I'm having a 10% pay cut

[PeaMcLean]

I don't know how to start getting my head around this one.

I've "acted up" for nearly a year and taken on loads more responsibilities. I got paid more as a result. Now I'm told I'll be doing the same job as before, same responsibilities etc, but going back to the band I was on before. I'll get just slightly more pay than I was on before.

So, in effect: Same job. Same pressure. Less pay.

Their argument is that I need to be on a parr with other people on that band. That the job is rightly placed back in that band. And they've kindly increased on my old pay rate (the one I used to be on) so I should be grateful.

If I hadn't completely worked my fecking arse off for the last 12 months I wouldn't be so bad, but I'm absolutely furious about this. I don't see how my workload is going to reduce, but somehow my pay is going down.

Sorry Pea not sure I'm quite with you.

You were in job A on salary X. You were then acting up in job B on salary Y.

Are you now going back to job A, or staying in job B on a permanent basis? If you're going back to job A, then going back to salary X (albeit increased) sounds fine.

If you're staying in job B, you should stay on salary Y. Presumably salary Y was salary X plus some kind of acting up allowance but not more than salary would normally be for job B?

Sorry, I thought I was making no sense but was too cross to focus properly.

I'm staying in job B, but somehow at a lower level. It's not quite back to salary X, but salary X and a smidgen of a token gesture.

There's been a restructuring and they've decided that I don't need to be on the higher band, cos that doesn't suit their new structure. I still have the same responsibilities though. I cannot pin down how my job is suddenly going to be easier.

Basically it seems they made a pig's ear of the acting up and it's me that's going to suffer.

In that case I'd refuse. Their structural changes and presumably a job evaluation which seems to have downgraded the job aren't your problem, if you will be doing the same job with the same responsibilities.

I think you should accept that the job has been regraded and/or that they cocked up the acting up allowance in the first place, but say that you will not accept a salary cut to do the same job. Instead propose that your salary is frozen at that rate until the rest of the band catches up with you.

So how do I go about refusing then? Surely what comes in to my bank account is up to them. Wouldn't I have to go through a Grievance procedure?

And do I really want that on my record? I know I need a new job, the whole process of the restructuring is rather shocking tbh. It's a fab organisation (voluntary sector) but the way they've treated me is such a huge kick in the teeth.

And the boss sat there and said it was nothing to do with my performance.

You would not believe how hard I've worked in the last few months. And I'm back in 7.30am tomorrow morning as something over and above what I normally do.

Any change in your terms and conditions must be agreed by you, they can't just impose a pay cut.

See here about what to do if you don't agree. To change your terms and conditions your employer must consult with you, explain their reasons, hear your suggestions and can't proceed without your agreement.

Please don't fall into the trap of feeling guilty for standing up for yourself because it's a wonderful voluntary sector organisation. You deserve better treatment, they are being lazy and relying too heavily on the huge amount of goodwill voluntary organisations tend to enjoy from their employees.

If you are not being consulted or given an opportunity to reject this change, you could write to your boss copying in HR (if there is any HR) saying that you formally reject the proposed changes to your terms and conditions.

A quick update flowery - your suggestion re freezing pay until the band catches up is very very useful. Thank you.

I met my boss today and mentioned that there's actually a few precedents for this in the organisation. He looked quite uncomfortable about that and said he'd find out. It would certainly be my proposition if I do go down a grade, I'm positive it's happened before in similar circumstances.

However, they haven't confirmed a thing yet. It's all been verbal. Boss went on to say that there may be even more (!) restructuring and that I may be managed by someone in head office in future, rather than through the local office. If that happens, then I'll stay on the higher of the two grades .

This seems to mean that my grade, and therefore my pay, is entirely dependent on maintaining any pretty symmetry of the structure rather than what I actually do. It also means, I'd have thought, that I've got a fairly good case in comparing myself to staff doing the same job in other offices. They're being very reluctant to give me a job description for staff doing the same job elsewhere. I'll carry on working on that one.

Thanks for your help flowery.

No problem. Keep pushing them, it sounds as though they are in a bit of disarray about it all but that's not your problem, you deserve a resolution to this so you can move forward and focus on your job.