To find salary offered an insult?

[Willowtree5]

As part of a restructure, I have been asked if I would take on three direct reports (I currently don’t manage anyone, but have in the past - big pull of current role was no line management responsibility).

I said I’d consider it - whilst I know I can manage people, it does add to my workload and the ‘mental load’ of dealing with all the crap around sickness/absence, 1:1’s etc.

My manager said she’d establish what additional uplift to my salary would be possible and let me know.

They’ve come back with an offer of £125,000 (current salary pre bonuses £105,000) which I find frankly insulting given the workload this would add.

AIBU to tell them to stuff it?

@Amethystanddiamonds Despite the fact they are highly trained professionals, often with post-graduate qualifications. Jobs with management responsibilities start at £31k in the NHS!

But this is mumsnet.

If you earn £30k or less, it's because someone did not study hard, did not get qualifications, or is lazy.

Mumsnet believes the UK is a meritocracy and everyone's pay is deserved. In mumsnet world, working in healthcare with post-graduate or doctoral level qualifications is irrelevant.

Only you know whether the uplift is worth it.
However I would be careful about your arrogance over moving easily to a new job.
Over the last few years I know several high earners with decades of experience who have been made redundant and really struggled to find a job.
It's a difficult market out there in all sectors. Coupled with the very shaky financial outlook and the looming budget I'd be cautious especially as you have pointed out, you are a single parent with high costs

I'm not entirely sure why you've posted this on mumsnet, prob more suited to a specialised jobs board related to your industry? And people have tried to give context from their experience, and you've been quite cold and dismissive of 'their choices'. Large swathes of the UK are still using food banks so yeah 20K is going to seem like a lot to people who aren't in your situation or location.

Whether working hard and being highly qualified is likely to lead to substantial financial remuneration depends entirely upon your chosen career.

The UK is Capitalist, and OP works in a high paying sector. Wages aren’t decided based on how virtuous you consider a profession to be, no matter how much you would like that to be the case.

I think @apples24 and @edwinbear made good points about working in the financial industry in London and the state of the jobs market. If you’re going through a restructure and being offered this, it’s a good way to weather the storm and figure out what’s next. If you’re managing people, you’ll also get the inside scoop on changes a bit sooner than those who are individual contributors.

If I were you, I’d take it. Maybe counter offer once you’ve worked out the tax implications.

And seriously, everyone on this thread who’s saying they manage huge teams on far less money, well done, you’re great but all that means is someone is profiting off your labour somewhere else and laughing all the way to the bank. That’s the problem with the UK job market and why wages are so low. People just accept it.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to be expected to manage people at 125k

A better question would have been “is a 20% salary increase worth it to take on managing 3 people?” or even better “could I get the same or greater salary with less responsibility somewhere else?”.

I managed 2 people when I earned 23k, now I manage no people on 65k.

If you think you can get better conditions somewhere else then leave.

I rolled my eyes in afraid. In public sector I had 2 new teams of approx 70 staff lumped on me with no consultation or suggestion of increased salary. 20 grand for 3 direct reports sounds amazing.

OP what do you benchmark the role at? Is it a big team underneath the direct reports?

I’d expect someone at that level of salary to be dealing with resource mgt even if it is via dotted lines rather than direct reports. Does it change the nature of the role significantly? In which case you could look at declining the role or constructive dismissal.

This. You are likely being overpaid already compared to the average person and their professional responsibilities.

Im also sure this is a goady fake post just looking for responses - sad really.

It depends. 3 reports is a lot less than many line managers have. But after deductions/tax etc I'm not sure that 20k would make much difference every month in comparison to the potential stresses. Can you ask for more?

It’s not every day you get a 20% uplift.
It depends on your job role, level, sector & experience.
Do you have people management experience? Or is this a development area for you? What’s the scope for growth in the role? What’s the external market like? Are there plenty of other companies you could switch to for more? Do you enjoy where you’re working.

If you’re not happy, counter the offer. But you’ll need to pull together a rational proposal and clearly set out what your expectations are. Can you ask for an ad-hoc equity grant? One time retention bonus? Guarantee your next bonus at target and on your new pay?

Of course she is. The type of person that has the intellect to earn £100k does not need advice from a bunch of strangers on the internet. It's obviously a wind up and a horribly insensitive one in the current climate. Why are people so vile these days? Is this really supposed to be funny?

Why ask on here? You know what the job involves and whether you feel the trade off between extra work and extra pay is worth it to you. No one else will know the context of your work environment or you what you value personally. You have a decision to make and it's strange to me that part of the input into your decision making process is opinions of random people on Mumsnet with no knowledge of you or your job.

OP, we didn’t need the clarification, your whole thread has been “tell me you work in the finance industry without telling me” 😆

Love the idea that people are “insulted” by being offered over £100k. 6 figure salaries simply don’t exist in my industry, regardless of how many people you manage, how many post grad qualifications you have or how hard you work!

Thanks for those who’ve made serious suggestions. I’ve decided I’ll counter at £150,000 and see what the response is. If they are that offended I guess I’ll be off to DJob centre instead!

Sadly intellect doesn’t correspond with salary, it’s more to do with industry. If you work in an industry where people turn away from you at a party when you tell them your job, you need to be handsomely compensated.

MN off on a tangent again because of the level of OP salary.

I voted YANBU. The increase will likely not even be reflected in your net monthly pay for the work and responsibility. I personally wouldn't do it.

It is irrelevant whether anyone thinks this offer is an insult. You obviously know your industry and have very different expectations from most people.
You seem extremely confident that you can walk into another role easily so perhaps you should do that.

I manage more people than that and my entire salary is £40k.

If you do take it, I’d salary sacrifice the uplift into your pension, and since your employer will be saving their employers NI contribution on the extra, ask them to top your pension up with it.

At your existing salary you should be managing at least 3-5 people.

I early £45 k and manage 30 people. I could only dream of your salary!!

In 1986 I was making a great deal of money working for a US senator.
I married and had to leave due to a move.
After a few years i went back to work in a different area and they offered me less than half my old salary - I thanked them, got up, and walked out.
Another company offered me well over twice as much as my old salary and I took that position.

Value yourself.

I’m NHS. I line manage 40 and my salary is less than half of that!! That’s only part of my role too! I fancy a career change. What do you do?