AIBU to say this to my manager?

[ILikeMySpace]

AIBU to say this to my manager, and I need help wording it better so I don’t get their back up.

So, where I work really take the piss. I have a physically demanding job, and the pay is pretty rubbish, and we do 2 peoples jobs because they haven’t replaced those who’ve left. Also, the manager asks me and another to cover for them quite a bit.

It all got a bit stressful, and there are lots of people off with stress.

You are probably wondering why I work there? It’s convenient, it’s fits in with my child care and it has good benefits. It suits me.

They usually spend the appraisal telling us what extra things I can do without any more pay. In my appraisal next week I want to say;

Look x manager. You pay me X, which is not actually the market rate for this job. I’m happy to do my job, and do it well. However, x,y and z is not my job, it’s a managers role, and if you want me to do that my job description needs to change and my pay reflected in that. If it’s not, then I don’t think it’s fair to ask me to do it, and I’m not happy to do it.

I know the response is, there’s no money for pay rises ( there is).

This sounds so jobsworth, but the alternative is stress, taking it home, anxiety and I’m not prepared to do that anymore for what I’m paid.

AIBU, and how can I word it better to my managers face?

I think you have to say you are seeking to increase your pay in part because you do not feel you are paid market rate (evidence this to the extent you can) and that you are both looking to increase your pay from that perspective and because you are taking on a role covering supervision when managers are away you want your contract to reflect that in addition and your pay to do so too.

I would also say you are generally ambitious and looking to move up to the next level.

I would imagine that your job description has a term along the lines of: 'And any other tasks required by the business needs'.
It's a catch all to stop anyone from being able to claim 'that's not my job'

I'm sure others will be able to suggests way's to phrase what you want to convey. But I would not expect it to get the result you would hope for.

Just ask for a chat, and make your case, remain polite and clam, listen carefully to what they say - then you decide to take it or leave.

Very difficult situation but if they are genuinely hard pushed financially, it may become more acceptable but only you can decide.

I had bullies where I worked, I stuck it out until I decided to leave as like you, it was very "convenient" - so don't just leave if you dont get a positve response, look for other work, get a new job then leave much easier to get another job when you are already in work - dont slg off the previous employer, be constructive and say as little as possible at that stage - state you case how hard you work and are flexible but there comes a point when one has to move if piss taking is going on for ever

Honestly if you don’t ask you don’t get. I would demonstrate market rate for your job, the elements you do that are not part of your job and tell them you want a pay rise to reflect the additional work and the current market rate. They may say no, but at least then you know for sure where you stand and can start to look elsewhere

I would listen to the review. I assume you are expecting good feedback.

Them towards the end, I would say something along the following:

I'm very happy working hear and am delighted that your feedback has been positive and that you touched on my good attitude, willingness to take on extra (or whatever phrases they used, note everything saud and feed their words back to them). Given I'm a valued member of the team, I would like you to consider a pay review to reflect the additional responsibilities etc.

Once you have had tour review you could then say something along the lines of: I'd like to talk about the responsibility of my role. As you know I undertake xyz and I am not currently being remunerated at or near the market rate for that role, so I would request that is reviewed. Have evidence, tell them what you think is the right level for the role you are doing.

Thank you for your responses.

I highly doubt I’ll get a pay rise. Other people have asked, and got nothing.

What I want to be able to say is “I don’t want to be the defacto manager. I don’t want the responsibility, if you aren’t going to pay me any more”.

It’s one thing to say “and anything else needed doing” in a contract, but there should be a line. Literally doing the managers job because there were 2, and now there’s only 1, is not fair.

Personally I would raise this before the review, as an agenda note to discuss during the appraisal itself. Something along the lines of "during the appraisal we need to talk about the way my job-description is unofficially drifting into managerial territory. I'm untrained and unprepared for that kind of role so the next appraisal will be a good time to go over my real job description and real tasks so we are firmly on the same page for the future."

Thx Dutch, that’s really great.

I think what you’ve said Dutch is spot on.

For example, on my last shift I had to cover for the manager for 1/2 day, and the rest of the day I trained 2 members of staff. I get paid the lowest pay grade in my team, and I think it’s unfair to ask me to do these training/ supervisory tasks.

You're very welcome, I'd love to hear how it goes. That kind of workload on the lowest pay grade is just ridiculous and so unfair.

Best advice I was ever given is that you don't get paid what you are worth, you get paid what you negotiate. I was consistently the highest paid in my division off the back of that (salary and bonus). Yes you have to justify the expense but you have to ask. I personally see nothing wrong in what you originally said. I'd spin in some more positives and if possible outline the value of all the additional work you undertake (in cold cash terms). Like all negotiation, it's two way. You both have to feel like you are getting value (however that is defined) tap into how they define it and how you do and then negotiate on those terms. It's not personal, just a negotiation.

Have you had your review yet @ILikeMySpace ?
@Dutch1e wording is good, I also think it's helpful to let the manager know you don't want to act up. I've had to do this recently and it's a difficult conversation. For me it went something like " I've never applied for roles at x level because I enjoy doing current level role and find the extra responsibilities of the next level stressful. I find I have been spending quite a lot of past year acting at x level and I want us to have a conversation about how I can deliver my best work at my actual role level without extra pressures."
Still seeming to be doing the bloody next level up though - badly and with no extra pay.

Thanks for the great responses.
I haven’t had my review yet, it’ll be sometime in Feb. Also my manager is off sick.
I’m ready for it though, after your help. Thank you.
A colleague of mine left recently. She did a lot of extra work, for no extra pay. Now she’s gone, they seem to think I’m stepping into her shoes. It’s already stressing me out, and I’m going to have to tell my manager to dial it back down to the job I’m employed and paid to do.