Does anyone know anything about pay rises / pay scales? Need to decide something before tomorrow morning...

[FourThousandHoles]

I've just been asked by my employer (large multinational company) to accept a lump sum instead of a pay rise this year. The lump sum is minimal as the pay rise isn't much (still better than the zero we've had recently). My salary will remain the same as it is currently.

This is because apparently I'm reaching the ceiling of my pay band, which I wasn't previously aware of. I've been on this pay band for about 4 years and it has never been an issue before.

Shouldn't the pay band be widened to take annual pay rises into account? This isn't a promotion, it's a 2% increase across the board.

I work part time so 2% doesn't amount to much really. My only issue is that I will lose out in future years as any further increases will be based on my current salary rather than current+2%, this doesn't make a huge amount of difference in real terms but just doesn't seem fair/right somehow.

I've been told that I can either accept the lump sum or have my salary capped and I have to decide by tomorrow morning. I've asked for more info regarding the exact limits of the salary band from my boss so I can do some number crunching of my own, waiting to hear back.

TIA for any insight anyone might have.

I wonder if you work where I work because this has been happening here recently.

Personally, based on what colleagues have done, I would fight it and suggest they review the role's banding. If you've been on the same band for that length of time, are you progressing as you would like?

I'm not really progressing at all however that's through choice as I have young children and have had a maternity leave and serious family illness to deal with in the past couple of years. My appraisals have been consistently good though and afaik am well thought of in the company so it's nothing to do with my performance.

I do know however that others in the same team are (pro rata) not paid as much as I am and my suspicion is that my salary is being brought into line.

When I was on mat leave the department was restructured and although my salary/job title/job spec didn't change, my new boss prefers to take a lot of the responsibility on herself rather than trust her team to get on with it by themselves. I have raised this with her and it is supposed to be changing. I'm not doing the job I was initially employed to do.

If you're not doing the job you were originally employed to do I would definitely request it is sent for assessment. It might be that they're trying to bring your salary in line and I imagine they're entitled to do that, but of you think you're worth more then checking your banding is a good way to assess this.