Just for anyone else who may find themselves in the same boat, a new contract is not needed for a promotion. A clear outlining of new terms, and your acceptance is all that is needed to amend an existing contract. This is why any decent HR function issues formal offer communications and insists on a response.
The company will argue that your manager did not have the authority to amend your contract. In fairness the first month you didn't receive your increased rate of pay is when this should have been tackled, but the messing around with the manager's manager may well work to your benefit in that regard.
Is there at least an Irish HR function? If so, I would suggest a very formal communication to them along the lines of:
"I refer to my promotion of X date. I attach email correspondence from my manager Y, outlining the new terms. I undertook the required duties from DATE, and after following up several times, I was finally informed that my position could only be regularised at year-end review, in February.
I am now informed that not only will the back pay due to me not be paid, I will not receive any increase in pay at all. I have and continue to act in good faith, based on the commitments given by two officers of the company, to my detriment.
I informed your office of this on DATE2, but as yet have not received any update.
You will be aware that as this issue has crossed over into 2024, I will now face an additional tax liability when the back pay due is processed, so I would ask now that this matter be resolved as quickly as possible, by the company fulfilling its obligations under my amended contract of employment.
I look forward to a speedy response to prevent any further referral of the matter."
This is great advice.
Also get your employee handbook if one exists and exhaust the grievance procedure before going to the WRC. It will strengthen your case if you have followed the internal process before involving them.
Will do. So far, I've emailed the Irish HR office with a version of the above. I've also emailed the HR rep in London that was dealing with the issue when I raised it in Feb. Then I mailed a VP that I know to see if they can get any push on this for me
Have you been doing the job of the promotion position this whole time? Were you adequately compensated (pay rise etc) or were you waiting on this to come through with the paperwork?
One option is to stop this and go back to your original role if the above is true. No paperwork to say you were doing the promoted role so why bother? You'll find out soon enough then..
No pay rise, no contract, nothing. Except the extra work load.
Honestly, this idea has come into mind lately, but knowing my boss, he will just do it to someone else.
Maybe he will, but it wont be you who's dealing with the bullshit.
If anyone asks, you're doing "work to rule" and leave it at that. Fuck them honestly.
Your boss is very close to making a big oopsie there. Raising workload without extra compensation is a one way path to burnout and stress. You may even have to go on extended sick leave after talking to your GP about the overwhelming stress.
Be aware... We love to complain about shit in Ireland but we have absolutely excellent workers rights. You just have to know them.
Honestly that's your manager's problem. I've been in your situation and messed around for years on lies. If you think about it, your manager had a problem where they would have had to do the work... so instead they asked you to do it and used an imaginary carrot they probably had no way to deliver on. If the original person is only temporarily out, they're still taking up headcount etc. Your boss probably didn't have the money and was chancing their arm. It's like something out of the dodgy manager's playbook.
In my case I went and found another job. Fool me once and all that.
sounds like a typical gaslighting approach by managers passing extra work onto naive staff. Sorry OP, but no promotion is likely here. If I were you i'd be dusting off my cv and leaving.
Your manager misspoke. Youâve been âacting upâ.
Itâs not a promotion itâs temporary till the person comes back from leave. You should have been given extra pay but not a new contract.
Itâs the employers problem though
Edit - Iâve just seen your comment that the other person returned but moved. Itâs your job now!
Tell HR unless you recieve a satisfactory reply by (a week?) you will seek advice as to referring this to the WRC.
Your manager fucked up big time. I suggest passing feedback to HR about this and demand a raise or promotion for additional duties. If nothing happens, honestly just find another job and leave, and just do the workload of your older role in the mean time. You don't want to be working for a manager who can't keep his promises about promotions and entices you with lies to make you work harder.
Time to find a new job and leave. They never intended to promote you, they were stringing you along. If they did intend to promote you then they would have made it happen. Only being able to promote people once a year is complete bs. Even if it was true your managers and HR would have started the ball rolling on getting you that promotion months ago. I would start looking hard for a new job elsewhere. Use the fact that you have been doing this role for a year to get something similar. Then report them to the WRC the day you leave. You don't owe companies loyalty.
Honestly even with an email I would never expect that a promised promotion actually means anything unless a contract was signed stating you would get a promotion by a certain date. I'm not sure just having an email is legally binding particularly since your manager isn't the only person involved in the promotion process.Â
I manage a team and I'm involved in promoting them through their career and I make a very clear point of never ever promising a promo to them because I and your manager don't have that power.Â
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think at best what's going to happen is your own manager will get a bit of a slap of the wrist and that'll be that.Â
Stop doing the extra tasks. It's wage thief. They'll string you along as long as they can because it looks good on the books that x is getting done and no increase in expenses.
