likely involve more time in the office, commuting and less time working on a particular area I like. But I would be on the standard pay which is more like £110k. WWYD?

If you're saying you've been graded into the wrong pay band, then lobby to get it changed.

If you're saying that this company just puts your job into a different pay level than other companies, and you like the job, I'd stay :) Benefits of a job are not just about money.

Take your evidence to HR and ask for a pay review in line with your peers. Prob a good place to start. Quote the equality equity statements I bet they have in the employment policies back to them.

Yep that’s the plan but I need to decide what the bottom line is for me before I start negotiating

Bump

With the marginal rate of tax being so high at 100k would you be much better off?

Good point, although actually it’s my fte salary. I only do 4 days a week so wouldn’t actually earn the headline amount.

So what do you actually earn now? What's the full time equivalent that you earn now vs the £110k? If its £50k YABU. If its £100k YANBU stay put.

So I currently earn 72k before tax. On the higher rate it would be 88k. Even after tax etc it’s a good bit of money

I would stay. What does the money mean to you? Early retirement? More holidays?
The WFH would swing it. When you add in the extra hours to get ready and travel for hybrid or office jobs you’ll be working longer for not much more pro rata.

Other roles would likely involve more time in the office, commuting and less time working on a particular area I like

Is all that worth the £9k net pay difference?

Plus restarting in a new place and having to learn their processes, systems, culture, build new relationships, reset the clock on your employment rights for two years...

When you say everywhere else, do you mean the private sector? Public sector can be quite rigid in their pay structures and it's not unusual for there to be a difference.

You said you could get more elsewhere but it would mean more work and less flexibility so really what you have here is a a trade-off. You're being paid less that you might otherwise get but with job conditions that suit you. It comes down to what you value more; conditions that suit you or more pay?

No one likes feeling undervalued for the job they do (especially when you have other jobs to compare it against) but job satisfaction isn't just about money.

For that differential I would probably stay, but I would also be expecting my manager to point out I was underpaid and to be working to improve it. As soon as I got appointed to my role I worked to secure pay rises for all my team as they were underpaid. It has helped with retention and recruitment. My manager also did the same for me.

Workplaces aren't getting a bargain when they underpay people, it affects morale, motivation and recruitment and retention

I agree it really affects morale because it makes me feel as my skills are not respected (even though I know it’s just an arbitrary HR decision).

I think the things you’ve described are worth the lower pay, personally. But that’s a very personal decision.

Lobby for a pay review. If you’re public sector you should be safe doing that. See where you get to - if it’s more the recognition of the money than the money itself then the attitude your employer takes to your request may decide it for you.

😂I thought you were going to say you were earning 18k as a TA!