Pay rise

[Spottyphonecase]

I hope this is the right place to post.

I work where there are pay grades. My colleagues have been there longer than me. I have been there 3 years. Recently our job role has changed quite a lot. As a team we spoke to our manager and asked for a pay review due to the change in job. This was granted with lots of praise of how well we were all doing and they are so thankful of the work we put in during lockdown etc.

Pay has never been discussed between colleagues we all just assumed we were on the same. It turns out I don’t have a pay rise and my colleagues do. When they hired me they put me on a higher pay grade. I spoke to HR today to ask why I hadn’t been informed of my pay rise and was told it’s because I’m already on a higher wage. (Only by £1k) and that my colleagues were just getting a rise to match me. Obviously none of my colleagues know this.

I’m a bit cross about it tonight. Obviously I’m really pleased that they had a pay rise but I feel I deserve one too. I have put the work in and my role has changed since I started. I’m not saying I deserve to be on more than them at all but it feels like a bit of a kick in the teeth. Would I be in my rights to say anything?

I can understand how you feel but:

• They have been there longer than you
• Are you all the same grade?
• They could feel angry that they have more experience and should be on more than you.

Yeah thats disappointing, HR should have given you a heads up without you needing to ask.

Yes we are all the same pay grade now. I was not aware until hr spoke to me that I was higher. I just feel that my work hasn’t been recognised to get a pay rise. Also my role has changed but that hasn’t been recognised in my pay.

I don’t want to be higher than my colleagues, it’s not about that it’s that I feel ignored because I was already on higher pay than them.

Doesn't answer your question, but why were you put on a higher salary to begin with?

I work somewhere with grades and spinal points and that just doesn't happen. You go in at the bottom of your grade and move up each year. I'd be furious if someone started and automatically got put on a higher point for doing the same job.

I'm confused with what you want from them.

You confirm lots of praise and thanks so you must feel valued.
You have had an extra 1K in your pocket compared with colleagues for some time.
You don't feel you deserve more than others - this is now the case.
So why do you feel dissatisfied?

So you got put on a higher pay grade when you started? Sounds like the pay review took place and the role has been upped to the higher pay grade you're already on, so you don't get a pay rise because you're already on it.

It sounds like your employers have uplifted your colleagues' salaries to more like today's market rate, and because you were hired more recently you were already on that or close to it. Basically your colleagues have been underpaid for years and your employers have waited to review it until they've been forced to. Your colleagues feel good because they feel like they "won" and your employer still isn't actually paying them any more than they would if they had to recruit for each of the roles today.

I'd start looking for another job tbh, and don't be behind the door in tactfully discussing salaries with colleagues and people in similar roles in the the future.