DH and promotion (or not)

[redgladioli]

Namechanged as possibly a bit outing.

Almost six months ago, DH was made redundant. The layoffs were a shock, DH was determined not to be out of work for long and reached out to various contacts in his industry. He's been in the same field for decades and knows a lot of people, and has a good reputation.

On that back of this, a (very large and well-established) company essentially created a role for DH to step into. There were some transparent conversations about budget and progression - DH took a pay cut and a bit of a side step in terms of seniority in order to 'get in the door'. The people who recruited him were clear that within 3-6 months of DH being in the role, he would be promoted and his salary would go up to what it was previously.

DH is very happy with his new company - however, the dip in earnings has made things very tight for us as a family. He has been there six months, and still no promotion. DH now says that things don't always go exactly according to plan in big companies, and is now suggesting that it is more likely to be early next year - though it doesn't sound like anyone has been entirely clear on this either.

In all honesty, I am very annoyed and think he has been messed about. He isn't great at talking about money, and I sense doesn't want to rock the boat and have the 'but you said xyz!' conversation with them. Meanwhile, we are struggling to make ends meet.

Has anyone experienced similar, and can anyone reassure me?

I mean he either starts looking for another job or suck it up and wait a bit longer to see/start discussions about payrise.
But being happy at the workplace is really important so probably he doesn't want to be given impression he is desperate.

Personally i wouldn't be starting the conversations straightaway unless i knew i could get another job super easily.

“Meanwhile, we are struggling to make ends meet.”

Did he not get any lump sum redundancy payment?

I think it taking a few months longer than they suggested is reasonable. If it was critical for him to be promoted within 6 months then he would have had to get that promised in writing.

I'd be annoyed if he'd moved from an existing job on the basis of a promise. But as he was made redundant, I think he did the right thing to take this job rather than be out of work.

I think this is the swings and roundabouts of life, and work especially. It's not his fault, and why people bank on every last penny of two salaries is beyond me, unless it's minimum wage or very close.

This isn't an uncommon occurrence. For companies to promise promotion and then it doesn't happen. Are you working. Is there a possibility of your salary increasing. I agree it would be unwise to rock the boat. Wait until he is more established the perhaps ask for a pay rise.

I think he is possibly better placed out of the two of you to determine how to play this.

Are you working, can you earn more?

Thanks everyone and sorry for delayed reply.

I do work and doing my best to earn more though that won't happen overnight unfortunately. @Summerhillsquare - maybe 'struggling to make ends meet' was a bit of an exaggeration on my part. We can still pay the bills/eat but with DH's reduced income now, things are uncomfortably tight by the end of the month and we have had to dip into our (rapidly diminishing) savings to cover any extra/unforeseen expenses that come up.

It's not great and I am stressed about it tbh. DH knows this and obviously feels under pressure. I'm not suggesting he walks and finds something else at this point (nor does he want to) but I wonder if anyone experienced similar?

Or if anyone is au fait with the way budgets work for salaries in big companies, does this happen? Just seems a bit odd that DH was clearly told there wasn't the budget for him to be hired at a certain level within a certain quarter but that there would be later in the year - or is this normal?

It happens and if DH ‘keeps his head down’ and doesn’t raise the matter it increases the risk of longer at the lower salary IMO. Much depends on how his performance and value to the company is regarded by his immediate boss and (if a large company) seniors.

This is an Ask a Manager type question. Here’s a great answer to a similar question.

www.askamanager.org/2012/09/i-was-promised-a-raise-and-promotion-3-years-ago.html

Budget falling through on a planned promotion or hire is absolutely something that happens often .... depending on the size of the organisation - bigger multinationals, this wouldn't be unusual. There are so many factors in corporate finance that mean, even when you think you will definitely get whatever budget next quarter, next 6 months, a whole bunch of factors can influence that, and not all of them in your control

But a savvy operator would have made it clear that the promotion wasn't guaranteed until the funds were secured. And maybe (gently) DH could have considered whether the salary was sufficient as-is before accepting and relying on hypothetical future money. that's often not the wisest move

He didn't take a pay cut unless he turned down another job offer. His choice at the time was nothing or this. I think he's done great to walk into this, especially as his redundancy was unexpected. Please don't pile on the pressure. Being made redundant would have knocked his confidence and I think putting all the pressure on him is unfair.

