Am I being greedy?

[Mushy]

Hi

I am a Fire Safety Advisor for a Hospital Foundation Trust. Most, if not all, Fire Safety Advisors are on Band 6 of the Agenda For Change payscales.

Doing little research into what other Fire Safety Advisors were paid, I accepted this post as Band 5.

Now, NHS payscales also have increments, and depending on previous experience is what increment you start on (I did 27 years in the Fire Service with 15 years experience in a Fire Safety Department, including working in hospitals). These increments go up to the next level after each year in post

I was started on band 5 increment 1 but I managed to get it up to 3.

Now after advice from other FSA's I have been told that I should be on at least increment 6, and after putting in this request my line manager and Human Resources both agreed this in principal, but would have to get the ok off the Chief Exec...who refused due to the hospitals financial situation

It's probably partly my fault for not researching the payscales before accepting the post, but also my line manager knew what the last FSA was earning but tried to save a few bob and if he would have paid me the correct rate initially, none of this crap would have happened

I'm thinking of chucking it in....mainly out of pig headed principal

I can't help thinking that i'm cutting of my nose to spite my face

sorry for this drivel...I should have better things to do with my day off!

[Midland Retty]

Mushy

An unfortunate situation - and one I can sympathise with.

In the current climate you will perhaps appreciate why the Chief Exec can't justify your salary increase. It's a difficult one. Money isn't everything, job satisfaction counts for a lot these days - so you perhaps need to weigh that up against any financial dissapointment.

Some people would say "be thankful you have a job" so don't jack it in purely out of principal. Never burn your bridges, do you enjoy the job? where will it lead you? Is it secure? What would you do instead? Are you financially secure?.....and the biggest question of all; will "her indoors" have a long list of jobs for you to do at home if you decide to throw in the towell and be a man of leisure?!!!!

Fire Safety Management in hospitals is a specialised role - Experience of managing such a big site with multi risk environments can only springboard you toward bigger and better things (if you want them of course).

My advice ? Well it isn't up to me, only you can make the decision... but if it were me I'd stop where I was for now and just watch what happened in the next few months, and then review my situation.

[Mushy]

Thanks MR for taking the time to reply...you are right I have to weigh a lot of things up...

I think the 'her indoors' question might be the one that makes me stay  

[kurnal]

Hi Mushy
Stay in that job long enough to gain sufficient benefit from the point of view of your CV and then use it as a springboard to the next post. Leaving now would not look good on your CV - it would almost certainly be held against you by a future employer.

You did after all apply for the job on the scale you are on - your career development is being helped by doing the job. Try to look forward rather than back - for heavens sake dont dwell on it because it will destroy your job satisfaction and your spirit. What is greed? wanting to have your cake and eat is a fair outlook. If you ask for a big piece to start with it, eat it and are satisfied this is not seen as being greedy but if you ask for a medium sized piece, eat it and then ask for more it may well earn you a telling off from matron and an extra castor oil for impertinence.

[nearlythere]

Good advice so far Mushy. Can be difficult but you could try and adopt the cassette approach. Insert it at 9, take it out at 5 and go home and enjoy your family.
Makes things much easier though if you enjoy the job, which you can if you can get this bug out of your head. As K says us it as a stepping stone for the next level or stage in your career. It will all add up to the making of a good CV.
By the way I have sent you an email about something else.

[Allen Higginson]

It is a sizeable difference (circa 2K/annum) but unforunately things unfortunately differ trust to trust amongst all responsibilities and jobs (my wife is a paeds nurse in a local trust) so I really think it is pointless in listening to anyone else (I currently am paid around 8 K less than my colleagues across the border in ROI for doing the same job and come under their "jurisdiction" but that is just the way it is).
If the line manager can get a replacement for less (and budgets are king) then fair play to them - not nice I know but the are trying to run them as businesses (which is ludricous but there you go!).
Scale increases over and above the annual increments are very unlikey within the NHS while beds are shutting and overall spending is being decreased.

[Galeon]

Mushy

An unfortunate situation - and one I can sympathise with.

In the current climate you will perhaps appreciate why the Chief Exec can't justify your salary increase. It's a difficult one. Money isn't everything, job satisfaction counts for a lot these days - so you perhaps need to weigh that up against any financial dissapointment.

Some people would say "be thankful you have a job" so don't jack it in purely out of principal. Never burn your bridges, do you enjoy the job? where will it lead you? Is it secure? What would you do instead? Are you financially secure?.....and the biggest question of all; will "her indoors" have a long list of jobs for you to do at home if you decide to throw in the towell and be a man of leisure?!!!!

Fire Safety Management in hospitals is a specialised role - Experience of managing such a big site with multi risk environments can only springboard you toward bigger and better things (if you want them of course).

My advice ? Well it isn't up to me, only you can make the decision... but if it were me I'd stop where I was for now and just watch what happened in the next few months, and then review my situation.

No you are not greedy , however what you think your worth and what someone thinks your worth , is always a stumbling block.

[Mushy]

Thanks all your replies are appreciated

My line manager (head of estates) thinks I'm worth it  thats why he submitted my claim with some very good remarks (oh there's nowt like flying yer own flag on a forum )...its just that we have a new temporary troubleshooting chief exec with a brief to sort out the finances...apparentley we are on our knees...so my claim was obviously going to get the red pen treatment from him....

oh well...

[Midland Retty]

Atleast your line manager recognises your worth - that can only be a good thing! 

[nearlythere]

And there's nothing wrong with being greedy either. Ask any politician.

[Wiz]

Mushy, forget being pig-headed and worrying what others might be getting. If you are happy with what you do and happy with what you agreed to be paid, then don't let the green-eyed monster take over!

It's good to have a job these days.

[wee brian]

You are only worth what somebody is willing to pay.

Get a better offer, then you can iether ask for a raise or say goodbye. . Theres no shame in trying to get a pay rise, we are all in the business of saving lives and job satisfaction is important but it don't pay the bills.

Of course if the "better offer" involves working more/harder/somewhere you don't want to be then you'll have to decide whats best for you.

[Mr. P]

Mushy, "A bird in the hand...".  It is easier to seek better, but don't let go until you are sure of of a better secure future.
See how you can make your current employment work better for you. Keep note of the contacts you make via other companies etc. keep in touch with them, especially if you fancy a part of that action, and when the time comes, you could be ahead of the game.

[Wiz]

You are only worth what somebody is willing to pay............

And sometimes, not even that!