Just been offered job: negotiating hours and salary

[5t3IIa]

Just got offered a gig and the salary is £1k more than I am ostensibly on now. I currently get an hourly rate as I'm temping. But all things being equal this new job works out at 26p less!

I've had a good think about this and I reckon I can negotiate. I was asked, repeatedly and replied, repeatedly*, that I originally applied for the job because of the location (1 mile away) and I wanted my life back from commuting. This 0815 start means I will have to leave EARLIER if I want to walk so it is unacceptable to me.

Shall I ring them up and appraise them of my thoughts? Nicely, of course.

Anyone got any further suggestions? THanks



* twice, at least

 

[Maurice Picarda]

Just got offered a gig and the salary is £1k more than I am ostensibly on now. I currently get an hourly rate as I'm temping. But all things being equal this new job works out at 26p less!

I've had a good think about this and I reckon I can negotiate. I was asked, repeatedly and replied, repeatedly*, that I originally applied for the job because of the location (1 mile away) and I wanted my life back from commuting. This 0815 start means I will have to leave EARLIER if I want to walk so it is unacceptable to me.

Shall I ring them up and apparaise them of my thoughts? Nicely, of course.

Anyone got any further suggestions? THanks



* twice, at least

a) What time do you finish?

b) Did you accept their original offer, explicitly or even tacitly?

 

[5t3IIa]

a) What time do you finish?

b) Did you accept their original offer, explicitly or even tacitly?

1. 0815 - 1715 -- 40 hours a week versus 37.5

2. I sent an email saying I am delighted to accept but haven't signed anything. That was BEFORE I knew the hours though.

 

[zenie]

That's a pretty long day! Is it because you don't get paid for lunch?

 

[5t3IIa]

That's a pretty long day! Is it because you don't get paid for lunch?

I assume so

I would rather do 0900 - 1800. I want my mornings back!

 

[Maurice Picarda]

1. 0815 - 1715 -- 40 hours a week versus 37.5

2. I sent an email saying I am delighted to accept but haven't signed anything. That was BEFORE I knew the hours though.

You're moving from admin in giant industrialised offices where your role is tedious, to admin in a small company where your role will be varied and interesting with multiple responsibilities and a steep learning curve. That's a good thing.

The downside is that you'll be expected to show the kind of loyalty and enthusiasm that's typical of small family businesses, and not come across like a clockwatching stapler-thieving temp.

In this context, bitching about an extra 2.5 hours a week and their effect on your perception of your pay would probably not be enough for them to reconsider their offer, but it would be getting off on the wrong foot.

After six months, you should be invaluable to them and a pain in the arse to have to replace. That's when you can push for another few k.

 

[baldrick]

I agree with Maurice, fwiw.

i'd give the new job a go, same salary but potentially more interesting sounds good to me.

 

[5t3IIa]

You're moving from admin in giant industrialised offices where your role is tedious, to admin in a small company where your role will be varied and interesting with multiple responsibilities and a steep learning curve. That's a good thing.

The downside is that you'll be expected to show the kind of loyalty and enthusiasm that's typical of small family businesses, and not come across like a clockwatching stapler-thieving temp.

In this context, bitching about an extra 2.5 hours a week and their effect on your perception of your pay would probably not be enough for them to reconsider their offer, but it would be getting off on the wrong foot.

After six months, you should be invaluable to them and a pain in the arse to have to replace. That's when you can push for another few k.

So: I shouldn't do anything? :lolz:

 

[5t3IIa]

I agree with Maurice, fwiw.

i'd give the new job a go, same salary but potentially more interesting sounds good to me.

Ta.

Gawd, urban is grate. Ginormous pool of knowledge/advice.

 

[Crispy]

So: I shouldn't do anything? :lolz:

Not just yet. Build up your bargaining power. Once you're the only one who knows the filing system, you have them by the balls.

