Can I negotiate where I start on a pay scale? Local council.

[dramalamma]

First time back in formal work for a long time and never worked for public service before so this might be a stupid question.

I've been offered a job in local council (6 month maternity cover) and they've offered me right in at the bottom of the pay scale that was indicated in the job ad. Can I go back to HR and negotiate or am I just going to set myself out as a trouble maker from the start? I'm quite overqualified so I feel like I should be a bit higher and the difference between top and bottom of pay scale is £100 a month so I'd like that in my pocket rather than theirs! 😁 but if that's juts how it is I'll take it.

The wording the letter was: Scale S01 SCP 25 – 27 (and what they've offered me is scale 25).

It is often difficult with local authorities. Often the only way to get higher is if you have moved from another role at that level and are already higher.

The fact its maternity cover and not many people might want that role could help. But it's a long shot.

It's worth a try but it's much harder for them than it is in the private sector as it's often policy that you start at the bottom and the incremental increases are a reward for length of service/experience. So it might come down to whether the senior manager is willing to bend the rules, which is not unheard of but depends on their management style.

The theory with pay scales in the public sector was once that top of scale was the 'rate for the job' and that it took 3-4 years going up the scale on annual increments to get there in terms of experience.

Latterly the increments have been conflated with annual uprating of scales for inflation etc. In some roles it's impossible to predict how long it will take to get to the top.

Worth a try but I suspect the employer's line will be that even if they wanted to and could you'd breach a dam and they'd all want it/get it!!

We won't unless you are already paid more, when we would consdier the request. How "over qualified" you think you are is irrelevant - please don't say that because you'd rapidly get either "well you shouldn't have applied for a job that you thought beneath you", or "well given you've not been in the workplace for a long time we're taking a risk on you anyway". If they don't say it, more than one will think it. I'd concentrate on doing a bloody great job because that and the foot in the door is worth a lot in terms of whether you are still there in seven months! Most councils are now on zero recruitment externally, and any jobs advertised are the ones that nobody wants for some reason. Once you start with them you get access to apply for jobs internally; and succeed and you will have a pay rise at 6 months anyway. You usually progress to the next scp on 1st April or after six months in post.

I mean you can but the answer will be no.

That super helpful thank you all - I would never tell them I think I'm overqualified but it is pretty clear from my cv! They're getting a bargain. I haven't actually been out of the workplace (sorry I wasn't clear) I've just been working for myself and don't want to any more for several reasons.)
I had to ask a couple of other questions so I ended up slipping in a very polite question and - as you all said - it's just policy that all new starters are at the bottom. I'll accept that of course - it is annoying tho cos why advertise it as a range?
ThAnks for all the comments - it's really helpful to know it's not something I should be trying to negotiate - sometimes I can be a bit of a pushover so didn't want to be but happy to accept if it's just standard.

I did once successfully negotiate a slight increase from starting right at the bottom of the band, in a public sector workplace. I explained what I was on currently and that I’d love to work for them but the cost of commuting etc would be a barrier to me accepting the role without an uplift in pay, so they adjusted it.

It’s always worth a try! The worst they can do is say no. I don’t think it marks you out as a troublemaker or cheeky; you’d have to be working for some pretty insecure folk for that to be a problem. Unless they advertise the role at a fixed pay point and/or explicitly state they are only willing to employ someone at that rate or the bottom of the band, then there is room to haggle.

I recently started a local authority role in London and was able to negotiate for the top of the band when they offered me the bottom of the band due to my degree. However, the difference between the bottom and the top was only about £1,000.

I’ve also been appointed at the top of the band so it is possible!

I’m in public sector HR. In the last year I’ve noticed an increase in people being hired above the bottom of the pay scale. It depends on what the role is, what salary you are already on, how difficult a role is to recruit.

Things in your favour:

• it’s a maternity position. These are normally harder to fill as they are temporary - it puts people off.
• You’ve got relevant qualifications.
• I can’t think of an example of a failed negotiation for increase. All the ones I can think of have been approved, and it’s the same for HR colleagues in other departments/albs.

I have noticed that women are less likely to negotiate a starting salary increase - Men negotiating higher starting salaries than women doesn’t look good on the gender pay gap reports. It’s not a reason to give you the increase but if there is a male counterpart on that salary it’s harder to justify turning down your request.

Things that might not work in your favour (although might not necessarily count against you)

• You’ve been ‘out of employment’. Yes you’ve worked for yourself but that makes it harder to decide whether an increased offer is justified.
• whether they agree your qualifications are above the level of the role.
• how many people applied for the role.
• what are their options if they decline your request.
• public sector so how comparable is pay to private sector.

I would ask the question, it’s a yes or no answer!

Ask - if you don't ask you don't get?

What's the role out of interest?

My position sounds similar. Bring self employed, raft of qualifications but out of the employed market. I'm over qualified and no recent office experience (but did my own admin etc )

Think like a man - no harm!

Thank you all so much for your posts. Wow - it's like night and day before my last post (no don't do it get over yourself) and after (sure why not it happens, think like a man!) 😂
I asked politely what the justification was and they said everyone starts at the bottom of them band. ...... im very tempted to go back and say why advertise a range then because it's only a 6 month contract so - unless I stay on after, I won't get any increase. The difference is about £1400 over the year so it's not going to bankrupt them but I get belts are tight at the moment.

Those are all really helpful points @Littlegoth - I do have a degree (and postgrad qualifications which are more relevant to the job) and about 4 years relevant experience - the job asked for a degree and 2 years experience or no degree and 5 years relevant experience. I suspect they either had no one else apply or only one person as I know they were doing all interviews in one day and I was first and they offered it to me pretty sharpish after the end of the interview.
I wouldn't walk away if they declined but they don't need to know that! 😂
I also haven't been told if the current person in the role has already left for maternity or not but I suspect they have as it involves social media and it's been very quiet on there for a few weeks and they bit off my hand when I offered to start earlier than expected.
@WavingCatsandDogs - it's a role supporting a particular industry that is strong in our borough so it's a very diverse role and I just happen to have experience in all the areas - it's not very common to cover all of the things they wanted (think something like economics and fine art). I found it by signing up for local council job alerts - they have a really broad range on there from street cleaners to heads of dept. Maybe your council has similar?
I think I'll push back a little and use the commute as an excuse.... see what they say.