What would you do in my shoes?

Did you get the pay increase in writing when you joined? If so then just show that to them.

If not then put a SIMPLE but well thought out letter explaining the verbal agreement and how you feel your current pay does not reflect your work rate/stats.

Also, do not tell employers you know others are on more than you as that could drop them in it........ unless you don't like them that is ;-) But seriously I would leave that part out.

If you go on and on at how good you think you are and how much better you are than others that will probably have the reverse effect TBH.

You could always post a censored draft here for some pointers if you're stuck.
 
Pestilence said:
Depends, really. What size are they?
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14 mate.


scorza said:
also point out inflation running at 4.5%
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Brill - I'll have a google for that mate thanks.


I fancy boys said:
STAND AND BANG.
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Believe me mate, it's what I wanna do. Get a Thai Clinch on the go and throw in some knees!

Also some one is going on maternity soon so more work for me!


boxman2000 said:
Did you get the pay increase in writing when you joined? If so then just show that to them.

If not then put a SIMPLE but well thought out letter explaining the verbal agreement and how you feel your current pay does not reflect your work rate/stats.

Also, do not tell employers you know others are on more than you as that could drop them in it........ unless you don't like them that is ;-) But seriously I would leave that part out.

If you go on and on at how good you think you are and how much better you are than others that will probably have the reverse effect TBH.

You could always post a censored draft here for some pointers if you're stuck.
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Thanks mate and all others for their input. Even the poo ones!
 
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I'd accept that they are on more money than me for whatever reason and speak to my manager asking how you are brought in line.
If its not possible and you arent happy after that, look for another job.
 
Morba said:
I'd accept that they are on more money than me for whatever reason and speak to my manager asking how you are brought in line.
If its not possible and you arent happy after that, look for another job.
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That's a very important one to level at your manager (in a polite manner, of course).

If you're all performing exactly the same job role etc. then you need to query whether, and when, all department resources will be brought "in line" with eachother as company spec.

If there are reasons for the pay discrepancy then you're perfectly able to request those reasons be explained to you, in writing, and can then agree or disagree with them. Don't go off the deep end trying to justify yourself or giving off like "but I do WELL more work than them!!!" etc. as it'll work against you.

If you just get a load of BS and sub-placating management drivel then just take on the chin and decide whether you want to stay or move on.
 
Tell them that you feel you are undervalued, provide them with the statistics to proove it.

Out of interest how do you know your colleagues pay? as pay is strictly a confidential matter and normally shouldn't be discussed between colleague, basic pay that is.

Fair shout on the raise, to be kept in line with inflation, I see no problem asking for that, but I'd do it after having secured a raise or having failed to do so.

There is a difference between the value of the role and the value of the individual. Make this clear to them.
 
BennyC said:
Out of interest how do you know your colleagues pay? as pay is strictly a confidential matter and normally shouldn't be discussed between colleague, basic pay that is.
.
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We get a yearly figure which no one knows what it is, I managed to work it out and confirm it. The figure is salary ( life insurance ) So when they mentioned their figures just /5 = answer :)

Here is a quick first draft of my letter.

I know you said not to mention me but how should I change it?

Thank you very much for my annual salary pay increase letter received on 08/04/11. While I appreciate the sentiment that I have received the standard across the board pay rise which is said to be in line with inflation I find it more insulting than anything. Currently as of today’s date inflation sits at 4.4% CPI and 5.5% RPI- this is taken from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=19. So currently I’m 1.9%/2.9% lower than the national inflation rate.
Recently with the merge of our two teams we were told in a meeting that calls closed would be taken in to account when it comes to our annual pay rise. I would like to question the motif of these reports as over the last year I have closed more calls than anyone else yet I’ve received the standard below inflation pay rise.
A yearly example of the call closures are below
Thor: 2461
K: 2134
A: 2016
This equates to roughly 2.6 months more work than A and 1.8 months more work than K. A look at this week’s figures also back up my claims
Thor: 97
K: 38
A: 34
Now when I first joined the company we verbally agreed I would start on the lower end of what was offered £22,500 and after my probation and 6 months this would increase roughly to £25,000. This was verbally agreed and after my 6 month period I did not receive this verbally agreed increase. When mentioned to you prior to this letter you have no recollection of ever agreeing with me on these figures.
I appreciate last year I received a pay increase which brought me roughly in line with the verbally agreed salary which was appreciated however I’m now feeling very undervalued. Neither A nor K have disclosed their figures but they are on a lot more than me. This means every year the gap in wages between me and my colleagues increases which is a bit of an insult seeing how I’m the most technical person here and I close more calls and resolve my issues quicker.
Please don’t take this as a threatening letter; I’m just more interested to know when I’ll be brought in line with the salary my other colleges are getting. I love working at SSS, I love my job and I love working with the people I do. I want to develop myself as a person and also develop a long lasting career here with XXX.
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cHk4 said:
Every year I've been top of call stats, call closures etc. My technological knowledge is far superior to that of my colleagues and I'm basically acting like a team leader constant support for them helping them out all the time.

One is on at least 3k more than me and the other is on 5k more than me.

Here is an example of the last years call closures
Person A) 2016
Person B) 2134
Me) 2461

This means I've done 2.6 months more work than person A and just under 2 months more work than Person B.
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Sadly this type of thing happens all the time. I was in a similar position about 6 years ago back in my support days when I was the "go to guy" for all technical 2nd line issues. The big fat guy who could just about manage to install printer by himself and used to fall asleep at his desk (no I'm not joking) was on 2k more than me. I'm pretty sure this was because he played the "I have a wife and kids" card when it came to negotiating the salary.
 
