Increasing wages?

[05jackd]

We have all seen the huge increase in costs recently and there seems to be various good and bad advice in how to deal with it. Turn the heating off / full livery to DIY etc but I am wondering how many people have asked for an increase in wages?

We have our annual reviews coming up and I feel my wages would have to go up about 10% to even cover the increased costs (and we live in a relatively cheap part of the country) but in reality it would not give me an actual increase and I have far more responsibility than I did last year. But on the other hand this seems a lot to ask for in one go from a small private company.

Who else has been in this position? What have you done?

 

[SilverLinings]

Our pay is reviewed every March (in time for the start of the new financial year) and that is the only time pay rises or promotions can be awarded. I will be asking for a pay rise next March as I last had one in April 2021 (so will be 2yrs by next March) and my responsibilities have significantly increased, particularly since July this year.

All our staff get a cost-of-living % increase every April too, but there is no way we could afford 10% for everyone, even if that matches inflation. We try to take particular care of the lower paid staff though, and our lowest rate of pay is always quite a bit above the national living wage.

You could certainly try asking for an increase, but unless you think your employer can increase everyone's pay by 10% then I would not base your arguing on inflation/COL, but clearly list your achievements, responsibilities and why you are worth more to the company. If you are on very low pay (minimum wage, national living wage) and not getting a full 10% increase would mean that you would have to find another job to afford to live then it is worth including that in your argument (as long as you are sure they wouldn't want to loose you!).

Good luck, it can be daunting trying to sell yourself but it is always worth asking for a pay rise if you think you merit one, and women don't ask often enough in the workplace. I hope you are successful

 

[Polos Mum]

Have an open and honest conversation with your boss.

Make some notes to help yourself if you're nervous in those situations

Explain your situation re costs (which will not be a surprise) and what you think your additional responsibilities are worth

Ask them whether they are able to put up their prices to cover the increase in salary (which is what my business is having to do)

Think in advance what your plan B is if they say "sorry we can't afford any more than 5% that you had last year"

Have a look at smilar roles elsewhere to sense check what your "market rate" would be

 

[Widgeon]

Our inflationary pay rise this year isn't going to touch the sides of actual inflation. But I'm also aware that (as another relatively small company) that we haven't put our prices up, as it would drive away some of our international customers. So there is no additional income with which to raise our wages. I'm expecting a bit of an increase in our regular wages due to some ongoing structural changes at our company, so I'm waiting to see how that pans out before deciding whether I can justify requesting any further pay increase. However I should say that I work for a company I like and trust (more or less) and plan to stick with long term. I tend to request a pay rise (on the basis of increased skills) every two years and the last one was only one year ago.

 

[eggs]

The company I worked for got brought by another one in 2018 and they do not do annual reviews. The only way you can get a pay increase is to get a promotion. Not surprisingly there are a lot a disgruntled employees but the management seem to think that the policy is a good one.

 

[holeymoley]

We've had a 3% increase to our wages which was well overdue. I'm hoping to change job roles soon which will pop my salary up by maybe 20/25% which would be great. Husband works in the public sector and got a 5% wage rise which without being bias is again well overdue and no where near matches what his job should be receiving in comparison to some others. Oh, we're getting a one off payment of £700 to help with the cost of living in November too from my employer.

After that though, just waiting on livery increasing! And our fixed rate mortgage runs out in December so we really need to find a decent deal on that.

 

[Barton Bounty]

My union will strike for the pay increase then it will be backdated to april ?

 

[MissTyc]

I got a 6% increase in May as cost of living and I'm grateful for it as I know our budget isn't great at work.
My administrative assistant got her standard 3% in May. She didn't ask for anything at her annual review in August, but I was able to make a performance-based case to the Big Boss to get her an extra 6%, so 9% total increase (albeit the extra 6% only started in September). I felt we were not valuing her and was worried she might start looking elsewhere.

 

[dorsetladette]

You say you have more responsibility than you did last year - that in itself if worth an increase. Do you fill in a self appraisal form before the meeting? who does your appraisal? can you talk to someone senior than you or HR related who you can talk to to get a feel of what they might accept and what is to much to ask?

I have taken on a lot of responsibility in my roll compared to last year. And in return i have been awarded a couple of decent pay rises. I'm still working on further increases, but I'm happy my salary is heading in the right direction. but, what I would say is if you don't ask you don't get. I doubt your employer would just turn down a request for a pay rise, but they may come back with a counter offer. Good Luck!

