Why does this always seem to be the case?
Always trying to word things open-endedly, so they can back out of whatever they say later.
Just some backstory: I worked for a company (Company A) that bought another company (Company B) to expand their business. During this acquisition, I transferred to the new company to manage the IT infrastructure as it would be a step forward in my career, ideally going from a Sys Admin role into a management role. Part of the transfer included an immediate pay increase, followed by another increase in 6 months pending all projects for the acquisition were completed. There was also relocation assistance provided allowing me to expense part of my ~1,500 mile move. All of this is in writing, shared with my Manager/HR/CFO of Company A.
6 months go by where I'm working my ass off to ensure that all network & server infrastructure are functional and integrated appropriately with the parent company (redundancy/site-to-site vpn/backups/etc…) while also managing all end-user support and local vendor support (new low voltage wiring, printer management, etc..). Basically, I upheld my end, and then some. But it's all worth it for the extra money & recognition I'm going to get for the work done. My annual review is completed (standard annual reviews lined up w/ 6 months after me relocating) and everything is marked that I satisfied/exceeded requirements – I still report to my prior manager for IT.
6 months go by. Pay was brought up to manager, said it'd be looked into.
6 months go by. Pay was brought up to manager, said it'd be looked into.
6 months go by. Pay was brought up to manager, said it'd be looked into.
I am approached by the facility manager and local HR (Company B) and informed that I am eligible for a 5% retention pay increase. I say that's awesome and I'll gladly accept that – but what about the increase that was promised me 1.5 years ago that I never received? Facility manager is surprised I didn't receive that as they were aware of the offering. Local HR is new, was unaware of the offering.
Company A HR is contacted. They blame me for not following up. I address that I followed up on 3 separate occasions. They blame my direct manager for not following up. Then blame me again for not bringing it to HRs attention. They then claim that the review was never completed & that the review was different than the normal annual reviews.
Edit: They also try to emphasize during this time that they said I might be eligible for a pay increase if all projects were completed and that the increase itself wasn't a promise. I counter by saying that it was part of my relocation deal, as the initial offering was less than I requested, so that was a way to ensure a pay increase to get me closer to my requested number.
I'm told that I am approved for the pay increase that was promised 1.5 years ago beginning on my next paycheck. I ask “What about the 5% retention increase? Am I not receiving that as well?”
They say the retention is for people who didn't receive any pay increases since the new company started. I respond, “Like me? I never received that pay increase. Offering it now doesn't mean I received it before.”
Company A HR refuses to acknowledge that I should still be eligible for the retention increase that was already offered to me.
I talk to my manager via a teams call immediately afterwards, inform them of what's happened – they tell me they did follow up, but neither company would take responsibility for the promise, as company A says I'm on Company B's payroll, so they have to approve while Company B says it was a promise made by Company A so they have to approve.
Local HR talks w/ me after the meeting where I inform them that it just doesn't make sense that I'm fighting with them about this relatively miniscule pay increase when I can see that other companies are paying 20k+ what I make here for my skillset.
small extra bit of info – my office is right across from the President of Company B
Shortly after local HR leaves my office, I see President step into their office and shut the door saying, “Regarding Ikelo…”
At the end of the day President steps into my office and chats with me, saying that they disagreed with Company A and that they believe that given the circumstances, I should be eligible for both of the pay increases offered.
They then says that the company is going to review my qualifications & pay scale compared to market rates.
The next day comes and President asks me if I have a college degree as I don't have one listed on my resume/LinkedIn. I inform them that “I do not. It hasn't been an issue before, and I'd figure 7 years of directly relevant experience trumps a 2 year degree anyways.”
They agreed with me, but said that Company A might take issue, but that there was a meeting set up with between them to discuss.
So that's where I am now. I figure there are only a few outcomes that are likely:
1.) I receive both the promised 6-month review increase & the 5% offered earlier this week.
If this is the case, everyone is “happy” and I don't request back pay for the 18 months where I should have had the higher pay scale.
2.) I receive just the promised 6-month increase because they stand by “only for no other increases”.
If this is the case, I assert that the pay needs to be backdated to when I should have received it originally and I want that backpay paid out on my next check.
3.) They refuse any pay increase saying that without a degree I am not eligible for a higher pay scale.
if this is the case I tell them, “Thanks for letting me know I have no upwards mobility in the company.” and I start searching for a new employer while coasting through current work.
I do think regardless of the outcome (unless it includes pay higher than the amount owed+5%) that I will be putting in applications elsewhere. While Company B's new President is putting in work for their team and I appreciate them backing me on the issue, I don't think I can continue to deal with Company A, as they seem to think they have control over Company B just because Company A's owner owns both of the companies.
Small ninja edit: I want to say that I don't place blame at all on my direct manager. They have gone to bat for their team many times, always following through to the best of their ability. I blame Company A HR for not having policies in place to address the promises they made, as is evidenced by the blame being shifted between the companies (but yet Company A being the one to outright deny the 5% increase, so we can all see where the decisions are made).
Edit: Some small edits to make certain things more clear and more vague.