Reject a pay restructure without losing job..

[alim2b]

Hello MNers,

I have a question which I wonder if anybody HR-related can help with. My DH has been in conversations with his boss about working out a better pay package. To cut a long story short, his boss has eventually offered him a package which DH feels is worse (lower base salary, higher bonus possible but not guaranteed). Consequently he's now thinking about looking for other jobs, however in the meantime doesn't want to be without a job and also has to respond to this latest offer.

He wants to say "thanks but no thanks, I'll stick with my current package" - but is afraid that if he rejects the proposal his boss will say "sorry actually but this is the only package now on the table and if you don't like it then you're free to leave". I don't think that a company could do that, could they? Effectively dismiss someone for asking for a payrise? Does anyone know?

(DH doesn't feel comfortable asking his company's HR as he feels that it will probably get back to his boss.)

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Any thoughts anyone?

Not an expert, but if he's got a contract with his current pay arrangements I suspect it would be really difficult for them to change it without his agreement!

How long has he worked there? Is he in a union?

Yes they can do it anyway . If he's been there more than 2 yrs he could attempt a claim for unfair dismissal but if the enployer have followed a consultation process, he may not be successful. Plus the tribunal process is expensive and stressful.
Is there any ability to negotiate the package, egcontracted bonus for specific targets/achievements to make it more palatable?
The unofficial answer is he probably needs to step up the job hunting as even if they don't push the changes through now, it will probably happen at some point and with sour relations in both sides added in

Thankyou guys.

He's been there for around 6 years.

Yep, he's trying to negotiate but his boss is pretty stubborn. Let's see 😫

Yes technically they could go through a process and force it through if they have good reasons for the change. But it sounds like DH actually initiated the discussions which means a) they almost certainly don’t have good enough business reasons to force it through without a legal claim resulting from it b) they are very unlikely to try and force it if he just says thanks but no thanks, as it seems they are happy with the status quo and it was him who wanted to change that.