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New rate of pay - not happy

33 replies

Theblessedchild · 05/04/2024 20:45

I started a new job in December, am very happy here. I'm experienced in what I do.

When i started my role was supervisory and the pay was agreed at £11.50 ph for the responsibility this carried which was at the time £1.08 above minimum wage.

fast forward to today and I receive an email from hr with my new rate of pay (expecting it as nmw has risen) my new rate of pay is £12.00 ph. (56p above minimum wage)

This is effectively a pay cut isn't it?

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 05/04/2024 20:51

No, because your pay has still increased & presumably there was never any agreement that your hourly wage would permanently remain the same amount above NMW, and it is at least still above NMW rather than just in line with NMW.

I can see why you’d feel short changed though as obviously the gap between NMW & your hourly rate has shortened.

ShittyGlitter · 05/04/2024 20:52

Yes it does sound like it especially with the cost of living increasing!

Why is the pay so low for a supervisory role?

TheBottomsOfMyTrousersAreRolled · 05/04/2024 20:59

Supervising people for an extra 56p an hour? Hard pass.

Overthebow · 05/04/2024 21:00

Well it’s not a pay cut but it’s not a good pay rate for a supervisor.

Sandwichgen · 05/04/2024 21:01

ask to be moved to the next rung down, at NMW? See if they scrape together a bit more for you to keep you

Theblessedchild · 05/04/2024 21:02

Well there was nothing in writing to say that it will always be that much above minimum wage but there was a conversation about how it was a supervisory position and would increase when nmw does, I just assumed it would keep the difference between the 2 which it has not.

I don't feel that the new pay is fair.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 05/04/2024 21:03

It's not a pay cut, it's a pay rise, but it does mean the pay gap between you and the people you're supervising is much smaller. Is it worth having a supervisory role now? I'd have a go at negotiating your rate up a bit.

ByUmberViewer · 05/04/2024 21:04

This is a very common problem with the increases in minimum wage a lot of the supervisory roles aren't worth it any more.

FUPAgirl · 05/04/2024 21:06

Are you moving up a payscale? I'm an NHS manager and got a payrise of 50p an hour when I was promoted!! However it will be much higher in a few years.

Theblessedchild · 05/04/2024 21:07

I will definitely raise it with my boss when he's back from annual leave but wanted to gauge if my expections were unreasonable?

OP posts:
Yoyooo · 05/04/2024 21:09

What is the different between what you are on and those in a lower position?

Cas112 · 05/04/2024 21:10

It's a pay rise but the pay gap is now just smaller

Mrsttcno1 · 05/04/2024 21:10

Your expectations are unreasonable if it was never agreed that your wage would remain x distance from NMW. You were above NMW before, you’re still above it now, you have had a payrise and you can of course try to negotiate but it seems as though with the NMW Rate going up at your place of work (and lots of other places of work) it is just going to be the case that most of the different jobs get bunched together at the bottom salary wise.

supertatos · 05/04/2024 21:11

NuffSaidSam · 05/04/2024 21:03

It's not a pay cut, it's a pay rise, but it does mean the pay gap between you and the people you're supervising is much smaller. Is it worth having a supervisory role now? I'd have a go at negotiating your rate up a bit.

This. Could you ask to step down and say it's not worth the extra 50p?

ButterflyKu · 05/04/2024 21:13

I would either step down or go elsewhere

Theblessedchild · 05/04/2024 21:19

It's more complex as its a new business and I am one of 2 supervisors but nobody on the rung beneath. So I don't supervise anyone but get paid at this rate for lone working, key holding etc...

OP posts:
Howdoesitworkagain · 05/04/2024 21:20

No it’s not effectively a pay cut but I can understand why you’d be disappointed.

Let them know you don’t feel the gap is reflective of the extra responsibility. See if they increase it a bit further, if not be prepared to say you’d rather step down, or vote with your feet and go elsewhere.

craigth162 · 05/04/2024 21:21

D9nt see how you can be a supervisor if no one on rung below? Does anyone earn nmw at your work? If not the difference doesnt matter

Howdoesitworkagain · 05/04/2024 21:22

Theblessedchild · 05/04/2024 21:19

It's more complex as its a new business and I am one of 2 supervisors but nobody on the rung beneath. So I don't supervise anyone but get paid at this rate for lone working, key holding etc...

Ah ok we cross posted so this changes things a bit.

Find the rates for similar key holder positions in your area and approach it as a benchmarking discussion. Ie. benchmarking against both NMW and comparable key holder rates. The supervisory thing is a bit of a red herring. Managing others is definitely worth a bigger gap vs their rates, but your situation is different.

milkysmum · 05/04/2024 21:23

I think unfortunately this will now be the case in many work places. My friend is an assistant manager within student accommodations and now the minimum wage has gone up she is on about 30p more than the cleaning staff and student ambassadors.

AloeVerity · 05/04/2024 21:26

Well, in percentage terms it is a pay cut. The differential between you and those below you is smaller than it was. This is happening everywhere! Check out academia/university pay scales. All publicly available. Those at the bottom have been bumped up massively but no equivalents for those on the next few grades up. It really isn’t worth being promoted 😢

AloeVerity · 05/04/2024 21:27

@milkysmum - exactly the point I was making. If those at the bottom are deserving of an extra £1 an hour, why aren’t those above them? It’s insulting.

EmmaEmerald · 05/04/2024 21:29

So your job hasn’t changed?

it’s a pay rise, just not the pay you were expecting

sorry if I misunderstood something

SD1978 · 05/04/2024 21:33

Is there plans to expand the business soon? I'm not sure how you can argue you and your colleague are supervisors, when there is no one working in the company you supervise. I understand you're a key holder, but I'd be working out what the job entails, and what the standard rate for that role is, as supervisor as a title seems a tad disingenuous when you have no employees you supervise. Could you do this role elsewhere for more? Would you be willing to leave? Was the arrangement that you would always be x amount above minimum wage? There are lots of factors, but asking for an increase in line with your previous wage instead of the national minimum isn't unreasonable if that's what was discussed

SparrowFeet · 05/04/2024 21:33

It is a pay rise and the job title supervisor relates to level of responsibility rather than supervising people (which possibly could have made a difference here).

You can try to argue it if you like but I don't see how you've been treated unfairly here at all.