Promotion and Pay Increase

bener

Hi Folks,

I work as an Engineer for a Medical Device company and I've been offered a promotion to a supervisor position. In my current position I don't have any direct reports but in the new position I will have a team of 6 to manage and will also be responsible for a particular area.

The promotion is to cover a maternity for the next year. I've been offered a pay increase of 4%. I'm thinking this is very low for all the extra responsibility and workload I would be taking on. What would the norm be for an internal promotion such as this? I was thinking at least 10%.

Thanks,
Bener

OMM 0000

That is indeed very low.

I'm thinking back at my own first team leader promotion and I think it was around 20%.

Also a tech company.

In another job where I went from senior engineer to manager I got a 33% increase.

Is the company losing money right now?

LawBoy2018

Do you plan on staying with the company longterm? 4% is far too low imo. I would want at least 10% unless the role had the potential to springboard my career, which may be the case for you?

bener

Company is taking a bit of a hit due to Covid but it's a large multinational that's share price is at an all time high, so they're not too badly off

It's hard to know if it would springboard my career but if I don't take I'd probably be committing career suicide.

I had a call with my manager there and there isn't any scope for more money. Basically take it or leave.

bener

Yes I plan on staying long term

OMM 0000

Take it so.

More money, promotion.

Or less money and no promotion.

Well done btw.

bener

I probably will have to take it but it's just so little extra money for so much more work

1hnr79jr65

If the promotion is for maternity cover, i would get in writing what the preliminary action plan is for when the person on leave returns to work.

Look for clarity on if you will be demoted again, pay reduction, etc. Also look at what training/support/courses they are willing to send you on to help your growth within the company if
money is an issue.

Based on all of that you would be in the best place to make an informed decision.

LawBoy2018

bener wrote: »

Company is taking a bit of a hit due to Covid but it's a large multinational that's share price is at an all time high, so they're not too badly off

It's hard to know if it would springboard my career but if I don't take I'd probably be committing career suicide.

I had a call with my manager there and there isn't any scope for more money. Basically take it or leave.

Why would you be committing career suicide? If you want to progress your career, why wouldn't you take the job? If you're perfectly happy where you are, then turn it down.

Augme

Take it = a tiny bit more money and a huge extra increase in workload, stress and problems. Less free time and then the free time you have could well be impacted by the extra stress of the job.

Leave it = same money as now, same workload.

As someone said, you need to factor in the future and the long term implications and what will happen once the maternity leave is over. Back down? Keep the promotion with the 4% pay?

Ultimately you have said you will do the job for 4% pay increase so in 9 months time if they offered it to you full time why would they give you more than 4%? At that stage would you then refuse the promotion having worked at it for 9 months? Think very long and hard about how this can play out and how you will benefit from it.

LawBoy2018

You should say that you'd be willing to do it for X% more, backing up why you think that amount is justified, leaving the ball on their side of the court. I have negotiated up my salary on several occasions where I had previously been told that it wouldn't be possible.

strandroad

10 to 20% is what I'm used to seeing in such situations, you're going into people management and have increased responsibility. Different pay grade entirely.

I would agree to 4% only if you plan to treat it as a springboard to another well paid job and you feel that you need to build up this exact experience to get there.

what is the rate of pay for the position? prior to you being offered the job. ask the maternity person, you should be getting the same rate for the same job.

It’s definitely worth talking imo, I would not turn down a promotion even if you got no extra money the experience, position managing people etc will stand to you on your career and also keep you on the radar as someone who is willing to step up.

Jim Root

I would take it, show them you can actually do the new role, and then negotiate further.