Not doing Job I was hired for-advise

bjrog1

hi folks

i took a relatively low level job just over a year ago. i took it as the location was good for me and it seemed like a good place to work. even though the salary was slightly lower than market rates i took the job as i wanted to get foot in the door and it was permanent position.

since joining the company i have proved to be a very good fit, achieving the top grade possible in my first performance review. i like the job and all the interesting work ive been involved in. things are getting done as a direct result of my initiaves and influence. i get on great with everyone there.

the problem? pretty much the work ive been doing since joinining has nothing really to do with my job spec when i joined. i am doing much more senior work/team lead work. and i have excelled at it. however i am being paid a paltry administration type wage.

i have had a conversation with the director of the place and they are not really doing anything to change the situation. keep using the budget as an excuse even though i brought huge savings to the place as a result of my work this year.

its a bad situation as i feel i am being taken for a ride now..i have given so much above the call of duty yet am not getting paid correctly and my job title is not at all what i am doing. all i am asking for is few more grand a year to be brought in line with market rates.

is it reasonable for me to insist i am not doing any further high level work unless my title/salary change to reflect this and go back doing what was on my job spec?

im tired of been taken for a ride.

any advice appreciated..thanks guys

who the fug

Look for another job and negotiate from strength

bjrog1

thanks

i am planning on looking for another position but it may take a bit of time...even then, if i do hand in my notice, i am not sure they are the best at staff retention so i am not sure it will make a difference..
in the meantime, i want to stand my ground, so should making it clear to them im not constantly doing things outside my grade and reverting to what i was hired to do, is this reasonable?

Stheno

bjrog1 wrote: »

in the meantime, i want to stand my ground, so should making it clear to them im not constantly doing things outside my grade and reverting to what i was hired to do, is this reasonable?

No. You'll end up being known as the troublesome uncooperative employee and eventually they'll find a way to let you go

odyssey06

Unfortunately, there's no future for you in this company, except in your current situation, the director's reaction tells you that - it doesn't cost anything to give you a title that accurately reflects your position. There's nothing to be gained by fighting this battle.

Start looking for new job, don't rock the boat - you want a good reference.

Keep doing the 'senior' level of work, but don't work a single second over your originally contracted hours. When you leave office, don't answer any work-related calls or emails outside of the responsibilities in the original job spec.

bjrog1

Stheno wrote: »

No. You'll end up being known as the troublesome uncooperative employee and eventually they'll find a way to let you go

Interestingly enough, the place is full of underperformers and difficult disengaged employees that have been there for over a decade and they don't let people go...people just sit and remain stagnent with no accountability, basically get away with blue murder......this is probably why i am excelling so much, because i am doing the opposite....so i doubt very much they would let me go....there seems to be a culture of "do a great job, no recognotion, do a bad, no recognition, do what you want basically"....

having said that i like the work and my direct boss fully supports me and agrees with my stance. its the boss boss that the issue is with.

its an awkward one.......

odyssey06

If it's a private company, honestly that place looks doomed from your description ... Do you really want to give several years to this place at this salary level to see them go down the tubes in a few years?

If it's a state body, keep your eye out for internal vacancies.

bjrog1

its actually a multinational that are growing...
its more a leadership issue i think...
i could actually see a future for myself there with proper recognition...thats why i dont want to give up on it yet.

i have had much better paying jobs in other "safe secure" jobs and some of them have brought me to tears (literally) from either boredom, stress, nutcase bosses etc.

this job is actually a very good fit all round for me (and them). the issue is just on appropriate pay/recognition. i don't want to throw it all away unless i am forced too as I know what other horrors can await in other jobs (even with better pay).

El_Duderino 09

First start looking for jobs. You have gotten lots of experience so get looking for a job which pays.

Might be worth being honest and having a chat. Tell them you love the job and want to stay, but you can't afford to live on the wages. You work well in the team and need to have that recognised in the pay.

bjrog1

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

First start looking for jobs. You have gotten lots of experience so get looking for a job which pays.

