Each week, Dr Kirstin Ferguson tackles questions on the workplace, career and leadership in her advice column “ Got a Minute? ” This week: a pay rise request straight off probation, support for mental health conditions and a leadership team that’s been completely replaced. Sometimes patience is key when it comes to asking for a pay rise. Credit: Dionne Gain I have been in my new job for eight months, six months of which was a probation period.
In my fourth month at the company, everyone (except me) received a 5 per cent pay increase based on a new enterprise agreement that came into effect. When I asked why I didn’t get the increase, HR said it had already been factored in when my pay was agreed during the employment process. Nothing was written to say that in the contract, and I could do with any extra dollars.
Should I ask about it again? Loading Let’s assume what HR has told you is true, and they simply started paying you at the rate that was about to be required under the new EBA (and to be honest, I don’t see why HR would be untruthful about this since you would be able to check fairly easily), then you have actually been receiving a 5 per cent higher rate of pay than everyone else for four months. This is a good thing and something I would focus on. You have actually done better than others, not worse.
Honestly, I would try to be happy with that and now wait for the next review. You really haven’t been in the job long, and you are only two months off proba.