I wouldn't use the word "insulting", its probably a bit too emotional. I'd do something like:

While I appreciate the sentiment that I have received the standard across the board pay rise which is said to be in line with inflation I have concerns blah blah...

Same with the bit about it not being a threatening letter. Drop this bit and just make sure you word the entire letter in a non-threatening way whilst staying assertive. Its a fine balance but you don't want to rub them up the wrong way.
 
The problem is, have the others been there longer than you?
The longer someone has been there, generally the more they will be on.

Would be a bit insulting to someone if a new person started, then overtook their wage.

Even tho logic says "pay the person performing more" doesent always work like that.

Sounds to me like you have a pretty sweet deal, its not all about the money, and I'm sure, given time, your pay will increase to a better level.
 
@gambitt... Same here I'm the go to guy. Everyone comes to me from other teams etc ( I'm 2nd line support )
@Davepen - yes they have mate, that's the only way the company could get away with it by saying they have been here x amount of years so it = x amount more payment.

@reefoid thanks mate.
 
The letter is too informal and too long, don't say things like "thank you very much", "thank you" will do. Keep it simple and to the point. Your style of your letter shouldn't be defensive or accusatory, remember you're not doing anything wrong here and neither are they.

Definitely don't say you find their offer of a pay rise insulting, say something like "While I am grateful for the offered pay rise, I feel that over the last 12 months the value of my contribution to the business is greater than this offer implies and I hope to be even more valuable to the organisation in the future."

Motif = Motive

Don't mention your colleagues by name. Just state your own ranking e.g. consistently top or close to the top of the call closure rankings.

Do you have any other facts to back your case? you mentioned taking sick days as holiday, could you for example state that you have had no sick days in the last 12 months? Have you worked any overtime - paid or unpaid? Substantiated facts are brilliant here, your feelings will only go so far.

I wouldn't mention their promise to increase your salary to £25k now - it sounds like they've already done that so you don't have anything to complain about really, even if they were a bit late.

Don't say "please don't take this as a threatening letter" - you shouldn't need to say that and negative words like "threatening" will stand out and that's what the reader will take away despite you saying that it's not :p

Lastly, if I were your boss and I read that letter I wouldn't actually know what you wanted me to do? If you want them to re-consider their pay offer then say so e.g. "I would be grateful if you would consider this letter and review my pay against my performance over the last 12 months"

Hope that helps.
 
Also after reading that draft letter, it comes off to me as quite unprofessional?

I think mentioning other people by name is prehaps not the way I would approach it.
I would more focus on reasons why they should pay you more money (e.g. "I bought this into the business, I streamlined the way we did this, I spearheaded this project etc etc.)

IMHO as soon as you start talking about what you think other people are on, you bring yourself down a bit.

I sucessfully negotiated a 15% salary increase for myself about a year ago, by not focusing on what other people were being paid, but focusing on my achievements and my value to the company.

Stay professional, dont stoop low and say "but they're on this much!" justify your worth to the company, stay away from using emotional language like "insulted" or "threatening" just list your achievements, what you bring to the company, and keep it all above board, worse they can say is no, but you dont want to make any enimies or create any animosity amoung your colleages in the process!
 
Brilliant, some top advice. Will re do letter and post when done :)
Maybe will do it at the weekend because at the moment just feel angry and disappointed.
 
Talk to your boss first. It's much easier to convey this type of thing verbally than in a letter. Confirm your conversation in writing afterwards if you have to but it's usually best to save letters for formal grievences.
 
WillyNelson said:
Talk to your boss first. It's much easier to convey this type of thing verbally than in a letter. Confirm your conversation in writing afterwards if you have to but it's usually best to save letters for formal grievences.
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Well my direct boss she is great but she doesn't have any say in the pay rise. She said "I wish I had more people like Thor on my team." As she knows my value.

Our big boss is the one who can make the changes and he is like a bull in a china shop. I think when someone mentioned they were unhappy with their rise in the past he basically said don't like it leave. I have no issue going above him to our IT director or even the guy who owns the company - who I get on well with after I found and fixed an issue he had for years he took me to a boxing event, paid for a 4 star hotel up Park Lane and I had a evening paid of wine and food.

Here is my new letter.

I'm not sure if I should put the bit about being in line with my colleges or not? Should I mention I want to make a career out of this company?

Annual salary pay review

Thank you for my annual salary pay increase letter received on 08/04/11. While I am grateful for the offered pay rise, I feel that over the last 12 months the value of my contribution to the business is greater than this offer implies and I hope to be even more valuable to the organisation in the future. Currently as of today’s date inflation sits at 4.4% CPI and 5.5% RPI- this is taken from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=19. So currently I’m 1.9%/2.9% lower than the national inflation rate.
Recently with the merge of our two teams we were told in a meeting that calls closed would be taken in to account when it comes to our annual pay rise. I would like to question the motive of these reports as over the last year I have closed more calls than anyone else yet I’ve received the standard below inflation pay rise.
Ever since joining the company I have been performing well. I’m consistently top on call closures and carry on hitting and far exceeding targets that are set. I’ve shown my initiative in this time by the way in which calls were allocated to make the closures fair. I’ve worked out of hours to help people on one instance until 8:30PM. Finding out things which everyone in our technology department said were impossible such as getting in to a business critical PST which no one knew the password about.
I would be grateful if you would consider this letter and review my pay against my performance over the last 12 months
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