Salary query

[Jammylou]

I was promoted over 2 years ago into a management role.
Been with the company for 15 years as mid level.
As this was an internal promotion I started at the bottom of the scale. 1 increment each year so it will take me 10 years to reach the top. So another 8 years now.
A senior manager recently slipped out that new managers appointed at the same time as me or after have all negotiated their way at least half way up the spinal scale on appointment. It will take me 3 more years to reach half way. On appointment I did ask if I could be considered further up the scale. Told no as this isn't considered for internal promotions as lesser management experience. However i have more experience than external appointees of the sector we are in. I know the business inside out.
The diffetence equates to about £5k a year.
I have done extremely well in this new role and received alot of praise from senior management.
It is now playing on my mind and annoying me that I am probably the lowest earning manager in our area of the business despite doing really well. Tyey frequently compare me to some of these newer higher earning managers of hiw much better I am doing.
Should I raise about my salary.
Just for context the sector we are in is non profit and there are financial strains at the moment.

As frustrating as this is, you may well need to look at moving to another organisation to get a promotion and pay rise. If you look at it from your current employer’s point of view - you’re already working for them at the current rate of pay, so why would they pay you more than the annual increments?

Yes of course you should bring it up. They should pay you more because otherwise someone else will.

Are these other people external? I've worked in recruitment for years and can confirm that's the reality of moving up with current employers. You will usually be given much less than someone moving externally. An external hire needs to be incentivised to move, a couple of grand isn't going to do it.

Yes you should raise this.

Definitely raise it! Sounds like they won’t want to lose you.
Get another job offer if that’s what they need to understand your worth.

I think I would just ask for reassurance there is no gender-based pay inequity, in writing of course.

I agree this is normal. Unfair but normal. You can raise it but likely you will have to move to get a jump in salary.

That's what I think. Trouble is I love what we do and am not sure I'd get that job satisfaction elsewhere but I am feeling rather under paid compared to my colleagues at the moment.

I wouldn’t start off by accusing my boss of sexism. I would simply say you feel you deserve a pay rise. Give reasons, not that others are paid more but that you are good at the job with examples. If they fob you off be honest and say you will be starting to look elsewhere as feel they are undervaluing you.
Only if none of this works do you then need to actually look for another job.
Research shows that men tend to be good at these discussions where women tend to sit back and expect to be paid what they are worth. Employers tend to pay as little as they can get away with. You need to make sure they don’t get away with it.

I was in a very similar position.

Ask for a raise .

I didn’t get it, then they acted all shocked when I handed my notice in 3 months later.

I loved my original role, the people, the flexibility. I was worried about losing it. In my new role paid fairly for what I do and i still have the flexibility. And more importantly I love this new role.
At times I kick myself thinking why didn’t I leave sooner.

@Jammylou there maybe a way to achieve a pay rise.

You were promoted via an internal process, where as your colleagues were recruited via external recruitment. This means as part of your recruitment to your role you were not tested against the market and so your employer can justify this is why you are not being paid the “market rate”.

If your role is advertised externally and you apply for it, go through the process and are successful you would then have been tested against the market and can justify why your salary should be increased to the “market rate”.

I suggest you first talk (don’t email) to the Head of Reward and ask about the pay policy. Ask the theoretical question, if you applied for an externally advertised role and were successful would you be entitled to the market rate other colleagues are being paid. If they say yes, then apply for the next external vacancies.

I know it sounds mad but in my sector I have advised numerous people this is the way to achieve the market rate, one person did it and got the higher pay. Most can’t be bothered.