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Original poster

This is awkward.

97 replies

LilRobin · 24/01/2023 19:35

Hey everyone,

I started a new job recently. It looked a great opportunity and all was going okay, until I was sat down for a chat about my hours and pay.

I thought the salary seemed a bit on the low side when I went for the job, but it could just about pay what I needed it to. Then today, I was shocked when it was pointed out (and I realised!) that the salary was ‘pro rata’. Which means that the pay is not nearly enough… it would have just kept me afloat at the full advertised amount.

What should I do? This is sooooo embarrassing. I don’t see how the salary would work for me. I do like the job and the people are nice… but I can’t justify the commute etc for this wage. How should I even approach this subject?

Any guidance would be appreciated (and I know I’ve been stupid).

OP posts:
Original poster
LilRobin · 25/01/2023 12:27

Guys it said pro rata, I’ve looked back at it. This is my fault. I wondered how I got the job so quickly.

Sorry for being vague about the pay and the sector, I’m a little bit worried that one of the colleagues would see this post.

I’m a chef, was made redundant at my old place as they didn’t recover financially from the pandemic. I’d worked there for years and was on £25k for 40 hours per week.

This place want me to work 30 hours per week for £13k. The advert said £17k, which I thought didn’t sound too bad for 30 hours - not great by any means but I was desperate to find a new job and I would have stretched out the money and scraped by. I don’t see how I can justify the £13k. I looked it up and it’s minimum wage. The people are lovely there but it’s also quite a commute.

Think ‘desperate’ is the right word here. This is probably why I was crying, it’s been upsetting on a personal level (not their fault). The wage is extremely low though, I’m not sure how they can justify it.

Should I tell them what’s happened or say I’ve been offered more for another job and hope that they might make me a better offer? They’ve been really happy with my work. I can’t do it though. Have wasted their time as well as my own.

OP posts:
emz11 · 25/01/2023 12:37

Just remember, because of the £12500 tax free allowance, even if you're on less money than you thought, your take home pay won't be proportionally less because you'll be taxed less.

For example my colleague is part-time on 25 hours a week and I work 30 on a higher "full time" salary, but our take home is only £200 different because she gets taxed less than I do.

I you earn over £12,000 at the prorated rate you'll still take home about £1000/month

LIZS · 25/01/2023 12:37

Not surprised they've been really happy, you are overqualified for the rate. Are any local agencies recruiting, chefs seem to be in high demand.

PinkFrogss · 25/01/2023 12:40

I’m so sorry OP, that does sound very low pay for a chef Flowers

I would start job hunting, you could tell them you made a mistake and hope they increase your salary but that is unlikely and they may dismiss you if they know you’ll be job hunting. If you lie and say you’ve had a better offer elsewhere then they may know it’s a lie as they haven’t had a reference request.

I would just quietly job hunt - could you do waitressing, bar work, supermarket etc in the meantime to increase your pay?

peaceandpotato · 25/01/2023 12:41
  1. Don't forget the tax allowance as PP said.
  2. If you've only just started it's fair enough to say sorry I found something that pays better and hand in your notice.
SunshineAndFizz · 25/01/2023 13:01

That sucks. But chin up, mistakes happen. Get applying and find something else asap.

StoppinBy · 25/01/2023 13:01

I think you could get away with saying somewhere else you had applied to contacted you and as the conditions are much better you need to take the other job.

Maybe offer to give a couple of weeks notice so you are still earning while you job hunt... or wait until you find another job to say something.

Prettypaisleyslippers · 25/01/2023 13:27

You won’t be taxed much. May get a tax rebate too. Look for other jobs, there maybe temping you can do alongside these hours whilst you find a new role? I’m always seeing temp agencies looking for staff.

TokyoSushi · 25/01/2023 13:32

That is really love but the good news is that there are thousands of Chef jobs out there paying more than £25K (DH is an ex Head Chef) so you should be able to find another job pretty quickly.

TokyoSushi · 25/01/2023 13:32

*Low not love!

caramelsauce · 25/01/2023 13:53

Unless you are under 20 they can’t pay you £13k a year for 30 hours per week as this is less than minimum wage?

2bazookas · 25/01/2023 13:57

Tell the employer, very nicely, that with regret you are going to withdraw because you've had a pay offer you can't refuse.

If they really want you they might come back with an offer to match it.

Dartmoorcheffy · 25/01/2023 14:01

That's ridiculously poor pay for a chef.

JFDIYOLO · 25/01/2023 14:29

Go through the wording of the ad, the job description and any other communication in minute detail. Everything.

If it's misleading you may be able to get it improved.

But if you just didn't notice, you have a decision to make - can you sustainably do it at that rate?

Sooner rather than later.

Andypandy799 · 25/01/2023 14:31

@LilRobin You may be entitled to universal credits as this has replaced tax credits. Check out

www.entitledto.co.uk/

Let us know if you qualify

Yesthatismychildsigh · 25/01/2023 14:33

That’s under the minimum wage. It’s illegal.

TenTenEleven · 25/01/2023 14:47

Just say you've had a better offer and leave.

It's their fault they're not offering an attractive enough salary to retain decent staff.

trucklebrunch · 25/01/2023 14:52

Don't lie, just tell them the truth, they need to know that the low salary is actually quite unbelievable.

If be tempted to put it in writing and resign by letter and just get it hand delivered.

Original poster
LilRobin · 25/01/2023 14:58

I wondered if it was legal too, my partner was shocked to hear.

A quarter of their work force left last month, I did find it odd but now I’m wondering if it was because of the salary.

I can’t make that wage work, so the decision has been made to let them know (unless they come back with a better offer, but even then, I’m embarrassed about the whole thing and it’s just uncomfortable).

Right now, I’m procrastinating letting them know because of the embarrassment. Trying to build the courage up.

Feeling much better about the situation though, I’ll find something else… how they can justify this wage is honestly beyond me (probably why I didn’t clock the wording in the advert, I wasn’t expecting anybody to offer such a low pay).

I think they need to be actively looking for an apprentice chef. The job had a lot of criteria too, they wanted quite a high level of experience and qualifications. I think it’s a bit delusional and can’t quite work out what’s happened here. What a mess.

Appreciating the replies so much, thank you ❤️

OP posts:
OriginalUsername2 · 25/01/2023 15:05

Having worked in restaurants, I think you need to relax and just make an honest phone call to the manager or head office.

OriginalUsername2 · 25/01/2023 15:06

They should be embarrassed, not you!

Beercrispsandnuts · 25/01/2023 15:06

Min wage would be just over 16.2k. So this is illegal. They’d be paying you 8.33 an hour v a legal requirement if 10.42 from April.

id tell them to do one.

OriginalUsername2 · 25/01/2023 15:08

I’m intrigued about the exciting element of this job you mentioned.

Beercrispsandnuts · 25/01/2023 15:08

OriginalUsername2 · 25/01/2023 15:05

Having worked in restaurants, I think you need to relax and just make an honest phone call to the manager or head office.

Relax? She’s an experienced chef and she’s going to have to push to even get min wage. It’s awful treatment of employees,

op are totally sure it’s not the 17k? Even then though, would you work for that?

OriginalUsername2 · 25/01/2023 15:09

Beercrispsandnuts · 25/01/2023 15:08

Relax? She’s an experienced chef and she’s going to have to push to even get min wage. It’s awful treatment of employees,

op are totally sure it’s not the 17k? Even then though, would you work for that?

Show quote history

Relax as in, she’s not the one in the wrong here and shouldn’t be embarrassed.