Feeling a bit peed off.

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by hindle8907

I have applied for jobs that would get me on the wage i should be on but none of them are willing to let me carry on my qualifications as I would need around 6 weeks off thorough out the year to do the courses.

So what you're saying is that your present company allows you 6 weeks paid leave a year in order to study, which other companies wouldn't be prepared to do. Your current employer doesn't sound so bad now does it...

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by Gazza77

So what you're saying is that your present company allows you 6 weeks paid leave a year in order to study, which other companies wouldn't be prepared to do. Your current employer doesn't sound so bad now does it...

Yes they do, every company I've been with offer these sorts of educational schemes.

Hindle, take the atleast your in a job point of view, I'd discuss it further with your boss and sound out whether they are only saying the 'on call' bit out of principle, it might be a case that they know full well they'll never call on you.

Also, if you see these other jobs, apply for them if you're not happy where you are you can always then go to your employer in a position of power and explain how you feel.


PS. Is computer technician a better job title that computer engineer? I just thought engineer meant the guy who does everything.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by hindle8907

I was told i would have a pay rise this year.

I get told that every year, sometimes I get the rise sometimes I dont...

So go back to your boss and ask him what he thinks you need to do / achieve in order to get the rise you want next year.

He'll have a lot more respect for you for doing that, than he will if you start on at him about how you dont want to do on call and your fedup because you didnt get the payrise you deserve...

I work in IT I have done so for 17 years... I do on call one week in three. 24 x 7. for the first four years I worked where I am now I didnt get paid any extra for being on call it was expected of me. At least your being paid for it

As for minimum wage, one could argue your lucky you make that. My first IT job when I left college paid £60 a week...

Are they paying for you to do your MCSE ? If so and they are letting you take study leave to do it, Your very lucky as I've never worked anywhere that was prepared to let me do that....

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by Dave20046

Yes they do, every company I've been with offer these sorts of educational schemes.

You're right, many companies do offer such schemes.

The OP stated that no-one else was prepared to offer such a scheme to him though, so in this particular example, his employer is being far more flexible in allowing such paid leave than any other potential employer.

There are people who are not as lucky as you mate. You sound like the bleeding Royal Mail.

Originally Posted by hindle8907

I was told i would have a pay rise this year.

Where you told you would get a pay rise or where you told you would get a pay review?

They are very different things, we find we have the same problems each year who have a pay review but don't get a pay rise, they moan it is in their contract at which point we have to point out no its in your contract for a REVIEW!

Plus if it was only a comment and not documented apart from in your memory then there is not much you can do

sorry

[Bri w]

If the company isn't struggling then it does seem a little harsh.

However, if you could poll just about everyone who is lucky enough to be in a job you would find:-
a) the vast majority aren't getting any pay rise.
b) quite a number are on short time/reduced pay.
c) some are in a consultation period prior to redundancies.
d) a number have taken on extra duties, with no pay rise, just to keep the company afloat and keep their job.

Personally, I think you are lucky that your boss/company has found a way to find some extra dosh for you. Don't forget, if any other member of staff finds out about your pay rise at least your boss can say it was to compensate for the extra duties you've taken on board.

Take it on the chin, smile. And when we're out of the recession you'll probably get paid your a fair crack.

No company likes demotivating staff by not being fair but the current climate isn't helping anyone.

Well it's not really a pay rise that is it. It's an additional payment for being on-call.

When I was on call at Capgemini I got £2 an hour, then I went onto overtime rates if I had to work as the result of a call. I was on an on-call rota and did that about 1 week in 4.

5:30pm Friday to 8:30am Monday is 63 hours. If you did 26 weekends a year that's 1638 hours, or 61 pence an hour. If that's the case then yes, IMO they are taking the p1ss.

When your on-call, if that includes connecting into customers servers you need to be within a couple of hours of your laptop and a broadband connection at all times, so you can't go away for the weekend, you can't drink too much as you might have to talk to customers by phone or drive to a customer site. On-call IMO does place restrictions on your private life and you need to be compensated properly.

If you need an extra 14-15 odd quid a week after tax, then you have to talk to them about exactly what service you are expected to provide for that money and how often you will get called, and decide if it's worth it for you.

[hindle8907]

ill explain a bit more when i get home cant really do it in work.

But me and my boss work in the same 2 man office just me and him ... he knows how much of a hard worker i am and im 99.9% certain if i got another job offer on the money i should be earning my boss would tell the company to match it as he wouldn’t want to lose me and it would be a good 3-4 grand increase.

But i want to finish my courses before i get a new job or try to pull the i have been offered a new job card.


i have had 2 reviews not pay reviews just work reviews and he always praises me and tells me how happy he is with my work and how i deal with my work load ect ect i have mentioned pay to him numerous times and i think he knows deep down that i deserve to be on more money.

im am thankful i have a job i don’t sound like the royal mail i wouldn’t strike even if i could but unless you know me and have seen my work load or my pay slip then your not going to understand fully are you.

After 2 years of hard work and loyalty i am never late or off sick i have passed all my exams and been told a few times yea just wait a few more months to then get told i can have an extra 1000 pounds if be on call at weekends is a little disheartening and i don’t feel like i have been rewarded at all for my efforts.
and i have to take on more work load just to have a little more money in my pocket what i should have been getting anyway>...

[CheGuevara]

I'd say stick it out until you get your needed courses done. Then see what your options are and ask for a competetive pay increase if you feel like sticking around.

I'm in IT as well (Oracle DBA). I think I'm reasonably well paid, but then I put in a ton of extra hours, and usually finish the year with a bunch of holiday time or TOIL which I can't roll over and don't get paid for (lost over 2 weeks last year). I'm loyal to the company I work for, but if a much better deal came along I wouldn't hesitate to make the jump. I have a look around occasionaly, and lately have been considering contracting (even if I don't earn more, I'm positive I'll work less).

I think in IT it pays to move around every now and then. In my experience, any given environment will see you focusing on a subset of your skills -and what you don't use, you lose. I've gained a lot of experience since I started in IT, but I've also forgotten much of what I knew when I graduated. Changing environments every couple of years can force you to keep your skills sharp and experience broad, and is a good way to ensure you keep moving up the ladder and don't get stuck in a rut .

EDIT- golden rule when changing jobs in IT - don't burn any bridges because you never know when you might be working with/for the same people again!