No pay rise until agreement to increased notice period?

[Quangoquandry]

All, lookimg for some guidance here please. I've been "promoted" (band change) so I am fairly compensated for a role I have been doing for two years.
Letter received states my new salary and notice period is 3 months (previously 1) and I am to sign to confirm I am satisfied. The hitch is that payroll won't be updated until I sign and return letter. Can they withhold my increased salary until I sign?
The reason I ask is I am hoping to move jobs (1 interview down) but don't think the process will be complete that quickly. Tia

Probably, unless you have a separate contractual entitlement to a pay rise, which is unlikely, although possible, depending on the type of organisation you work for and the way salary is determined.

I've never seen a 3 month notice period before. I hope it goes both ways.

If it's a band change, that can attract new terms and conditions of employment and therefore a new contract. So you would need to sign to accept those new terms that come with the pay rise. It's pretty typical for a notice period to increase with seniority, and is usually reciprocal. I'm on 3 months notice too, it's not unusual at a certain level.

Yes they will withhold your increased salary as signing the contract triggers the next step. The promotion is contingent on the conditions. And if you try negotiate that condition it will be obvious why. Think you just have to tell possible new employer you have a 3 month notice period if they offer you the job. Its not that uncommon in senior roles.

Unfortunately I thought as much but wanted to double check. Will hold off signing for now but ensure it is back for next payroll. In the meantime I'll have a chat with the recruiter.

First World problems I know.

@vimtosogood

I've never seen a 3 month notice period before. I hope it goes both ways.

My DH is on 6 months and was previously on a year -pretty common for 3 months

I've had 3 months notice for a few jobs

@vimtosogood

I've never seen a 3 month notice period before. I hope it goes both ways.

It is extremely comment and will almost certainly go both ways. It would otherwise probably be deemed an unfair contract term if challenged.

*common

I'm in 3 months, next step up will be 6. Standard in private sector

If you accept the salary, you've accepted the terms, whether you sign or not, so it doesn't make any difference. It's very common for notice periods to be longer for higher paid jobs.

Yes 3 months is common at certain grades. I've been on 3 months notice for my last 3 roles.

6 months is not unusual for exec level positions.

Generally negotiable based on an effective handover. I've had 9 or 10 weeks agreed alongside a solid handover.

I can see why a promotion could feasibly lead to an extended notice period.

The further up the corporate ladder you go, the more you become an "investment" to them, which is signified by a longer period of time needed to fill your role if you decide to leave.

I don’t think they’re ‘withholding’ anything. They’ve made you an offer for a promotion on those terms, you either accept the offer or not, or try to negotiate on the notice period, but they aren’t going to give you more money until you've accepted the terms of the offer in writing. This is completely normal practice.

Aware the notice period isn't unusual. I'm just pissed because I've been doing the job for 2 years - nothing about the job is changing it is exactly the same as it has been for the last 24 months. For 12 of those I have been fighting to get more money, I was promised it would be rectified in January and now they have approved it 6 months later I only get it if I agree to a longer notice period.
I get it, but I'm frustrated with he whole thing.

Presumably the increased salary goes with an increased grade and all the T&C that go with it?

Nope, just appropriate remuneration for the job I have been doing for 2 years. Nothing more.

Thought it was a band change? Is that not the same as an increased grade?

Yes band change but it doesn't have any benefits or meaning connected to it as far as I am aware. Literally everything I do and am entitled to, except salary, remain the same.

@Quangoquandry

Yes band change but it doesn't have any benefits or meaning connected to it as far as I am aware. Literally everything I do and am entitled to, except salary, remain the same.

But the change in notice will be applied to the band. You're really not going to be able to negotiate that you're treated differently to others in the same band.

Is the increased notice (which presumably is a two-way thing?) applicable to the band as a whole?

It is extremely comment and will almost certainly go both ways. It would otherwise probably be deemed an unfair contract term if challenged.

It is actually not uncommon for a term like this to not go both ways, and it is absolutely lawful. If you agree the term, then you've agreed it. I have often seen private sector contracts where the notice period for the employee is longer than that for the employer.

Three months is very common for senior jobs, my DH has a 6 months notice period.

It is extremely comment and will almost certainly go both ways. It would otherwise probably be deemed an unfair contract term if challenged

This is absolutely untrue, you can have different employer vs employee notice periods and that wouldn’t been seen as unlawful in a contract. It’s not uncommon for only the employee notice period to be written into the contract and therefore the employer notice is just statutory. Lots of people just don’t read their contracts properly and miss this.

Standard for the NHS (as is the taking ages to make decisions concerning banding, salary increases etc).