 

[Maurice Picarda]

So: I shouldn't do anything? :lolz:

Get the lie of the land first.

Find out what the job involves, then invent admin procedures that keep you there until 17:45 while working out how you can prove that you're not actually needed until 09:00. Then explain to Mr Grimsdale that you'll realign your hours to manage the workload better.

You've already asked whether the pay's negotiable, yes? You can't revisit it now without looking like a whiner.

 

[beeboo]

Haven't they already kind of said the salary isn't negotiable?

I would be inclined to ask about the start time, in the context of having mentioned commuting etc in the interview. My guess is it's probably not flexible though.

Overall it sounds like although you'll be working longer hours and actually leaving the house earlier than you do at the moment. However, removing the commute probably means you devote less time in the day overall to work+commute. Plus you'll be saving money on transport if you can walk to work, so that should compensate for the fact that you're not really earning more.

If you frame it right I don't think there is any harm in asking, but you've got plenty of reason to be happy with what you've got I think

 

[5t3IIa]

OK. Thanks for all that - I think you're right. I should accept what I've got. I am happy with it all really - 0815 is a shock though

I've been temping for a while now and I know I've got into a 'how high?' mindset when it comes to jobs so I'm slightly worried about just saying 'yes!' to everything this new perm gig. I'll get my foot in the door and collect a few 'How did we ever manage without you?!' style comps before I start kicking off

 

[myname]

OK. Thanks for all that - I think you're right. I should accept what I've got. I am happy with it all really - 0815 is a shock though

I've been temping for a while now and I know I've got into a 'how high?' mindset when it comes to jobs so I'm slightly worried about just saying 'yes!' to everything this new perm gig. I'll get my foot in the door and collect a few 'How did we ever manage without you?!' style comps before I start kicking off

the only problem with this is at what point do you start kicking off? I thought I'll be good and responsive to people's requests, do a great job and then have the ammunition to request more of what I want, but it's turned out that the requests never stop, I'm now expected to just turn my hand to anything asked of me, and it's not helped me to get any of what I want.

Why can't you ask to start later (and finish later obviously), if they say no, accept it with good grace (if you want to) but it at least sets you up to ask again for a review of the start time in the future. And if they agreed to change the times it would give you a good feeling that they are willing to compromise with you.

 

[electroplated]

another benefit of moving from a temp position to a full time one is the sick pay/holiday pay situation should be better plus if for whatever reason you work less than a full day occasionally, chances are you'll still get paid for a whole one, IME

 

[5t3IIa]

Yah, I appreciate the benefits of a perm position. They're sending me something to sign and bring with when I start so I'll have a look at that and if it doesn't mention performance linked salary reviews or similar I might bring that up, in the context of it being good for both of us of course

Myname: I made a decision a while ago to not be fucked with at work. The temping I accept as I choose to do it and I have been a valuable and flexible resource anywhere I've worked, which has been to both my and the employers good.

But if you're in a permenent job and the requests are unreasonable and you're not getting anything out of it I must insist that you do something proactive! re-read your contract, make a list of what's been promised and whether it's been delivered, on both sides. Speak to a manager and ensure that you are valued for your worth to them.

Too many people get walked over at work by treating it like school and managers like teachers and forgetting that they are adults who control their own destiny and not the jetsam of the classroom. *






* Sorry to rant but this subject angries up my blood

 

[Xanadu]

After working for this company for so long, I don't think I could do fixed hours. I turn up at 8:45am and leave at 5:15pm almost everyday, but I love having the option of turning up at 8am and leaving at 4:30pm. Or just leaving at 4pm one day and making it up in little bits for the rest of the week. Or even just working from home occasionally.

 

[5t3IIa]

After working for this company for so long, I don't think I could do fixed hours. I turn up at 8:45am and leave at 5:15pm almost everyday, but I love having the option of turning up at 8am and leaving at 4:30pm. Or just leaving at 4pm one day and making it up in little bits for the rest of the week. Or even just working from home occasionally.

