Higher grade, less pay

[sooperdooper]

I work for a large company, jobs are graded and each grade has a salary scale, but they overlap so for example the bottom of a grade 8 is actually lower than the top of a grade 9

I was offered a secondment on a higher grade, exactly the kind of role I want to move into, more responsibility, more challenging etc.

My new manager tells me the role will be advertised as a year fixed term contract and she'd really like me to go for it.

Then turns out although its a higher grade it actually pays £10k less than I'm on now!!! She's said that's what they're paying, and even though my permanent role & contract is higher, if I took it I'd have to accept the pay cut!?

I assumed my contract would protect my salary and think it's insane and I'm so demoralised by it, where's the incentive to move up?

I guess the issue is they can just give it to someone willing/able to work for less but does anyone know if it's legal from a HR perspective that my salary wouldn't be matched?

I have no idea of the legalities, but I too would assume that for a temporary secondment at a higher grade, I would be getting at least the same as now on a lower grade, even given the overlap.

IME, salaries for new positions are rarely set in stone, whatever your manager may say, but it may depend on the organisation.

Do you know who would be the manager of the new role? I would go and talk to them, and possibly HR, too, to say I am very keen on the position, and focus on finding out more about the role - but I'd also point out I couldn't manage on such a big salary cut, and ask if there's any room for manoeuvre.

It's certainly perfectly legal- presumably you are not being forced to accept the secondment?

It's very shortsighted though, as they will obviously end up missing out on good candidates by being so inflexible.

Yeah I'm not being forced to take it but I'm just so unmotivated by the whole thing

I'm speaking to HR next week but I've already been told it's non-negotiable

That is totally bonkers.

Don't take it! Hopefully no one else will either and they'll be forced to rethink their stupid decision.

So they're offering you a fixed term contract (after 1 year, you have no perm job) and the pay is less? Then the answer is 'no thank you'...

In my organisation, this has occurred, but this is normally down to budgets as they may only have enough money to pay xxxx.

In saying that, they have 'found' the extra money for the right candidate. It's worth clarifying and then decide whether or not to apply.