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?

Not if others doing the same job are making £150k it isn’t.

Of course they haven't. No one has ever lived in London on minimum wage have they. Especially single parents. Never happens

@Willowtree5 if you say no might they make you redundant and re-advertise the post to include the line management? And if so could you easily get another job at equivalent salary without a line management element?

Seems like a very fair offer

The £20,000 uplift does not seem unreasonable. However as your marginal rate of tax will be 60% you will only be £8,000 better off, so I would say no.

I earn a similar salary to you and manage 25 staff 🤦‍♀️

Could you have the uplift amount paid as pension contributions instead of salary, ie set up a salary sacrifice arrangement? That could be a lot more beneficial to you financially.

You come across as you just don’t want the job, resentful and happy to leave. So do so, if you can walk into another role then do that.

No where does it say the others are on £150k, and even if they were the ‘lower salary’ maybe because OP hasn’t managed for a while, needs development, has current issues, works part time?

yes, you should quit and get a job in Lidl on the tills instead.

Wow. I manage 3 people on £50k and am just about to take on another 3 for a £6.5k rise. I also live somewhere where prices approach London prices (£500k for a 2 bedroom flat, £100 per day for Nursey). I’m not single but DH’s salary added to mine doesn’t reach your £125k.

Is this a wind up? Seriously. Do people really think like this?

I’m not sure of the relevance in that case, given you aren’t in London

I’m on £49k and manage two direct reports. There are managers in my team on £66k who 5+ direct reports. YABVVU OP

I didn’t say she had. I’m saying that context matters, and £125k can’t automatically be considered reasonable by virtue of being £125k.

Is this some sort of humble brag? You are already in the top 5% of earners in the country.

The actual increase seems pretty solid £20k or 20%... definitely a reasonable uplift.

The issue you have is the tax banding you are in means you are not going to see much of it (and if you receive tax free childcare or similar) then you really lose out.

If you wanted to chuck it all into a pension then go for it though.

It’s a really personal question. If you don’t want to manage people, I’d imagine no uplift would feel enough!
From my experience, a 20%ish, £20k uplift to be a line manager for three people would be worth it. For you, clearly not.
It’s not an ‘insult’ though!

Blimey, I once worked at a nearly Michelin starred restaurant (it is now, think bird reserve) and didn't ask the wages in advance.

Turned out to be £3 ph, it was a few years ago now, but still...point is do the job, don't do the job, whatever, but a salary at that level is not an insult.

Could you apply for income support, take a second job, take in ironing, sell things on vinted, try the food bank?

I think if you don't like people management then just say no.

Personally I love managing people and I'm good at it, so don't need much of a salary uplift to have it as part of my job, but there are other aspects of my work that I would want a significant uplift for if I were to do them.

You are being unreasonable - but I think you know that already.

Just to add OP (as it seems to be central to your case) that I live in London too. Nursery fees of over £1500pcm. Husband who earns significantly less than me. And yet we survive!

I work in the NHS, line manage 10 people and earn £38k.

I'd be snapping their hand off!

At my employer it's a 7% increase if you manage people vs if you don't, and that's only actually via larger bonus - base salary is the same.

For managing just 3 people that's extremely generous in my opinion. Plus if you say no and/or negotiate overly aggressively that will shut down further career growth.

To me it's a no-brainer yes, far from insulting.