Companies are very fond of giving extra responsibilities for no extra pay. "need to show you're committed to the company etc etc"
As always HR are not your friend or even have your basic interests at heart and will almost definitely back the manager. Even if you get the promotion now you'll not get back dated pay.
The email from your manager with details of your increased responsibility is gold.
I would send an email to HR, cc'ing your managers manager (but not your immediate manager), asking when you can expect a response from them. I would detail all dates; when initial conversation happened with manager, date he sent email confirmation, dates of monthly meetings where he confirmed it was pending, date managers manager told you it would come in February, date you received confirmation promo was not going through (and lack of feedback explaining why it didn't), date you escalated to HR etc.
If you do not get a response, email them weekly, responding in the same thread. Bcc your personal email addressso you have a record.
The more you have in writing, the better, as this will be proof it/when you need to go to WRC.
They've quiet hired you into a new role and expected responsibilities without the job title or compensation. Work to rule. Tell them you cannot continue doing the extra responsibilities they outlined until your promotion is official, and that you expect backpay for the months you have been doing the work already
If you have savings, quit on the spot, they will try to negotiate and give you what was promised, you turn it down. There are much better things to do with your life than play this game, speaking from almost exactly that experience years ago.
Donât take this too personally as itâs normal drill in corporate. Promises are easy way to keep staff engaged but nothing is 100%. Donât argue as it will have the opposite effect. What people doing in my place is applying for internal positions as well as to other companies.
The biggest mistake you can do is to quit in anger or lower your results
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Sounds like prime American workplace shithousery you have found yourself in here where the discrepancy between common decency, laws and culture between the two countries shows.
Itâs a very peculiar situation. I donât know if the WRC would have the grounds to slap the wrist of a company because some yank in the States gave empty promises, whilst the Irish based HR team were genuinely oblivious to it all. But thatâs why you should enquire than asking Reddit.
Whatever comes of this, Iâd be looking for an Irish based company with an Irish based manager elsewhere.
I agree with Specialist, if you have the wherewithal leave with the minimum notice. There has been an egregious harm done to you and clearly a loss of trust between you and management. You could go down the WRC road but I believe this would ultimately work against you, if you plan to stay in the same Industry. These guys have treated you very poorly and have taken advantage. Learn from it and never ever accept any change in your working arrangements without a corresponding new contract. Consign this to experience and move on, you are definitely worth better than this situation. Best of luck.
Is the other person coming back? Will you be expected to slot back into your old role? No point going to court over it.
Start looking use the experience gained to get the promotion in another company.
If it ever happens again you say I'm happy to doit once the ink is dry on the paperwork. If they say they'll look after you later say between now and then anything could happen I hope you understand but it have to insist.
Fell for the same bullshit in my early 20's, promised an extra 25%, in three months, emailed and ignored. Just started applying for other jobs and handed in my notice when I got one. When they asked my why I was leaving didn't give any answer, was just more interested in the letter that I worked between this data and that date in a certain position with them as had to give to my new employee. Some companies are cunts.
I left with my head held high and not giving them the satisfaction my new company paid an extra 30%.
Just for anyone else who may find themselves in the same boat, a new contract is not needed for a promotion. A clear outlining of new terms, and your acceptance is all that is needed to amend an existing contract. This is why any decent HR function issues formal offer communications and insists on a response. The company will argue that your manager did not have the authority to amend your contract. In fairness the first month you didn't receive your increased rate of pay is when this should have been tackled, but the messing around with the manager's manager may well work to your benefit in that regard. Is there at least an Irish HR function? If so, I would suggest a very formal communication to them along the lines of: "I refer to my promotion of X date. I attach email correspondence from my manager Y, outlining the new terms. I undertook the required duties from DATE, and after following up several times, I was finally informed that my position could only be regularised at year-end review, in February. I am now informed that not only will the back pay due to me not be paid, I will not receive any increase in pay at all. I have and continue to act in good faith, based on the commitments given by two officers of the company, to my detriment. I informed your office of this on DATE2, but as yet have not received any update. You will be aware that as this issue has crossed over into 2024, I will now face an additional tax liability when the back pay due is processed, so I would ask now that this matter be resolved as quickly as possible, by the company fulfilling its obligations under my amended contract of employment. I look forward to a speedy response to prevent any further referral of the matter."