Flexi time? That would be ideal. I'll see how it goes

 

[kabbes]

If they have specified a start time of 8:15am, which is an unusual and specific time, they probably have a good reason for it. If I am reading it right and it is an admin role then they probably specified that time because that is the arrival time of the staff you will be supporting. If this is the case then I doubt they have flexibility on it, in which case there is no point in pushing it.

On the other hand, after six months you will have a much better idea of how necessary that start time really is, which will allow you to judge whether there is a case for making it later or not.

(I think that in negotiations generally, you have to be quite empathic to the other side and first of all work out why they have made their various requests. Look for the quite-nice-to-haves where they are willing to give and don't waste your time on the must-haves that will never change.)

Good luck with it!

 

[myname]

Yah, I appreciate the benefits of a perm position. They're sending me something to sign and bring with when I start so I'll have a look at that and if it doesn't mention performance linked salary reviews or similar I might bring that up, in the context of it being good for both of us of course

Myname: I made a decision a while ago to not be fucked with at work. The temping I accept as I choose to do it and I have been a valuable and flexible resource anywhere I've worked, which has been to both my and the employers good.

But if you're in a permenent job and the requests are unreasonable and you're not getting anything out of it I must insist that you do something proactive! re-read your contract, make a list of what's been promised and whether it's been delivered, on both sides. Speak to a manager and ensure that you are valued for your worth to them.

Too many people get walked over at work by treating it like school and managers like teachers and forgetting that they are adults who control their own destiny and not the jetsam of the classroom. *






* Sorry to rant but this subject angries up my blood

that's a nice idea, but sometimes however mature and reasonable and assertive you try to be it has no effect. In my case I've done all I can, written down what I do, showed how impossible it is to be expected to take responsibility for the work of people paid more than me, been ignored and felt totally devalued and so now I'm leaving.

Sometimes if you have bad management and it goes right to the top there is nothing you can do however proactive you are.

 

[5t3IIa]

If they have specified a start time of 8:15am, which is an unusual and specific time, they probably have a good reason for it. If I am reading it right and it is an admin role then they probably specified that time because that is the arrival time of the staff you will be supporting. If this is the case then I doubt they have flexibility on it, in which case there is no point in pushing it.

On the other hand, after six months you will have a much better idea of how necessary that start time really is, which will allow you to judge whether there is a case for making it later or not.

(I think that in negotiations generally, you have to be quite empathic to the other side and first of all work out why they have made their various requests. Look for the quite-nice-to-haves where they are willing to give and don't waste your time on the must-haves that will never change.)

Good luck with it!

Thank you!

Yes, the place has a factory connected to it, which I assume does blue-colour hours so I'm in-line with that. Mine is a new position so perhaps they are assuming the hours and things will naturally work themselves out in time.


Myname: I hope you get a better gig soon. Sorry to be bossy, I'm a giant pain in the arse about this stuff

 

[myname]

Thank you!

Yes, the place has a factory connected to it, which I assume does blue-colour hours so I'm in-line with that. Mine is a new position so perhaps they are assuming the hours and things will naturally work themselves out in time.


Myname: I hope you get a better gig soon. Sorry to be bossy, I'm a giant pain in the arse about this stuff

No, you're not a pain, you're totally right. Hope it all goes really well in the new job.

 

[5t3IIa]

No, you're not a pain, you're totally right. Hope it all goes really well in the new job.

Thanks matey, good luck to you too

 

[Fuzzy]

my current job i work 8.30 to 5.30 mon - thurs and 8.30 - 5 on a friday. its a 39.5 hour week. this was 2 hours more than i was doing in my last job but i accepted it for lifestyle reasons more than the actual job. if you're getting other things out of your work other than just money than i think its worth it. even now i still arrive at work on time but dont actually do anything until 9 oclock so i'm not really that bothered.