TLDR: “clerical error” made by my manager costs me a higher paying position
Hey guys, looking to vent/get advice on how to proceed here.
Background: I’ve been with this company since 2018. I was laid off for some time during the pandemic, starting March of 2020, but was hired back in May 2022.
My position has level 1, 2, and 3 which of course increase in responsibility/salary respectively. That being said, when I was hired back in 2022, I was then bumped from a level 1 to a level 2.
Fast forward 1.5 years and I have found an open position as a level 3. The salary is just about 20k more per year than my current salary, as per the job listing. I interviewed for the position, and the hiring manager confirmed the salary range during the interview.
A few days later I was offered the position, however I was told they could only do it as a “lateral move” (no increase in salary).
This is because when my manager hired me in 2022, she mistakenly marked me as a level 3 employee, but still paid me the level 2 salary.
The hiring manager states HR will “not budge” on this, since that’s what my title says, despite it not being correct. The hiring manager seems to be pretending to want to pay me more, but is also acting as though her hands are tied. She told me in 3 months they can “start” to bump me up, without giving me a specific amount. She also seems to be in a hurry to fill the position, and not willing to wait for an entire HR case to be resolved.
I declined the lateral move, and told her I would not be accepting any lower than the posted salary. Job postings in my company are few and far between, so the positions likely been filled by the next qualified candidate.
When I confronted my current manager, she tried to quickly brush it off as a “clerical error” and that she will correct it with HR. When I told her that this mistake has costed me about 20k, she responded with “you’re not LOSING 20k, just not getting a pay bump” she so far has done nothing to remedy this.
With all that being said, I’m curious if I have any recourse legally, or if I should accept this $20,000 “Whoopsie”.
How would you guys react if this was you?? Thanks for sticking around if you made it this far! I’ll post updates if anything comes of this!