Might be worth being honest and having a chat. Tell them you love the job and want to stay, but you can't afford to live on the wages. You work well in the team and need to have that recognised in the pay.

thanks El

Yeh I think i will have an open honest chat, if nothing can be done, i will have to look elsewhere and then maybe they will see sense and offer me a better deal.

honestly, sometimes it shocks me how sometimes these people in leadership positions work. if i were to resign, they will end up having to pay way more than im asking for in recruitment fees, will lose a proven value add employee, will maintain low moral due to staff turnover etc...for a few measly grand! Yet, they have no problem spending unused "budget" at year end on "stuff" just to use it up....these people are supposed to be logical, analytical and reasonable?...lol

monkeysnapper

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Might be worth being honest and having a chat. Tell them you love the job and want to stay, but you can't afford to live on the wages.

Im not sure..... i think it would be better for op to look for a better job, he or shes already told them and they've not changed anything . like that has already been said. find another job and use that then to your advantage . op will be in driving seat then.

in meantime dont rock boat. work hard. Give them a reason to want to hang on to you. Have a honest conversation with them when you find job detailing that you cant afford to live on wages and love working for company.

odyssey06

Maybe the people who are now "underperformers and difficult disengaged employees" started out like you, full of drive and chasing promotions and pay rises, and realised they would get the same pay and recognition regardless of whether they busted a gut or cruised.

You know your own industry better than any of us here, so only you can do the analysis on the company's long-term prospects ... but I'm reading bad leadership, employees who don't care... You only need one of your competitors to sort their game out and you could be toast.

Keep that CV up to date, keep your eye on the jobs postings, keep your eye on internal vacancies... but I think you might have to be prepared to walk away from this one. Don't burn your bridges if you do leave, keep in touch with colleagues, and maybe if they sort themselves out you might be able to come back at a senior level.

bjrog1

monkeysnapper wrote: »

Im not sure..... i think it would be better for op to look for a better job, he or shes already told them and they've not changed anything . like that has already been said. find another job and use that then to your advantage . op will be in driving seat then.

in meantime dont rock boat. work hard. Give them a reason to want to hang on to you. Have a honest conversation with them when you find job detailing that you cant afford to live on wages and love working for company.

Agreed Monkeysnapper, thanks..think i will take your advice...its not my style to go in and do nothing anyway...i enjoy work...but dreaming alot lately of being self-employed

bjrog1

odyssey06 wrote: »

Maybe the people who are now "underperformers and difficult disengaged employees" started out like you, full of drive and chasing promotions and pay rises, and realised they would get the same pay and recognition regardless of whether they busted a gut or cruised.

You know your own industry better than any of us here, so only you can do the analysis on the company's long-term prospects ... but I'm reading bad leadership, employees who don't care... You only need one of your competitors to sort their game out and you could be toast.

Keep that CV up to date, keep your eye on the jobs postings, keep your eye on internal vacancies... but I think you might have to be prepared to walk away from this one. Don't burn your bridges if you do leave, keep in touch with colleagues, and maybe if they sort themselves out you might be able to come back at a senior level.

good advice odyssey, you are right, won't burn my bridges ...im giving it till may when the salary reviews come into effect and see if anything changes...then ill be back on jobhunt

chops018

bjrog1 wrote: »

good advice odyssey, you are right, won't burn my bridges ...im giving it till may when the salary reviews come into effect and see if anything changes...then ill be back on jobhunt

Salary reviews? Ha.

I'll tell you what a salary review will be by the sounds of the director and the "budget".

He will walk into a room with everyone's contract on the wall, swing his head from left to right and say "reviewed, everyone's salary remains the same".

bjrog1

chops018 wrote: »

Salary reviews? Ha.

I'll tell you what a salary review will be by the sounds of the director and the "budget".

He will walk into a room with everyone's contract on the wall, swing his head from left to right and say "reviewed, everyone's salary remains the same".

Ha, i known ive painted a pretty grim picture but funnily enough there are modest (very modest) salary rises each year.

my issue is different...its not whether i will get a slight rise or not (i will get a few hundred quid no doubt)....im basically being grossly underpaid for the work i am doing. i am not doing the job i was hired for..im doing way above it and i want my salary aligned as such

Stheno

bjrog1 wrote: »

Ha, i known ive painted a pretty grim picture but funnily enough there are modest (very modest) salary rises each year.

my issue is different...its not whether i will get a slight rise or not (i will get a few hundred quid no doubt)....im basically being grossly underpaid for the work i am doing. i am not doing the job i was hired for..im doing way above it and i want my salary aligned as such

Use the experience to get a better job tbh.