Is this normal?

[MissLambyBeans]

I work in the banking sector and was offered a new internal role as a 12 month secondment. The role is within the same pay grade/range that I am on now. My current salary is towards the end of the pay grade but not the max amount and I was expecting some sort of increase when offered the role, but when I enquired about my salary I was told that my salary would stay the same as the role is in the same pay grade and that's how the company do things. There is no room for negotiation to increase the salary to the highest end of the pay grade.

I've never been offered an internal role before so is this normal?

Surely if it’s a secondment then you go back to your old role after 12 months, so no definitely would not expect an increase, even if it was a pay grade above.

It's maternity leave cover so it's possible that it would turn permanent, but they said a pay grade above would be an increase as it would be classed as a promotion (I was not expecting to change pay grades though).

As I mentioned, I've never been offered an internal role before. I was just under the impression that if you are offered a role on the same pay grade you could still negotiate a higher salary within the same grade. Obviously I was wrong.

Where I work you could negotiate a higher salary for a secondment / internal role. Also financial services

I always thought this was the case but clearly not!

I’m about to go on a 12 month secondment. Same pay grade. I’m getting a pay rise for it.

Was a range advertised at all?

Where I work, you can negotiate a pay rise for an internal secondment

The range wasn't advertised but the pay grade was. You can search the range on the intranet anyway, but the hiring manager sent me the range and my current salary is over £3k less than the max point

The role isn't a pay grade above your current one. They simply need temporary cover for that role then you'll be brought back into this one.

I've seen it happen before where the actual role is a higher level, but they still only paid them their normal rate. So your situation is reasonable. It might be good to get experience in the other team? Is it different hours, different location?

I guess you could decline it and I doubt they could penalise you.

I'm going to decline it as essentially I'll be losing out on money if I'm not getting an increase, as I'll have to go into the office 3 days a week and currently I have to go in 2 days a month.

That doesn't sound like a good deal at all. I think you're right to decline it.