Been offered a promotion, feeling ungrateful
Discussion
I've been offered a promotion at work. I knew the promotion was looming over the past few months and I've been told today, the promotion is mine, no interview required as I am the only one in the company who can do it. I've worked for 2 years for this and I really want it. But I'm disappointed, although on paper it's a 32% pay rise, I don't think this is enough. It's not about the money (I don't think).
The problem is, I've been offered the office average for this year's salary whereas my colleagues have just been offered a payrise going into next year, for the same role. So whilst I say It's not about the money, it's more about feeling a little undervalued compared to my counterparts. I'll be doing the same role, at the same level, but getting paid less for it.
The problem lies that essentially the department roles and expectations have evolved for next year. This means I'll actually be taking on more responsibility, with higher expectations compared to the same role late year (meaning more working hours and a reduction in the all-important work-life balance).
The bottom line is I feel resentment, I know I'm not worth less than some of my peers (one in particular) and I already feel like I'm doing more than them, for less. But it feels childish like I'm looking at my sibling's plate at dinner time because she has more chips than me! But I will be going into the third year running where I've felt like this. I was hoping this was the year for equality.
Bit of a back story, worked at this company for nearly 5 years and the company has grown from strength to strength and it's taken me with it. A few years back was given too much work in dribs and drabs, my failure was not realising. To be fair, it was one of those situations where I was so busy, I didn't get a chance to put my head above the parapit. I made some minor mistakes (mainly missing processes, not responding to e-mails and things slipped through the cracks). All of my Projects were successful and on time though. That same year my colleague did the bare minimum, literally sat twiddling thumbs whilst I was running around like a headless chicken (I remember thinking that I wasn't working hard enough, turned out I had triple the workload). There was a promotion that year to the role I'm being promoted to now, I was told not to go for it due to my mistakes and my lazy colleague got the role.
Since then, I've been playing catch up. I've learned the lesson of saying no and since then, I've been on my game, that same colleague is still seemingly plodding along doing what it seems, the bare minimum; so much so that I've taken on some of their responsibility. Now I'm at a peer level, my reward is more responsibility, for less reward than what they get.
I want an extra 8% compared to what I'm being offered to be in line. Am I being petulant? If I don't take this promotion, my time is up as they'll have to find someone external to do this. If I take it, I will be doing so reluctantly and I wear my heart on my sleeve, I won't be able to hide it. I'll likely leave and by doing so dropping my manager and colleagues in the s
t at the busy time.
Rant over.
The problem is, I've been offered the office average for this year's salary whereas my colleagues have just been offered a payrise going into next year, for the same role. So whilst I say It's not about the money, it's more about feeling a little undervalued compared to my counterparts. I'll be doing the same role, at the same level, but getting paid less for it.
The problem lies that essentially the department roles and expectations have evolved for next year. This means I'll actually be taking on more responsibility, with higher expectations compared to the same role late year (meaning more working hours and a reduction in the all-important work-life balance).
The bottom line is I feel resentment, I know I'm not worth less than some of my peers (one in particular) and I already feel like I'm doing more than them, for less. But it feels childish like I'm looking at my sibling's plate at dinner time because she has more chips than me! But I will be going into the third year running where I've felt like this. I was hoping this was the year for equality.
Bit of a back story, worked at this company for nearly 5 years and the company has grown from strength to strength and it's taken me with it. A few years back was given too much work in dribs and drabs, my failure was not realising. To be fair, it was one of those situations where I was so busy, I didn't get a chance to put my head above the parapit. I made some minor mistakes (mainly missing processes, not responding to e-mails and things slipped through the cracks). All of my Projects were successful and on time though. That same year my colleague did the bare minimum, literally sat twiddling thumbs whilst I was running around like a headless chicken (I remember thinking that I wasn't working hard enough, turned out I had triple the workload). There was a promotion that year to the role I'm being promoted to now, I was told not to go for it due to my mistakes and my lazy colleague got the role.
Since then, I've been playing catch up. I've learned the lesson of saying no and since then, I've been on my game, that same colleague is still seemingly plodding along doing what it seems, the bare minimum; so much so that I've taken on some of their responsibility. Now I'm at a peer level, my reward is more responsibility, for less reward than what they get.
I want an extra 8% compared to what I'm being offered to be in line. Am I being petulant? If I don't take this promotion, my time is up as they'll have to find someone external to do this. If I take it, I will be doing so reluctantly and I wear my heart on my sleeve, I won't be able to hide it. I'll likely leave and by doing so dropping my manager and colleagues in the s
t at the busy time. Rant over.
