Disappointed in pay rise

[december2020]

It feels bitter sweet and very ungrateful.

I was lucky enough to get a pay rise, but it's barely 4% of my salary. I was told I'm up for a significant pay rise (so my expectations were around 7%+) and this means I'm easily out of the running for the foreseeable future - at least a year unless I get promoted.

I understand people are struggling, companies are clamping down and no one should turn up their nose on money - I work in media and advertising for context.

The rationale was that there is a limited pot and it beds to go around. I've been working 10-14 hours a day, fixing client relationships, building bridges and making things happen. When there's a problem, I'm the solution. I'm currently working the equivalent of 2.5-4 peoples jobs as one person.

Everyone is grateful, clients are happier, happy days.
Yet they prioritise other employees countless times (from the same pot for pay rises).

It's not from my lack of asking for progression or objectives to work towards (I'm vocal about this weekly - I've not had any objectives of a growth plan for over a year).

I feel like I'm either clearly under performing - and there is nothing more for me to give. Or I'm performing above and beyond yet I'm being overlooked or assumed I won't kick up a fuss.

I don't know what to do? Should I confront my line manager? Just move somewhere else asap? With the hours I'm working i don't have time to interview - so do I just resign?

I love my clients and my team, just not how my company is treating me.

Briefly

Dock worker's victory
www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2022/november/liverpool-dockers-celebrate-major-victory-after-unite-secures-pay-deal-worth-between-143-and-185/

2% here despite getting Exceeding Expectations and working a 50 hr average.

Time to move on OP?

I think that a PP hit the nail on the head with the “part of the furniture” comment. Hopefully your meeting will have put paid to that treatment. I hope you got your point across.

And 2.5% for a social worker? Derisory!

We are set for months of strikes I think.

I got 5% this year and we've been guaranteed 5% in April next year too. I am quite pleased with that as it's the highest pay rise I've ever got in the same job!

DH got a 26% pay rise recently by successfully interviewing for a better paid job (his current employer countered with more money, so he stayed).

If you're really unhappy with the increase, then moving on to a better paid position might be the best way. Your employers do sound like they've gotten too used to you bending over backwards to hold them up!

It is great if unions get better pay rises for their staff - like the dockworkers. But that will add costs to imports - basically food on the supermarket shelves (and other industry and business supplies). Fuelling inflation.

And for public services I have total sympathy (I am one). But that swill have to be paid for out of taxes or cuts elsewhere - education, health... they are the biggest sums.

I wish people would work their hours and no more. It does no good in the long run.

For those who are interested in this year's inflation busting union victories in various sectors
leftfootforward.org/2022/08/10-massive-pay-rises-and-cost-of-living-payments-unite-has-won-for-workers-in-recent-weeks/

@Bouledeneige too many public services wasting money outsourcing to private sector. Everything these days has to be coining it in for someone. That's the core issue, the hole in the boat.
Also, female dominanted industries have always been devalued, compared to male dominanted industries. Someone made an interesting comment about women having to move jobs for a pay rise. If that's true, why is that?

I believe nurses voted to strike. Good on them.

My meeting went well.
All factual - they asked me what they can do to make me stay. I've asked for a 17% pay rise and they said they're going to look at promotion opportunities and building a new role for me that I'd like.
They're due to get back to me on Tuesday. Not taking anything for granted or assuming I'll get what I've asked for - we'll see what they come back with,

Well done for being bold! @december2020

Not true in the private sector to be honest. 4% isn't all that at all especially when told to expect a significant increase. That would be 10% in my book.

Well I have only ever worked in the private sector. And as mentioned upthread, I have worked for three decades and in finance where I have been involved in budgeting and forecasting. And yes I will stand by my statement that increases like 7% are pretty much unheard of without a promotion.

Fair enough. Not in my organisation.

This has been my experience as well.

A small update: I turned the other role down due to the pay. My current company has now offered me a promotion and the 17% pay rise which I'm going to accept once I get it in writing.

Good news! Always nice to hear a positive thread update.

Wow 17% that's great. Well done for this. It motivates others (me!) to also have difficult conversations. A good boost for you too at Christmas.

So proud of you for you negotiating, really well done!

Thank you everyone!
It's annoying it came to this, had they just given me the pay rise I was after it would have been a non issue, but thankfully it all worked out in the end!
As some posters said, maybe I was just zero value to them and annoying them, which could very well have been, but fortunately that wasn't the case.

Well done!

I agree it is annoying. It is also short sighted by the employer. Good, hard working, committed employees often aren't seen as a flight risk so get overlooked when it comes to pay rises etc. They tend to get treated like the furniture. It is assumed they will always be there.

My employer was similar. Eventually I happened (I wasn't looking) to find another job near identical to the one I had which paid 50% more. On the day I handed in my notice my employer was but but but.....I had to explain in simple words that if they had treated me decently I wouldn't have been tempted by the new role.