Got the pay rise, now to negotiate? WWYD

[Modernlouse]

Hello! I alerted my company to a pay gap, I was underpaid 11 percent. Now they’ve finally offered a 15 percent pay rise. Should I seek more? The job I’m doing is worth more at the market rate. In their words their move fills the gap and ensures department equity. What would you do?

I would accept that your company operates in a certain way.

If you feel that the money you'd get elsewhere would be better, and that other conditions would be equal, then apply for those jobs.

Your company is under no obligation to pay you market rate.

I believe though that they are under an obligation to backdate the payrise. This could be a substantial payment.

@Pineappleskies thanks! That’s interesting. When they first acknowledged the pay gap, one of the first things they said was that it won’t be backdated…

And it wasn’t a gender or race pay gap. I just caught them paying someone far less experienced, with fewer responsibilities, 11 Pct more.

Ah ok then they I think they don't have to backdate the pay rise and I don't think are under a legal obligation to avoid the pay gap.

This seems to sum up to you feeling undervalued and the least stress and highest certainty outcome would be to apply elsewhere.

I'd point out the market rate to them - saw that the inequity in your colleagues salary v yours led you to benchmark across the industry.
See where it goes. If they are firm at the 15% can you agree a plan to get you to that market rate in six months time? Depends on how the recruitment is in your area now as to how hard you want to play it but you shouldn't apologise for asking to be paid what you are worth to their business.

Say that, not saw

So you "caught" them doing something entirely legal? I wouldn't push your luck.

Pfffft

Legal but SHITTY

How do you catch someone being paid more? A gender pay gap is entirely different to someone being paid more than you for slightly different jobs..the market rate could have been different at the time,.they could have negotiated at the time they were offered employment. Way too many variables. Discussing terms and conditions with employees is frowned upon for mamy reasons..

@katieg03 they told me their salary and it was wildly unfair, so I told my bosses and after about 4-6 months of talking about it, they’ve acknowledged what they call a gap and promise department equity. @Quveas 👍🏽@LaurieFairyCake 🙏🏽

A few points - I love my job, love the ethos of the company, and it fits well with kids (I can wfh as much as I want for now). I’ve been with it for 10 years.

So they’re acknowledging there was a gap. They won’t back date, but could you negotiate that the rise should have started when negotiations began?

What has happened is legal. I'd take the offer and leave it at that. The other employee has probably been spoken to about how unprofessional it is to discuss these things. Way to many variables for negotiation.

@katieg03 its entirely legal to talk about salaries, it’s the only way for transparency. In my company anyway. I don’t think it’s frowned upon these days - not by people who are often underpaid (non white women for instance).

Given you love your job - which is worth an awful lot and something money can't always make up for - I'd take it graciously and just make sure you benchmark internally and externally as part of your annual salary review from now on.

@Ahnobother thank you, I asked for an extra 5 percent in the end so will see. My contract says my salary should be reviewed annually but I asked HR repeatedly if it ever has been and never got a response.