Completely up to you. If you accept the promotion does this change your job title? If so take it. Doesn't matter if you resent the situation or your colleagues. If it means you can market yourself for a better role with a different company then you would be biting your nose to spite your face if you declined. You would be looking for a new job anyway and in your mind you would be after at least a 40% pay increase on your current salary (32 offered plus your desired 8). You would also be looking at roles similar or better than what you have been offered as part of this promotion. Just take it and after 3 months or so start looking elsewhere.... The final part about leaving your current company in the drink. You work for yourself first, your family second and your company third.
Just my opinion of course!
Just my opinion of course!
pseudonym said:
I've been offered a promotion at work. I knew the promotion was looming over the past few months and I've been told today, the promotion is mine, no interview required as I am the only one in the company who can do it. I've worked for 2 years for this and I really want it. But I'm disappointed, although on paper it's a 32% pay rise, I don't think this is enough. It's not about the money (I don't think).
The problem is, I've been offered the office average for this year's salary whereas my colleagues have just been offered a payrise going into next year, for the same role. So whilst I say It's not about the money, it's more about feeling a little undervalued compared to my counterparts. I'll be doing the same role, at the same level, but getting paid less for it.
The bottom line is I feel resentment, I know I'm not worth less than some of my peers (one in particular) and I already feel like I'm doing more than them, for less.
I'm sure there are plenty of others in the same (or similar) boat. Completely normal to feel this way, but you have to suck it up.The problem is, I've been offered the office average for this year's salary whereas my colleagues have just been offered a payrise going into next year, for the same role. So whilst I say It's not about the money, it's more about feeling a little undervalued compared to my counterparts. I'll be doing the same role, at the same level, but getting paid less for it.
The bottom line is I feel resentment, I know I'm not worth less than some of my peers (one in particular) and I already feel like I'm doing more than them, for less.
18 months ago, my whole group (self included) were informed that our jobs were going, to be replaced by headcount in a cheaper offshore country. There was one new position available, and like the OP, I was the only one in the company who could do it. Still had to go through a ridiculous charade of many multiple interviews to be offered the job.
When the offer was made, the payrise was precisely 0.00. There was no negotiation possible, take it or leave it. Hiring manager sided with HR, not with the employee. Had I had another job offer on the table, I would have walked. But this wasn't the case, and it was 'job or no job' with a wife and young family to consider. So I had to accept, with a huge feeling of resentment, a massive distrust of my new manager, and a distinct feeling of being undervalued/used. But then there were 4 other colleagues of mine that ended up unemployed...
These feelings have nothing to do with the new job, which is more interesting and has greatly responsibility and visibility; so this is what the OP should focus on, and you also have the opportunity to show you can do things better and have greater scope for growth/payrises in the future as you will be compared with your colleagues at this higher level.
I also firmly believe in karma- at some point, the chickens will come home to roost. I now have a different manager, and it's now dawning on them that I hold certain knowledge/experience that can't be replicated and they'd be royally screwed if I were to move on (even in the same company). Now I'm in a stronger position to negotiate, get the support I need and dictate how our working process should be.
This isn't untypical. You are getting 32% more, so the company are doing a good thing for you. Its a promotion, you are joining an existing team who are operating at the level, and may have been doing so for a while.
Pay policy at companies varies so much, it is hard to know whether you should push for more or not.
Personally I think pay is very individual, it does no good whatsoever to look at other peoples pay. You already knew that some folks get more than you. Now you are closing the gap quite substantially - so feel good about that....
Your colleagues will have more experience / time in your new role, hence perhaps higher pay.
I'm with the other poster who suggested take the role and 32% pay rise and take a handshake on a further rise pending your meeting defined / measured performance objectives. Ask for regular constructive reviews too and explore further training opportunities as part of the package.
I'm with the other poster who suggested take the role and 32% pay rise and take a handshake on a further rise pending your meeting defined / measured performance objectives. Ask for regular constructive reviews too and explore further training opportunities as part of the package.
Congratulations on your promotion. Grab it with both hands, bring your 'A game' to the job and (most importantly of all) leave the negativity at home. 32% is extra-ordinary for an internal promotion. Be happy.
A piece of advice (to take or leave) is to try and understand why those people who are doing less work than you are promoted more quickly and why they may be paid more. It is not bad luck on your part, nor good luck on theirs. It is not bad judgement on the part of your management either. The problem and solution lies with you.
A piece of advice (to take or leave) is to try and understand why those people who are doing less work than you are promoted more quickly and why they may be paid more. It is not bad luck on your part, nor good luck on theirs. It is not bad judgement on the part of your management either. The problem and solution lies with you.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff