Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 46 total)
  • For the first time in my life i asked for a pay rise…
  • singletrackmind
    Full Member

    Bit odd and rambling but bear with me
    About 4 years ago work was basically bankrupt . Baliffs, restraining orders , CCJ’s etc . Run by a moron, but a sound business with growth stifled by debt .
    Several ‘post bankruptcy’ offers and pheonix style rescue ideas in place (including one with me being a part owner )
    Then we had the infamous TV program and take over by 3rd party .
    We were told that business had to turn around and start making some money to cover the massive debts . Fair enough .

    Being involved for 8 years ( + 15 in the industry ) I knew how to stop heamoraging cash and increase sales .

    Being niave , but wanting to part of a profitable firm i volunteered a 25% pay cut . I could afford it and the wage bill was not in proportion to the then output .

    Since the removal of the retarded owner and idiotic sales guy production and profitabilty have grown substantially. Easily double digit increases in production over the last 2 years and actually making a paper profit .

    I asked for a 15% pay rise to bring me back up near what i was earning 5 years ago , without any allowance for inflation over that time . I didint even ask for my old salary to be re -instated.

    The new owners slightly off hand response took me back abit .

    Basically you can have a pay rise , but 1 memeber of staff will be sacked / asked to leave and i will have to take on some of his work.

    I cant fit my work into a 40hr week at the moment , and i dont want to be responsible for someone loosing their job because I want a new bike or 2 . So basically im being blackmailed or manipulated into accepting the status quo , and earning what amounts to a starting salary for most jobs . Even the flippen cleaners cost the business more than my hourly rate and they scrub toilets .

    Before anyone starts i know it was dim to take a voluntary pay cut , especially without an agreement to reverse it once the business had turned around .

    Wish I had never asked now .

    jam-bo
    Full Member

    Vote with your feet?

    hungrymonkey
    Free Member

    jam bo +1

    if you’re worth more, they’ll have to pay you more.

    dazz
    Free Member

    was this in writing?

    chewkw
    Free Member

    Good economy climate – vote with your feet …

    takisawa2
    Full Member

    I like to think I’d walk away having put a few “measures” in place first, but the reality is I’d just walk.

    lovegoinguphills
    Free Member

    I think it is time you worked for another company, why have you stayed with that organisation for so long?
    Accept the pay rise for the time being and start looking for another job, I think them saying someone will be sacked because of your payrise is just a tactic to make you feel guilty.

    singletrackmind
    Full Member

    No , No agreement in writing at all ( dumbass )
    Bit of a specialist area and the pay is not generally high ( no-one on 40% tax rate ) .
    I like my job , the flexabilty and responsibilty . Its the being manipulted i dont like .

    Should of known really , any of our suppliers who ask for payment within 60 days get short shrift and the toys go out the pram.

    oldnpastit
    Full Member

    Staying at a place for a long time means you end up thinking the sky will fall in if you ever leave. But actually it won’t.

    Start by updating your CV; it’s only a small step but wonderfully liberating once you realise you can now change your life for the better.

    compositepro
    Free Member

    Start up on your own there seems to be a growing trend

    When they send in the sacrificial lamb go along with him to his unfair dismissal tribunal and tell them exactly what was said

    C@@@’s

    chewkw
    Free Member

    Or start planning for your own business asap then walk when the time is right.

    There are simply Too many unsavoury mean people nowadays …

    If you are an honest able person you will have no fear even if the sky falls.

    compositepro
    Free Member

    Problem is IMHO there are unsavoury people and the honest strait talking cats often get screwed by them

    jota180
    Free Member

    I’m about to be made redundant after 21 years

    I really shouldn’t have stayed there that long as the stress and worry about the future is off the scale at the moment
    I stayed because it was a great family firm that treated people like friends, they got bought out by venture capitalists, who are only interested in how much it’ll cost to get rid of me

    So get out before you’re so institutionalised you can’t see a way out

    chewkw
    Free Member

    compositepro – Member

    Problem is IMHO there are unsavoury people and the honest strait talking cats often get screwed by them

    Unfortunately that is the case as they are everywhere so you just have to find ways to manage them without becoming one of them.

    I have encountered them often at my workplace as they try to present themselves as your friends but they also like to stab you in the back many times.

    I just have massive stabs to my back at the moment from people I thought were helpful colleagues advising me on how to do things. So I thought I was doing the right thing but actually I was used as a foolball (not football but fool ball). The resulting action is in the process of ending part of my career (or maybe entire) … was a shock to my system when I found out on Friday but nothing I can do now. Just trying to think of what to do next …

    😐

    poly
    Free Member

    If there is nothing in writing agreeing to your pay cut, then your original contract is still technically in force? They could argue custom and practice (i.e. paying you 25% less) has replaced this – but I think I’d be suggesting that 15% was perfectly reasonable step back to your agreed terms now that business has stabilised, and that you weren’t even demanding the outstanding backpay (25% for X years!) which you are “entitled to”. A chat to ACAS and/or a union may be worth considering.

    br
    Free Member

    Start up in competition?

    yossarian
    Free Member

    What do you actually do OP?

    Ever thought of passing on your skills to young people? Decent teachers can go a long way up the payscales and of course the holidays are legendary!

