Salary subject to review

[Frik]

A question on behalf of a friend (genuinely).

They have been offered a job at a new company that if effectively creating a department of one. They are taking a pay cut to do so and there is the offer of more money but only after a 6 month review. They are concerned that they can take the cut to start with but not in the long term. No specifics of proposed salary increase have been detailed.

They have also accepted the job by email.

What options do they have in terms of negotiating their position at this stage and if there are any, what approach should they take?

[Rollcage]

They need to make sure that a fixed set of achievable criteria are understood by both parties to enable the pay rise - that way the goal posts can't be moved. Make sure there is a robust, ongoing review process - your friend doesn't want any surprises in 6 months time!

[shouldbworking]

Travel back in time, get the terms the poster above described put in the contract. Then accept the job.

[Odie]

Standard empty promise

[Frik]

Said friend does not have access to a time machine, sadly. Have you seen the prices of them in the future?

[Gargamel]

Have they actually signed the contract and sent by email

or sent an email saying - I'll accept.

If the former - then suck it up (sorry tell your friend to suck it up)

If the latter, then call the firm, say you have read the contract in more detail and ask them about how the salary review will happen.

Is it because that is when all annual reviews take place in the firm, or is it because they are "taking a chance" on your friend and want to see if they are worth the big bucks, in which case what are the performance criteria.

Finally - how much are we talking about, becasue if the cut is more than 10% - are they really going to lift the salary on review by over 10% ? and if they are saying they will, why not put it in the contract !

[98elise]

Odie said:

Standard empty promise

This is the most likely scenario.

[singlecoil]

98elise said:

Odie said:

Standard empty promise

This is the most likely scenario.

Absolutely. People hate suddenly paying more for what they have been getting for a lower price, and in the case of employers they have the option of not doing so. So it's basically the standard set up, they will only pay more to stop you leaving (if they want to keep you), they wont pay you more just to make you happy, or to satisfy a vague promise.

[Frik]

They spoke to the new employer and organised a sit down in the first week to lay out precisely what needs to be achieved in the first six months.

Thanks for your help, chaps.