pixi

Tomorrow I have my first annual appraisal and I'm trying very hard to enter into it in a positive frame of mind. The fact is without going into detail, I know that I along with two of my colleagues employed at the same time as me are being paid the lowest you could get away with for doing exactly the same as the rest of our colleagues. We have just got our yearly increment that everyone gets on the anniversary of employment but we are not being recognised as working at senior level e.g. taking charge etc.

I'm feeling pretty carp as are the others at the moment and tomorrow I feel is the day I have to speak out. I want to keep it positive and professional when all I feel like doing is the total opposite. What I'm trying to say is that it's affecting my morale at work and it's spilling over to me feeling low when at home too, although work is pretty stressful all the time it feels particularly bad at the moment.

Anyone got any positve ideas/ success stories that I could take in with me tomorrow that may swing it for me to be recognised for what I (we) do?

Thanks

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SteVRs

Make a note of your major achievements, quantify their positive benefits to the company and take the evidence in with you. Be polite, be realistic but be firm. Explain WHY you DESERVE (not want!) the rise and go through your list of achievements (which you will have on paper with you).

If you are unsuccessful find out what you need to do to be successful next time.

Good luck

Johnwg

Pixi, am I right in thinking you work for the NHS?

blackmagic

All I did was ask my director straight out. Pointed out that I had been there the required 3 month trial period, was more than capable of doing the job and I got £1100 a year more for my trouble. Dont know if this approach will work at your firm, but it did for me. Best of luck mate.

pixi

Yeah, I'm dooooomed aren't I?

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DAZ

Best of luck for tomorrow pixi

Johnwg

I think all you can realisticaly do is up date your JD to include these "taking charge" aspects of your job and ask to be rebanded.

Have a look round on NHS jobs and see if there are any jobs that are the same as yours, yet banded higher - download the JD then undate yours to the same spec. If they knock you back you can then claim inconsistancy etc...

As far as I'm aware the A4C rules are quite tight and it is now impossible for your line manager to bump you up a couple of increment levels higher, or simply put you on a higher banding

pixi

I have just found my JD that was given to me along with my application form over a year ago but still with the new banding in AFC. It confirms that I have been working above my JD as nowhere does it state that I take charge.

I'm in the process of printing off the increments so I can have an idea of what I feel is right. My senior (cough) colleagues got banded much higher than what they should have apparentely and we won't get that band but I will ask for a couple of increments. Not sure what will happen with the information I've got from my JD and working beyond it.

I think with AFC you have to go through the knowledge and skills framework to work up but our trust is not offering any training at the moment. Apparentely the framework protects you and your training needs and there is money available so this could be another option.

Thankyou all for your encouraging thoughts

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20VLIL

Pix...not putting a dampener on things at all but wont where you live be enough not to compare other wage brackets. Remember where we are is bad in every respect for pay...
Best of luck though....fingees crossed...

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pixi

The only place we are different to is London for obvious reasons. I have found other evidence to make me feel more confident about this afternoon but I still believe I have a battle on my hands.

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Goochie

Go in asking for loads more than you think you will get. Theres always a chance you will get the rise you're asking for.

Be cheeky - works everytim efor me.

Chances are they've already decided anyway and the review is just a formality.

h4rri

Don't forget the classic 'London weighting' doesn't exist in it's traditional sense. As you have had your annual appraisal [where acheivements etc are measured] I would suggest you look to why you are 'above your pay grade' and why you feel you deserve to be re-graded.

Go in positive and don't get down if you don't get it. As Goochie says it's all a formality really and the decision has already been made

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H4rri
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pixi

I havn't had anything yet, it's my appraisal this afternoon.

I have done yet more research and if things are done right within AFC I should be entering the second gateway which indicates a mahoosive pay rise, so much so I'm guessing I will be laughed out of the room

We'll see what happens. I'm definetely worth some increase, but this IS the NHS

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yaktrebor

If you are trying to get through a gateway that requires training, but none is been offered, make sure you still apply for the training, so that during your appraisal, you can show evidence of 'trying' to achieve the gateway criteria.

This is what SWMBO did when her trust put a freeze on training.

Funny thing was, not long after her appraisal some money for her training suddenly appeared.

Plan slightly backfired, as she had to spent the last weekend away at Uni.

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'No more beer!' (unless it's GF)

pixi

I have been told by a colleague that the knowledge and skills framework can supply money for training so that the trusts can't use that ole chestnut of no cash etc. I have lost count of the amount of times I have asked for a C&R update.

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yaktrebor

? ? ?

I'm not sure what band you are on, but SWMBO gets paid better than I do.

Plus all the other benefits, , I know its a long slog, but sometimes I wish I had joined the throngs of the government workforce when leaving school.

I could retire early with a nice big pension. [Red Rag]

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'No more beer!' (unless it's GF)

pixi

I'm not saying I'm not grateful for my wage, I'm talking more about being recognised for what I'm doing which is beyond my JD. AFC was brought in to sort this out which it did for my colleagues that were already employed.



EDIT... forgot to ask, what other benefits does she get?

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yaktrebor

The benefits of a 'Government job' are a great pension, job security, decent pay, understanding managers (most of the time), strong union (when not )!
Also we are about to have another Daughter and the maternity pay (benefit) is almost unbelievable.

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'No more beer!' (unless it's GF)

JaneC

Best of luck Pixi, keep us posted. I'll be interested to see how A4C works in practice i.e. the gateway thing. Sounds like you have enough ammunition to persuade them

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Jane.

pixi

I do pay a lot into my pension so I'm hoping it will be good.
Job security? Not in this day and age
Understanding managers? I think this is the root of my problem!
Union? I'm with the RCN but thinking about going into Unison as there are local reps.
I can't comment on the maternity pay.

Oh well, here goes nothing and I hope I can carry myself in a positive manner

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yaktrebor

SWMBO is in Unison, have helped her out a few times in the past.

Belated good luck.

Any news?

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'No more beer!' (unless it's GF)

pixi

I was very positive and professional in my appraisal so I'm pleased about that. I felt that I put issues regarding working beyond my JD across very well (more proof emerged at work) My appraiser agrees with me and the higher managers have been made aware through one of my other colleagues also in the same position so they are discussing the best way to sort this out. I have requested a meeting between us three and all the managers to voice our concerns and find out exactly what they are planning to do to resolve it. My appraiser will be arranging this for us, we are not going to give up.

Overall, a positive experience and some extremely positive feedback was given to me about the last fifteen months. I'm happy but certainly not fobbed off

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yaktrebor

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'No more beer!' (unless it's GF)

h4rri

Great news Hope all goes well for you and you hear about it soon

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H4rri
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pixi

Thanks people, I will keep you informed but I'm aware it won't be resolved overnight

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