Opinions on grievance letter please

[sezzolou]

I know this is probably not the best place to post his but I'm after the opinions of others about a particular paragraph in my recent grievance letter I sent to work regarding a promotion without a payrise. I will be seeking professional advice if it comes to it. To sum it up I have taken on a new role outside of my job description, in the latest pay review my employers decided not to give me a payrise, they will review again in 2015 when I have done the job for a year. My letter says I will continue to do he work but I do not wish to take on the responsibility of being lead for this particular job. At the moment I assist, the position of lead was offered to me.

This is the paragraph they have issues with and there has been a suggestion of blackmail which I totally disagree with. My intention was to decline the position as lead. Please can you tell me your views on this paragraph?

It was the intention that on completion of my latest 3 day training course that I become lead nurse for the childhood vaccination clinic. This is a new challenge I feel ready to grasp, a role I very much anticipated and feel I can confidently perform but I was saddened to hear this would not warrant a pay rise consideration until April 2015. I am disappointed to inform you that I can therefore not accept the added responsibility this would involve without the deserved compensation.

Thankyou

 

[cookette]

Thats bonkers. Its not blackmail, its common sense. Why on earth would they expect you to expand yourself beyond what you are already compensated for without any sort payrise?

 

[Rachel_C]

It's not blackmail. However, although I understand it probably varies by industry, I think it's quite normal for an employer to expect you to take on the extra responsibility before offering a pay rise. If it's a new job it's different, but then I suppose they'd have to advertise it and you'd have to apply.

 

[My_First]

As above im afraid. My other half worked for a company (granted they were an American IT Company), and they wouldn't give him a pay rise until he had done the new job for a year.

 

[sezzolou]

Thank you for the replies. It was the statement I got from the head nurse saying she would consider that sentence as blackmail that got me worried. She said I need to prepare a response if they accuse me of blackmail and that because of that statement I would probably now not be considered a pay increase next year. I told her I totally disagree with her opinion and would hate to think they thought I'd be capable of such a thing. I agreed to continue with the new role outside of my job description but felt I could not take on the added responsibility of being the lead on childhood vaccinations without some sort of recognition as it's a huge huge responsibility injection little babies...this is a brand new role to the nurses previously carried out by the health visitors. One of the reasons I was so dissapointed is that I'm the lowest paid nurse in the practice, everyone else refused this new job and as I was on maternity leave it was decided kind of without me that I'd take on this role.

 

[Pearls18]

If that paragraph is blackmail surely by their standards they are now blackmailing you by saying your pay rise could be under jeopardy next year.....?!

I have to admit though I do think your request was a little unreasonable, I think you will find in occupations across the country in varying industries particularly in this economic climate people are taking on more responsibility although their pay packet may not be reflecting the work, not so much in my current job but certainly in my last one I was doing things 2 grades above my own role, not ideal but it meant the office kept running, we kept providing the service and it did my CV wonders to move on to a better job. Even in the military it is not uncommon to "act" your new promotion level for a few months before getting paid for it. I would snap up any kind of additional responsibility if it furthered my career. But I absolutely do not think it sounded like blackmail, just not a career move I would make

 

[sezzolou]

If that paragraph is blackmail surely by their standards they are now blackmailing you by saying your pay rise could be under jeopardy next year.....?!

I have to admit though I do think your request was a little unreasonable, I think you will find in occupations across the country in varying industries particularly in this economic climate people are taking on more responsibility although their pay packet may not be reflecting the work, not so much in my current job but certainly in my last one I was doing things 2 grades above my own role, not ideal but it meant the office kept running, we kept providing the service and it did my CV wonders to move on to a better job. Even in the military it is not uncommon to "act" your new promotion level for a few months before getting paid for it. I would snap up any kind of additional responsibility if it furthered my career. But I absolutely do not think it sounded like blackmail, just not a career move I would make

Usually I would agree with this but the following is a quote from the minutes of the management meeting handed to all staff only a few weeks ago...

Those who have demonstrated continued professional development or have taken on new responsibilities or are new in post and have therefore been aligned with others, will receive a pay increase’’.

This seems to have been applied to everyone but me.

 

[Abz1982]

They are crazy, that is not blackmail in the slightest! OH is in a similar position.......the lead is leaving and the 3 of them have been told basically to pick what they will take over but not to expect any extra ££........so OH has decided he is doing no more than basic duties, as apparently his boss didn't put in the magic line "other dutes as and when required" in his contract, so he can just do the bare minimum (he gets paid like 6k less than the industry average as it is!). He says he wont till he gets more ££........to me that is blackmail!

You should definitely query them as to what they mean re the pay rises. as it seems they have been very vague.