Pay increase request taking far too long!

SpitfireIV · 11-08-2020 04:35PM #1

Hi,

I'll try keep it short, it might be silly but I'd like some opinions.

So myself and my work colleges requested a pay increase last year, we asked our manager and also put it in an email. Whenever we asked about it we were brushed off or it was put on the long finger to the point that we joined a union and sought their help but feel they too weren't doing much for us. Then along comes covid...

Now, I'm thinking the chances of any increase in pay at this rate are zero but it just seems to be another reason for management to conveniently brush it under the rug.

I'd like to put it to them again but is there anything in employment law or such that I can quote or direct them too? ie without being blunt and saying we deserve a legitimate f$#kin' answer as employees who work for pittance and made a reasonable request?! How long after a request should you wait for an answer?

Cheers for any help!

Thoie · 11-08-2020 04:45PM

Unless your contract specifically says "annual pay increase of x% " or "annual pay increase in line with inflation" or something along those lines, there's no obligation on them to ever increase your pay. They can keep ignoring your request forever if they want.

If they want to keep you (plural), and people start leaving, that's about the only thing that will light a fire under them. If they think they can easily replace you for the same as they're currently paying, or even less, then they'll just let people walk and hire new people.

If, during Covid, the business has taken a downturn, they may be hoping a few people leave, to save the company having to pay redundancy if that's the way things are going.

antix80 · 12-08-2020 08:17AM

SpitfireIV wrote: »

So myself and my work colleges requested a pay increase last year,

Worry about getting a payrise for yourself - either take on a new role or find a new job and threaten to leave unless your employer matches the pay.

Let the others on your team wait on a reply to their email.

Jim2007 · 12-08-2020 09:36AM

Well in the current climate and the poor prospect ahead, I'd say your chances of getting pay rise is almost nil, unless you can show you have done something significant to justify it - like seen an increase in productivity, cost reductions etc....

Otherwise I expect the only option is to move on to a better paying job.

antix80 · 12-08-2020 09:42AM

SpitfireIV wrote: »

without being blunt and saying we deserve a legitimate f$#kin' answer as employees who work for pittance and made a reasonable request?!

A payrise isn't necessarily a reasonable request.
If someone got pushy with me i'd tell them - if you want an answer now, it's "no."

Open up your contract op, have a read where it "salary" and "notice period." There's your entitlement. If you're not happy and your employer isn't willing to renegotiate the terms of your contract you have your solution.

12-08-2020 09:47AM

You're entitled to ask them, they are entitled to not respond.

However, you'd be better off waiting until the Covid crisis is over before broaching again, unless you work in cleaning, food supply chain or pharma etc.

Working class heroes · 12-08-2020 09:50AM

I think the OP has an issue with the length of time its taking his/her employer to actually come to a decision, one way or another. I think this is a very reasonable grievance.....

OP, has your company got any grievance procedures in place? If so I'd go down that route.

12-08-2020 09:54AM

Working class heroes wrote: »

I think the OP has an issue with the length of time its taking his/her employer to actually come to a decision, one way or another. I think this is a very reasonable grievance.....

Grievance is a strong word, and has connotations.

Is he asking his employer to say the business is not going well enough for a pay increase? The OP is not entitled to this, and as he has joined a union the employer may be waiting for an official request.

So far it seems the OP is down money due to his actions, no pay increase, union dues.

Augme · 12-08-2020 09:56AM

The wait of response from the organisation is a joke but you should have followed up much sooner. The reason they didn't respond was because they knew they would get away with it ans also wouldn't have to deliver a no. You had your chance to out pressure on them by following up quickly and forcing them to make a decision but that is gone now.

If you follow up now they will definitely say no given the current climate. You need to decide what your response will be to that before you follow up imo.

Working class heroes · 12-08-2020 10:01AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Grievance is a strong word, and has connotations.

Is he asking his employer to say the business is not going well enough for a pay increase? The OP is not entitled to this, and as he has joined a union the employer may be waiting for an official request.

So far it seems the OP is down money due to his actions, no pay increase, union dues.

I suppose it depends on your point of view as to how strong the word is.

The op asked for a pay rise and I don't think its unreasonable to expect an answer. They may be within there rights to ignore the question but a bit of courtesy might do wonders for moral.

12-08-2020 10:06AM

Working class heroes wrote: »

I suppose it depends on your point of view as to how strong the word is.

The op asked for a pay rise and I don't think its unreasonable to expect an answer. They may be within there rights to ignore the question but a bit of courtesy might do wonders for moral.

