Can someone translate this sentence for me? Please

[Tinker]

Blurb telling about teh various salary levels then this bit:

"Existing civil servants will become xxxxx xxxxxx on promotion or lateral transfer. If the pay consequences of such a move mean that the starting salary is higher than quoted above, the higher salary is retained on mark time. Prospective applicants currently earning more than the quoted salary should seek advice"

So, if I earned more than teh salary quotes above am I on mark time or should I seek advice? Or both?

"You should seek advice" I think. Unless you're an existing civil servant in which case you'd be on "mark time"

So, "prospective applicants" is not including "existing civil servants"? I think that's what it must mean but hardly clear is it? Or have I failed already?

Are you a civil servant now Tinker ? I don't think you are from previous discussions - so that sentence doesn't apply to you !

I think that's what it means,yes but it's kind of ambiguous! Having read it again, it could well mean that all prospective applicants should seek advice actually.

I really don't think it applies if Tinker is not a civil servant already !

No, I can't see why you'd need to seek advice if you weren't already employed by them in some way.

No, I am a civil servant. I assumed I would be on mark time (since it's the norm when transferring between depts) but also assumed I'd be a prospective applicant...

Ahhh - then I am confused then !

Are you applying to another department with a diff payscale ? (back later - just off to do bath !)

Yes, other dept and different payscale. Can't imagine applying at all if can't even understand teh application process

Hmmm - so I think then - say you now earned £20K - but the scale for the new role was £14K to £18K - you should seek advice as your current salary is higher than the top of the scale.

But if the "consequences of the move" meant your current salary would have to be elevated higher than the £18K if you got the job you'd stay on £20K on a mark time basis - so you basically wouldn't get any pay rises until your salary in the new job caught up ! I imagine "consequences of the move" mean thngs like the addition of London Weighting - eg, if you are on £17K in Birmingham - moving to London would mean an additional £2K or whatever - so that would take you over the max - to £19K.

God - even I am now confused !!!

I think - if in doubt you should ask !!

Seek advice. Ignore all the gibberish, just the last sentence says that.

you weould be on marked time yes - assuming it would work the same as with DH's job when he marks time - ie your pay will stay the same untill everyone else's has caught up to ypour level then you'd go on as normal. (something I find a tad unfair but anyhow.)

can you talk to someone in personell? would deffo double check thou jsut to make sure.

Tinker have you not grasped by now that personnel are absolutely useless and write everything super ambigious so they have a get out clause for everything!!!!!!!!

I tell you our "subsidised canteen" is a value added benefit event though it is more espensive than the 2 local pubs.......tis personnel speak.

marked time isn't about other people at all munz - it's about your "real" salary catching up with what you are actually being paid.

eg. say you joined and your real salary was £20K, but you were on £22K, if there was a £500 pay rise per year, you would miss 4 payrises (4 x £500 = £2K) - so after 4 years your actual salary of £22K equals your "real salary" of £22K - so after 4 yrs you start to get pay rises again. Of course the "real salary" will also go up - so it wouldn't really take the full 4 yrs.

CarGirl - not all HR people are THAT bad or intentionally confusing !

Thank you all. Yes, agree, must "seek advice"