Performance related pay and acting up

[scarlettsmummy2]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has any advice on whether I have a case for taking a grievence with my employer.

I work for a large housing association. Last august my job was evaluated and I transferred over onto a new performance related pay system on a grade six. I was automatically placed at the bottom of the scale at 80% competent as my previous salary was less than the starting point of the scale. My colleagues all were given various competency based on their old salaries and no consideration was given on their performance.

On the same day as I was given my starting point of 80%, my boss resigned and I was asked to act up. I did this for five months before going on mat leave. I interviewed for the job, came second and was told I did really well. I was gutted and suspect that my pregnancy didn't help the situation. Anyway, before I went off on mat leave I was given a competency score of 105%, meaning that I should be paid at that. My boss was very reassuring that come April 2012 this would be the case, especially as I had shown that I could competently do a job three grades higher.

I received a letter last week and have been offered a new pay of 88% competency as apparently there isn't enough money to pay me what I am actually rated at. I had a meeting with HR today and was basically told tough. I am very upset as anyone who joined a month after me was not automatically put at 80% but anywhere up to 90% as the manager chose. Two people on the team who joined after me where on 90%, despite not scoring as highly as me and one was managed out by myself whilst acting up for incompetence. I just feel so demoralised by the whole thing and totally taken for granted. Any advise gratefully received!

I would suggest you email the person/people responsible for deciding on your competency rating, and HR, asking for clarification on how the 88% was reached, given that you were previously rated at 105%. Presumably you've been on maternity leave for most of the time since you were given that rating, so it's difficult to see how your performance could have demonstrably deteriorated in that time. If the problem is with insufficient budget, they should be taking measures to reduce costs overall, not singling out one individual (assuming other people have received pay increases).

If the decision can be objectively justified they should have no issue with putting it in writing. If they are reluctant to respond, or you're not satisfied with the response, the next step would be to raise a grievance.

Well you're not legally entitled to a pay rise unless there is something written somewhere that pay will be x amount based on performance rating.

However if there are financial problems which mean they are not able to award increases in line with ratings as they normally do, this should be an organisation-wide policy and clearly explained and applicable to all, not just you.

I think you could raise a grievance about this, yes, and ask for details of exactly what the restrictions are (which could be no one above 88% or something), how they have been communicated to the organisation and that they apply across the board and not just to you.

Thanks for the replies. They still say I am assessed at 105 but just can't afford to give me that at the moment. It is just upsetting as they have even noted I can do a job three grades higher well. All my colleagues got pay rises, and several are at over 100%, but this is because they didn't have as far to jump. It's going to take four years apparently to get to my true competency. The whole thing just seems so unfair.