I wont argue with the last bit, but we're only getting one side of the story. The OP and colleagues brought a union into the company and the owners may not be responding well.

There's two management views to unions coming into companies.

1. It's great as we only have one person to deal with now instead of a group.
2. Who do they think they are brining an outsider into my company.

I've sympathy for both views, depending.

Edit - to add, it's bad timing what with Covid to be creating waves.

Working class heroes · 12-08-2020 10:10AM

Deleted User wrote: »

I wont argue with the last bit, but we're only getting one side of the story. The OP and colleagues brought a union into the company and the owners may not be responding well.

There's two management views to unions coming into companies.

1. It's great as we only have one person to deal with now instead of a group.
2. Who do they think they are brining an outsider into my company.

I've sympathy for both views, depending.

Edit - to add, it's bad timing what with Covid to be creating waves.

No arguments there.

Ash.J.Williams · 12-08-2020 10:14AM

SpitfireIV wrote: »

Hi,

I'll try keep it short, it might be silly but I'd like some opinions.

So myself and my work colleges requested a pay increase last year, we asked our manager and also put it in an email. Whenever we asked about it we were brushed off or it was put on the long finger to the point that we joined a union and sought their help but feel they too weren't doing much for us. Then along comes covid...

Now, I'm thinking the chances of any increase in pay at this rate are zero but it just seems to be another reason for management to conveniently brush it under the rug.

I'd like to put it to them again but is there anything in employment law or such that I can quote or direct them too? ie without being blunt and saying we deserve a legitimate f$#kin' answer as employees who work for pittance and made a reasonable request?! How long after a request should you wait for an answer?

Cheers for any help!

they see you all as "lifers" and know they can ignore the request and most of you will stay at no extra cost to the company

best advice is start doing interviews for higher paid jobs and see if your present company make you an offer to stay

12-08-2020 10:17AM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

they see you all as "lifers" and know they can ignore the request and most of you will stay at no extra cost to the company

best advice is start doing interviews for higher paid jobs and see if your present company make you an offer to stay

The laws are skewed in favour of the employee, especially after one year’s service. An employee can leave anytime (giving relative notice), and so if someone thinks they can get more for their labour they can pursue that.

Ash.J.Williams · 12-08-2020 11:21AM

Deleted User wrote: »

The laws are skewed in favour of the employee, especially after one year’s service. An employee can leave anytime (giving relative notice), and so if someone thinks they can get more for their labour they can pursue that.

i don;t think a company is obliged to give you rise unless it's in your terms?

12-08-2020 12:33PM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

i don;t think a company is obliged to give you rise unless it's in your terms?

Pursue that elsewhere I meant.

But, agree with the above.

Kalimah · 12-08-2020 12:40PM

SpitfireIV wrote: »

Hi,

I'll try keep it short, it might be silly but I'd like some opinions.

So myself and my work colleges requested a pay increase last year, we asked our manager and also put it in an email. Whenever we asked about it we were brushed off or it was put on the long finger to the point that we joined a union and sought their help but feel they too weren't doing much for us. Then along comes covid...

Now, I'm thinking the chances of any increase in pay at this rate are zero but it just seems to be another reason for management to conveniently brush it under the rug.

I'd like to put it to them again but is there anything in employment law or such that I can quote or direct them too? ie without being blunt and saying we deserve a legitimate f$#kin' answer as employees who work for pittance and made a reasonable request?! How long after a request should you wait for an answer?

Cheers for any help!

Myself and a colleague are in exactly the same position. We asked for an increase in January and were asked back in April to make a business case for an increase and role regrading. We both did this separately, and there has been no answer on it yet, despite us asking once or twice in the last 3 months. From what we've heard it hasn't even gone as far as HR yet, as "its not the right time" to bring it up.
Time to look for another job which we are both doing. There is no one else who can fill our roles, so the company will struggle until we can be replaced.

Ash.J.Williams · 14-08-2020 09:37AM

Kalimah wrote: »

Myself and a colleague are in exactly the same position. We asked for an increase in January and were asked back in April to make a business case for an increase and role regrading. We both did this separately, and there has been no answer on it yet, despite us asking once or twice in the last 3 months. From what we've heard it hasn't even gone as far as HR yet, as "its not the right time" to bring it up.
Time to look for another job which we are both doing. There is no one else who can fill our roles, so the company will struggle until we can be replaced.

that's naive

Pay increase request taking far too long!

Comments