 

[malwhit]

I got a 2% pay rise this year from my civil service job? I keep thinking it is time to sell up, enjoy myself for a few years then live off the state in my old age?
I don't think I ever could do it, but part of me feels like being rebellious and just live for the now without caring about the future.

 

[05jackd]

It’s a tough one as it’s a family business with less than 100 employees so still a ‘small business’. I am responsible for millions of pounds worth of buying and we have increased our prices so in that respect asking for an increase on my mid- 20k salary seems reasonable.

There are no set paybands and no one knows what anyone else gets paid so it’s head to know where I compare.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Husbands International company has just announced 5000 job losses across Europe. He's just happy ( hopefully) to have a job, despite a measly 1% pay increase and no bonus for the last three years.

 

[SilverLinings]

There are no set paybands and no one knows what anyone else gets paid so it’s head to know where I compare.

You could start by looking at job adverts for a similar type of role and see how the pay compares to what you are getting. It will also add to your argument if it turns out that other employers are paying more.

 

[SO1]

I got 5% in May and was delighted with that. We are also getting flat rate payments to help with winter bills of 750 in November and 750 in January.

I know a few organisations are doing one off payments this winter rather than inflation rated pay rises.

The NI insurance rise is being scrapped so the organisations will have some extra money in that they will no longer need to pay out which could be put towards pay rises.

They are doing a pay review as well to make sure we are being paid the market rate. Our JDs are being sent to an independent company to do benchmarking.

It is a difficult time and we will probably end up in recession. Wage inflation pushes up inflation so it can be a vicious circle.

I think few organisations will award cost of living rises tied to inflation this year so your best bet would be say 5% as cost of living and 5% as promotion due to a change in your JD.

 

[dorsetladette]

It’s a tough one as it’s a family business with less than 100 employees so still a ‘small business’. I am responsible for millions of pounds worth of buying and we have increased our prices so in that respect asking for an increase on my mid- 20k salary seems reasonable.

There are no set paybands and no one knows what anyone else gets paid so it’s head to know where I compare.

Your company is bigger than the one I work for. There is only 30 of us and the company is owned by 2 brothers. Just because you work for a small family company doesn't mean you are less entitled to a competitive salary. They are earning a fair income from the business. Its only fair that their hard working employees are paid fairly too.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I’d base any salary increase ask on what your role is, what additional skills and responsibilities you have now compared to when you took on the role and what the market is paying for that or a similar role. I’d leave the cost of living out of it as a justification in itself.

 

[05jackd]

Thanks for all the replies - it’s very helpful. I enjoy my job and like the people I work for. There are few jobs being advertised this in my area but elesewhere salaries range from 35-60k. Some of these are even remote so that’s a bit of an eye opener. The job descriptions also don’t seem to have the supervisor responsibilities I have.

 

[dorsetladette]

Thanks for all the replies - it’s very helpful. I enjoy my job and like the people I work for. There are few jobs being advertised this in my area but elesewhere salaries range from 35-60k. Some of these are even remote so that’s a bit of an eye opener. The job descriptions also don’t seem to have the supervisor responsibilities I have.

With that in mind. I'd bring the conversation round to salary increases along the lines of ' since my last salary review i have taken on xxxxx responsibility and proven that i am capable of doing these roles. Looking at the average salary in the local area for jobs with similar responsibilities I'd like to aim for a salary equal to in the next xx months. I propose this is acheived by incremental increases and reviews of my performance and continuous improvements'

They may say they can't do what you ask for but can do something somewhere near. Good luck.

 

[lynz88]

In my 11 years in the UK I have never received a pay raise from a company I work for except for my current employer. I normally have to change jobs which usually results in a 20-30K pay raise (but usually stuck at the same salary for a couple of years). This summer I got a surprise pay raise of just under 8% from my employer (but then again I did the job of 5 ft roles for over 1.5 yrs and I am still covering 2 ft roles!!). I was actually ready to have a conversation to go over what I have been covering and I had a few huge wins in the past 12 months in particular with my manager when I received the surprise raise. I am very grateful but has been eaten up very quickly with the cost of everything.

 

[lynz88]

Husbands International company has just announced 5000 job losses across Europe. He's just happy ( hopefully) to have a job, despite a measly 1% pay increase and no bonus for the last three years.

Seen this a fair bit over the past few months and have said to a few people who I know who have been complaining about small raises that they are just lucky to keep their jobs/have job security as we are headed into scary times.