Of course its tough that this situation is impacting your household finances, but if I'm honest if I was in your DHs shoes I would be pretty fucking pissed off if my partner was making noises about being angry on my behalf and casting me in the role of victim for being messed about. It basically comes across like you don't trust him to handle himself in his own wprkplace.

He's absolutely right, circumstances can change in rapidly in any company and plans are just that - plans - not commitments. Whatever the plans are for his role it will be part of a bigger picture and any number of things may have happened that could lead to a budget being recut and cause a delay to him being promoted. If he acts like he is the centre of the universe by making a massive fuss too early it will reflect badly on him.

Has your DH actually had a conversation with anyone at work about this, or is he fobbing you off with vague noises about it being next year because he isn't great at talking about money?

I see absolutely nothing wrong with your DH requesting a meeting to discuss the promotion and salary increase he was promised now that’s he’s been there 6 months. But it doesn’t sound like has?

But much op, you seem to feel it’s ok for you not to be able to bridge the gap, but getting all pissed off as he isn’t.

if you want more earn it yourself.

Absolutely, and rhe ops giving oh little me, I’m trying but. that doesn’t happen over night. The nerve that takes.

I'm not suggesting he walks and finds something else at this point

you walk and find something else.

Why can't you earn more?

Does he not have regular supervision or contact with his manager? Surely the conversation would be a matter of fact - so, i was told when I started my salary would increase by about 6 months in - can I check where we are with this?

This should absolutely be raised with his Line Manager. He should refer back to the discussions at hiring stage, and ask for a timeline of when this could happen. Managers aren't always tracking everything they've previously said and sometimes need reminding (I do!). I would also suggest this is done as a formal 1-1 with agreed set objectives with meaningful timescales and outcomes. These notes should be written up and approved by both parties. If it is a massive organisation, it's likely they already have this kind of process in place - I work for a relatively small company and we do our 1-1s quarterly. I'd have no problem with any of my reports asking this question, I can't necessarily give them what they want, but they'll be heard and I'll know what they want to work towards.

I have sympathy - I was recruited on a succession planning basis and that person shows no signs of retiring (despite being of retirement age). I'm happy and challenged in what I'm doing, so at the moment am comfortable to wait, but I'm also open to work on LinkedIn just in case another great opportunity comes up. I don't know about other careers, but being open to work on LinkedIn for me means I'm contacted CONSTANTLY about job opportunities, so definitely worth doing.

He’s not asking for advice. He’s not asking for his wife’s advice, who is acting like he’s completely incapable and needs her to manage his career and instruct him. Whilst In the next breath saying she can’t earn it.

id be friggen furious if my husband treated me like she’s treating him.

This absolutely does happen. What are we talking, no more than £20k pa in additional salary I assume? That's nothing in the grand scheme of things and 99 times out of 100 promises like this don't materialise. If they were so sure they would have the money and new role in 3-6 months they would have just given it to him to start with. It obviously suits them better for him to be in the role he's currently doing. Sorry but I wouldn't hold out hope for early next year either.

I think that things change and, from where I am sitting, he was pretty lucky to have a role created for him in the first place! I work in a sector where recruitment only happens via advertised posts - which can be very frustrating.

They may have been genuinely anticipating new work coming in or someone else leaving, but it just hasn’t happened.

Thanks for all the helpful advice. It’s reassuring to know that this scenario can happen…yet also concerning that a few of you think he may have been strung along. I suppose the best thing to do is see where we are in a few months’ time. It makes me nervous when companies are not true to their word, but there could be reasons…

@Wineandcupcakes - go have a nice glass of wine or something? No idea why you’re so aggressive. You have no idea what I earn or what sector I work in. The issue is that DH made a decision that impacts our family income - we discussed that like adults at the time, and thought we had a clear idea of when this would become easier. Things aren’t going according to plan, so I asked for advice on the situation. No need to get hysterical.

I think you are being a little unsympathetic towards your dh - he got another job and getting that promotion was always jam tomorrow and a common tactic to get someone in the door, the promotion is never guaranteed - doesn't mean they were dishonest but circumstances change all the time.
I suggest you both think about where you can make savings in your household budget - money is tight but your stressing and putting pressure on your dh is not going to contribute to a happy home life either.