Negotiating a pay increase

[spydie]

I will apologise in advance if this seems a bit vague, trying not to out myself completely!

Been with company over 5 years, always solid performance and promoted after 9 months. Took a period of mat leave and returned earlier this year to multiple organisation changes. My role remained the same but took on a greater level of responsibility upon my return. Someone then left and I took over their role in addition to my existing workload... I was asked to do it and as it's a huge role now I stated I would be happy to but I would need to know my salary would be reviewed and adjusted accordingly. Promises were made and I was told it would be sorted as part of some other organisational changes that were coming.

Well those changes took place, I was effectively promoted up as a result (in terms of title/organisation level and bonus %) but told salary issue was still to be signed off. I've been doing the dual role for over 4 months now, feedback has been open and really very positive. Yet still no salary increase... I've since found out that my 1 peer in the UK (a guy) asked for a pay increase and got it, yet as a result of my recent 'promotion' he's now a level below me. We have then hired another guy into the team recently who again is a lower level and has a dotted line to me, and is on virtually the same salary as me. We now have another opening in the team for someone who would again have a dotted line to me, and the salary budget is the same as the most recent hire.

I'm really not sure what else I am supposed to do or say to get this addressed. I'm feeling so fed up and disallousioned, that I've started looking elsewhere now. I don't know whether to raise it with my bosses boss, who I'm told is supportive of me getting an increase, or not. Would love some good advice please!

I most definitely would! More or less same thing happened to me and I found that it ended up taking over every waking thought, and I was constantly having conversations with myself about what I was going to say to my bosses etc. It was very distracting so in the end I got a joint meeting with my boss and their boss and was just open and honest about it all really.

I went along the lines of I wouldn't be doing myself justice by not raising it and asked them what it would cost to replace me (at my new assumed level) and that they needed to address the gap between my current salary and the one they would be prepared to offer a 'stranger'. We went round and round a bit but eventually they did give me an increase.

It annoys me that salaries are such a taboo topic in companies and it's not the done thing to discuss openly and honestly. It's always such mission to get a conversation going and even more of a struggle to try and get what you deserve. I would cite the examples you mentioned and ask them for a timeline of how they are going to address it, otherwise you have no choice but to look elsewhere.

It's shabby treatment. I'd raise the matter formally, with a document mapping out the dates when the colleague left and when you were asked to take on their additional duties plus dates when they promised to adjust your salary.

I wouldn't give them an ultimatum that if it isn't sorted out you'll leave - threats do tend to weaken the argument. Nothing to stop you getting your CV out there with a few agencies or look at Indeed.com for similar roles and salary levels, which would be useful for comparison.

I've since found out that my 1 peer in the UK (a guy) asked for a pay increase and got it

I would be careful what you do with this, unless you know the circumstances. They may have put priority on your colleague's salary review if his salary was lagging behind even more than your's.

"I stated I would be happy to but I would need to know my salary would be reviewed and adjusted accordingly. Promises were made and I was told it would be sorted as part of some other organisational changes that were coming."

I assume you didn't get this in writing? That's the mistake, as I'm sure you realise. If taking on new responsibilities is conditional upon a salary increase (quite reasonably), you need to get that in writing before you start the new job.

From the way you write your post, it sounds as though you haven't been nearly pushy enough about this with your manager. It comes across as though you've asked the question about when it will happen, rather than having been extremely firm about not being at all happy about being taken advantage of and undervalued.

Daisychain no I definitely don't want to tell them I'll leave if it's not sorted. Seems a bit petulant, even though I do feel like leaving! I have already had a conversation with my boss though where I have chased it (multiple times) and told him what the market is doing. I know I can't say anything about the colleague who got a pay increase, however we were on the same despite me having 2 years extra service so anything he got means he will be on more than me now...

flowery oh goodness don't I know it!! Really wish I had something in writing I have had quite a few conversations with him where I have told him I'm unhappy it's still not been sorted etc, told him what the market is doing (which he knows as we are hiring more junior people on virtually the same money). I'm told it's with the head of hr to be signed off, but it's been with that person about 6 weeks now... I know I won't get anything this year now as belts are being tightened.

In terms of next steps, set up a meeting with boss and his boss? What things are ok to raise and not ok to raise?

I know I can't say anything about the colleague who got a pay increase, however we were on the same despite me having 2 years extra service so anything he got means he will be on more than me now..

If this is the case, I'd slip into the conversation that you'd be interested to know what data your company plans to release regarding the gender pay gap.