HR experts

[esme19]

After some advice from any HR experts.

I currently work part time and last month received a letter from HR that I would be receiving a pay rise from January.

I have received my pay slip today and I haven't received this pay rise so I query with HR.

They tell me this was a mistake due to a failure in communication and that the pay rise was only meant to be given when/if I increased my hours.

I'd had a few informal discussions with my line manager about doing an extra day but we had made official plans or had anything written and confirmed. The letter sent last month made no mention of this either.

Where do I stand?

Realistically, even if you can prove that the letter is contractual and not conditional, and then prove that it was an unreasonable mistake which the employer should not be permitted to retract (all of which is a pretty high bar), then you would have to take your employer to court, prove all of that, then go back to work the next day. With a target on your back. Is the payrise that you haven't actually had worth that?