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?

The issue is that DH made a decision that impacts our family income

The original decision on family income was not made by him, his previous employer did that by making him redundant.

He made a sensible decision to take a job as soon as he could, to make sure he was earning.

Unless he had it in writing that he would get a promotion after 3 to 6 months, a verbal promise from the hiring manager means nothing.

I wasn’t being aggressive, I simply find the way you’re treating your husband quite abhorrent. He didn’t make a decision. He was made redundant. And he’s done his best to find a job following that blow. You are also responsible for the finances. You seem to be all well it doesn’t happen overnight when it comes to you but demanding of your husband.

If for whatever reason the company plans have changed, they have changed. He is a capable person from what we know. Who can manage his own career. He is completely correct on his views on large companies, you however appear clueless.

@Wineandcupcakes - ffs. You obviously just like wading into threads and having a go at people! Nothing in my posts gives any indication of how I might be 'treating my husband'. I am annoyed with his COMPANY for not being true to their word, not him.

I'm not being remotely unsympathetic towards my DH. As I said, I know he's under pressure, and I am trying not to pressurise him further - why do you think I am on here asking for advice about it?! I was hoping for a degree of insight into what is normal practice in large companies re salaries and budgets - and thank you to those who have provided helpful responses on that front.

I am annoyed with his COMPANY for not being true to their word, not him.

It's more than likely the "company" don't know what was promised by the hiring manager. In other words, the hiring manager hasn't said this to anyone else.

If your husband wanted this promise to stick, he should have made sure it was in writing in his contract.

So as another said why can't you earn more? The way you want him too

This jam tomorrow is a common tactic. A rise and promotion promised and then delayed or worse stil never materialises at all. It's a fact of life, Sometimes the manager promosing the pay rise does not have the authority to do so and their boss says no money.

They both got something they wanted - your DH got a job relatively swifly after a shock redundancy; the company got an experienced professional for less than they would otherwise have to pay. It's a total disgrace that companies use these techniques, but if your husband has been working for decades, he should be well aware of this old trick (and I suspect he was, given his relaxed response to your concern). If the 'promised' promotion and payrise wasn't written into his contract, then it's not happening. This is, unfortunately, normal.

I've no doubt it he works hard and gets on with the right people he will at some point get a promotion and payrise, but it will be based on relevant factors at the time, not an unsubstantiated promise made by a hiring manager.

I think you should focus on how lucky he was to get another job, and accept life has changed, financially. You'd be far worse off if he hadn't been so proactive and if he'd waited for the 'right' role to come along.

Salary budgets can change on the fly. I've had to bump people a quarter or 6 months to accommodate something we couldn't planned for.

I would also say, that if employees are complacent, so will companies be. He should be proactive in following up with them.

Honestly feel you're missing the bigger picture here. In the current climate six months entirely out of work would not be unusual following a big and unexpected redundancy. He's working! Not ideal that it's a lower salary, but good that he has an income. You're just going to have to make significant cut backs in the interim while you both aim to get a raise.

Yes, every word of this is true.