Not an ordinary working person if you earn over 45k

[TesChique]

Disincentivising anyone to strive to earn over 45k a year is a bizarre strategy for growth i feel

Aibu?

As I just explained, I do work hard and I do have the right skills.

I don't get past the interview because I'm not a bullshitter, my qualities are not something that can be demonstrated in an interview, and I'm not someone who thinks of quick responses to unexpected questions.

Most painful middle earner kicker I’ve encountered for a bit.

Obviously I don't know your industry. But lots of industries have a few interview stages and activities for this reason. You should consider coaching.

What's wrong with middle class?

Anybody who earns above the average salary isn’t a “working person”?! (£37.5k is the median, £45k mean for full time work per ONS 2024: it’s gone up since then).

These people are lunatics.

And then if everyone earns the same
why bother working hard at school
why bother going to uni living in poverty and building up debts
why bother working in a highly stressed job when

you can not bother to increase your lot living a less stressful life and earn the same

Well done (I don't mean that in a patronising way).
You must know that statistically people who grow up in poorer households are more likely to end up in low income jobs - the poverty trap.
Statistically two equally intelligent children from different income households do not have the same outcomes.

Tell me you have never been poor without telling me!

Not all jobs are posted on LinkedIn. Retail, bar work, cleaning, waitressing, Evri / Amazon warehouses, Food / Shopping/ Parcel delivery person. The subcontractors for Evri, Amazon etc often have very flexible hours.

You can tell how motivated someone is to work by the effort they put in...

No, he can't increase his income. He struggles as it is with health problems whilst doing his current job.

More money isn't always a solution.

I’d find other ways to demonstrate your abilities and
get some interview training

To an extent, but good health is like win the lottery : you don't win that,it can take everything you've got to work at,if you're lucky

Well, I guess if we’re not “working people” then we can’t possibly have any earnings from employment to which they would want to apply income tax and national insurance, can we? So yay, a massive tax cut to 0%! 😁

How do you know many lower paid workers (supermarkets, care workers, cleaners, hospitality) don't want careers?

Perhaps he reduces his hours and you go out to work aswell
It would give him a rest if he’s not working full time and increase your income giving you a chance to pay into a private pension
Plus if it increases your household income you won’t need as much in benefits

win win for everyone

£45k isn't that high for many professionals.

qualities are not something that can be demonstrated in an interview

Do you mean you can't build a rapport with an interviewer? Cannot talk about experience relevant to the job or any achievements in your previous role? Or why you want the new role?

A salaried worker on a 40hr contract earning £50k per year, and working just 1 additional hour each day - unpaid - is at risk of a NNMW breach. How on earth they can say £45k is the threshold of working people is beyond wild.

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Wow I earn £1660 a month struggle massively

I'm classed as a carer and study with the OU so I can't work as I have enough going on as is...plus have my own health issues. Unfortunately life isn't as straightforward as it should be for many families out there. Just be grateful you don't have a shit show of a life I have.

Rather than squabbling about those on benefits, try and direct your anger elsewhere. Like those at the top who earn millions.

Working hard in your careers (usually but not always) means that you successfully deliver what's needed for for your work tasks. As you succeed you get recognition as people see you delivered X,Y and Z. People at the company can see the effort you put in but obviously will mostly focus on the results.

My DH works incredibly hard, calling work colleagues and managing tasks will the late hours of the night. He has to work multiple weekends and can rarely switch off due to his role.

My son whilst very junior strives to do his best at work. If the going gets tough he's been known to put in late nights for certain big projects. After successfully delivering what needs to be done he's received "well dones" from colleagues and those managing the projects.

Of course hard work matters. It won't be everything, but will be the largest contributor.

I only earn 29k (and work very hard for it), have been doing my job 12 years and have a first class degree. Although I think 45k is a good salary, it's clearly not a huge salary. We bought young and cheap so have low outgoings, but it'd be a real struggle to have further tax implications if we'd moved to a 3 bed (350k where I live).

Yes, to a point. I think my opinion is skewed by my own experiences - my parents both grew up very poor, my Dad was kicked out of home at 16 by his violent alcoholic father. He sofa surfed and laboured on a building site and 3 other jobs at same time to afford a room in a shared house. He worked his way up, did an OU degree in evenings and is now extremely sucessful. He was averagely bright, definitely not expectional and had absolutely no help or luck. He now charges his time at around £300 per hour and people pay that as he is excellent at what he does. So yes I agree with you that we are in the main masters of our own destiny - excluding disabilities or other physical impediments to work.

Which isn't at all saying lower earners don't work hard, of course they do. But it's about making smart, planned choices at each stage. Having a clear goal and knowing what it takes to get there, adapting and growing.

@TightOnes As you succeed you get recognition as people see you delivered X,Y and Z. People at the company can see the effort you put in but obviously will mostly focus on the results.

Yes, I know that.

The company recognises the hard work you do, so they give you praise and more work.

An employer would not give someone a pay rise or promotion for doing hard work. Why would they do that?

I live in a deprived city in the uk. My dh earns 60k, I have friends who earn similar. It’s a good wage (to us) but it doesn’t go far in this economy.