    BigJohn
    Full Member

    Call their bluff. Demand the rise. Never give in to empty threats, they’ll just use it against you in future.

    chewkw
    Free Member

    poly,

    The confrontational tactic will only work short term to get back the difference in pay but he will get ear marked as trouble maker. This tactic will only work if you intend to stay for a little while longer.

    Confrontational tactics will only work if one side is totally annihilated otherwise there is no peace.

    Best thing to do is to start planning to move on.

    oh ya … those who stab me in the back are active union members (I am just ordinary union member that contribute every month in fees) so don’t count on them too much.

    Houns
    Full Member

    Become a cleaner then

    chewkw
    Free Member

    Houns – Member

    Become a cleaner then

    Or train or tube driver.

    🙂

    singletrackmind
    Full Member

    Kids would love to learn what I do .
    Would be immoral and sort of illegal to teach them though .
    TBH I could carry on at the same salary level. I had some property issues and really wanted to upgrade , and basic salary is what governs mortgage agreements , although would have over 50% deposit .
    Owner / MD is dim and hasnt ever had a job or wanted for cash so ‘normal’ things like mtgs dont appear on his radar.

    As i volunteered my salary cut , dont think i have any right to demand a return to my previous wage.

    mate works in IT recruitment and spiced up my CV , even i would employ me . Might start sending it around , see if anything surfaces.

    whatnobeer
    Free Member

    Kids would love to learn what I do .
    Would be immoral and sort of illegal to teach them though .

    What on earth do you do?! Something exciting involving explosives or some such other dangerous materials I hope?

    chewkw
    Free Member

    whatnobeer – Member

    What on earth do you do?! Something exciting involving explosives or some such other dangerous materials I hope?

    I bet it’s game, music entertainment and celebrities worshipping … kids are not interested in anything beyond that.

    Oh ya … must have instant gratification with touch technology whatever you call it.

    SurroundedByZulus
    Free Member

    Locksmith?

    singletrackmind
    Full Member

    .. kids are not interested in anything beyond that.

    Like Alcohol?

    chewkw
    Free Member

    singletrackmind – Member

    Like Alcohol?

    Or playing with own and others reproduction systems … 😆

    singletrackmind
    Full Member

    Normally after said alcoholic beverage has been consumed … 😀

    brooess
    Free Member

    Don’t stay around manipulative people if you can help it, they can ruin your life, even if you’re good at your job and a good person.

    Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

    This book will confirm your suspicions and help you spot their games whilst you prepare your exit strategy.

    Any company worth working at, IMO, looks after its people and suppliers, or at least doesn’t screw them over. Those that do screw over employees and suppliers tend to fall apart eventually IME

    And life’s too short to work in companies which are unhappy places.

    muddy@rseguy
    Full Member

    Start looking for another job (but whatever you do dont tell ’em)

    There is some barefaced cheek for your employer to say you can have a pay rise but only if they sack someone and you take on their work. If this actually happens then your employer can be taken to an industrial tribunal by whoever gets the boot.

    Alternatively, you could set up on your own…a combined south coast beer/biodiesel business might just work and I’d like to try something other than Badger, Fullers or Black Sheep as my ales of choice whilst also having some cheaper fuel for the car 🙂

    chakaping
    Free Member

    It sounds like you’re not happy there anyway, time to move on I reckon.

    Don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem very hostile to most people above you in the company. Try not to get emotionally involved (so to speak) or you are at an immediate disadvantage.

    DezB
    Free Member

    Not sure if I can comment, as I know a fair bit of background to this.
    I live in utter disbelief at how the idiots who run stm’s business can treat such a loyal and obviously very bloody valuable employee! I’m almost embarrassed at how the big company I work for pays so many morons and wastes money sending people flying all over the world to do f-all!
    Christ mate, I know its diffiicult to tear yourself away from the business you’ve invested so much of yourself in, but you’ve gotta find something else! They just take the piss.

    DezB
    Free Member


    Don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem very hostile to most people above you in the company. Try not to get emotionally involved (so to speak) or you are at an immediate disadvantage.

    that is a very perceptive comment…

    singletrackmind
    Full Member

    Don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem very hostile to most people above you in the company. Try not to get emotionally involved (so to speak) or you are at an immediate disadvantage.

    I can assure is not reserved solely for the people above me .

    I dont suffer fools.

    I pigeon-hole people quite quickly into certain categories , and they usually stay there ( or move lower)

    Must tidy flat more .. Skiing Sat …. EA coming round Thurs…

    Rubber-Duck
    Full Member

    Still not sure what profession is at stake here?

    Have I missed something subtle?..

    davidjones15
    Free Member

    I can assure is not reserved solely for the people above me .

    I dont suffer fools.

    I pigeon-hole people quite quickly into certain categories , and they usually stay there ( or move lower)
    Do you see this as being a problem, or not?

    DezB
    Free Member

    Do you see this as being a problem, or not?

    It probably can be a problem, I’m very similar. But what can you do when its part of your personality?

    davidjones15
    Free Member

    Either accept it as being part of your personality and recognise that the bosses are going to look at you in a negative way when you ask for a pay rise, or learn to kiss ass.

    chewkw
    Free Member

    Ask for pay rise if you don’t get it leave it … let it be.

    Too many people kiss ass that’s why the world is difficult to live.

    🙂

    Northwind
    Full Member

    chakaping – Member

    Don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem very hostile to most people above you in the company.

    I would be too!

Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 46 total)

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