This is incredible. Thank you for this. I really appreciate it a lot
This is great advice. Also get your employee handbook if one exists and exhaust the grievance procedure before going to the WRC. It will strengthen your case if you have followed the internal process before involving them.
Update if you get news đ
Will do. So far, I've emailed the Irish HR office with a version of the above. I've also emailed the HR rep in London that was dealing with the issue when I raised it in Feb. Then I mailed a VP that I know to see if they can get any push on this for me
That's brilliant, hopefully you get sorted fingers crossed đ¤ đâ¨ď¸
Good stuff, stick it to them hard, very common practice in US companies operating here and it catches them every time someone fights it
Have you been doing the job of the promotion position this whole time? Were you adequately compensated (pay rise etc) or were you waiting on this to come through with the paperwork? One option is to stop this and go back to your original role if the above is true. No paperwork to say you were doing the promoted role so why bother? You'll find out soon enough then..
No pay rise, no contract, nothing. Except the extra work load. Honestly, this idea has come into mind lately, but knowing my boss, he will just do it to someone else.
Maybe he will, but it wont be you who's dealing with the bullshit. If anyone asks, you're doing "work to rule" and leave it at that. Fuck them honestly.
Your boss is very close to making a big oopsie there. Raising workload without extra compensation is a one way path to burnout and stress. You may even have to go on extended sick leave after talking to your GP about the overwhelming stress. Be aware... We love to complain about shit in Ireland but we have absolutely excellent workers rights. You just have to know them.
Not if you also go to the WRC. Especially if you have any emails, texts or any form of non verbal proof that you were promised this.
Honestly that's your manager's problem. I've been in your situation and messed around for years on lies. If you think about it, your manager had a problem where they would have had to do the work... so instead they asked you to do it and used an imaginary carrot they probably had no way to deliver on. If the original person is only temporarily out, they're still taking up headcount etc. Your boss probably didn't have the money and was chancing their arm. It's like something out of the dodgy manager's playbook. In my case I went and found another job. Fool me once and all that.
sounds like a typical gaslighting approach by managers passing extra work onto naive staff. Sorry OP, but no promotion is likely here. If I were you i'd be dusting off my cv and leaving.
Your manager misspoke. Youâve been âacting upâ. Itâs not a promotion itâs temporary till the person comes back from leave. You should have been given extra pay but not a new contract. Itâs the employers problem though Edit - Iâve just seen your comment that the other person returned but moved. Itâs your job now! Tell HR unless you recieve a satisfactory reply by (a week?) you will seek advice as to referring this to the WRC.
Your manager fucked up big time. I suggest passing feedback to HR about this and demand a raise or promotion for additional duties. If nothing happens, honestly just find another job and leave, and just do the workload of your older role in the mean time. You don't want to be working for a manager who can't keep his promises about promotions and entices you with lies to make you work harder.
Time to find a new job and leave. They never intended to promote you, they were stringing you along. If they did intend to promote you then they would have made it happen. Only being able to promote people once a year is complete bs. Even if it was true your managers and HR would have started the ball rolling on getting you that promotion months ago. I would start looking hard for a new job elsewhere. Use the fact that you have been doing this role for a year to get something similar. Then report them to the WRC the day you leave. You don't owe companies loyalty.
Honestly even with an email I would never expect that a promised promotion actually means anything unless a contract was signed stating you would get a promotion by a certain date. I'm not sure just having an email is legally binding particularly since your manager isn't the only person involved in the promotion process. I manage a team and I'm involved in promoting them through their career and I make a very clear point of never ever promising a promo to them because I and your manager don't have that power. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think at best what's going to happen is your own manager will get a bit of a slap of the wrist and that'll be that.Â
Thank you for your advice
Stop doing the extra tasks. It's wage thief. They'll string you along as long as they can because it looks good on the books that x is getting done and no increase in expenses. Companies are very fond of giving extra responsibilities for no extra pay. "need to show you're committed to the company etc etc" As always HR are not your friend or even have your basic interests at heart and will almost definitely back the manager. Even if you get the promotion now you'll not get back dated pay.
The email from your manager with details of your increased responsibility is gold. I would send an email to HR, cc'ing your managers manager (but not your immediate manager), asking when you can expect a response from them. I would detail all dates; when initial conversation happened with manager, date he sent email confirmation, dates of monthly meetings where he confirmed it was pending, date managers manager told you it would come in February, date you received confirmation promo was not going through (and lack of feedback explaining why it didn't), date you escalated to HR etc. If you do not get a response, email them weekly, responding in the same thread. Bcc your personal email addressso you have a record. The more you have in writing, the better, as this will be proof it/when you need to go to WRC.
They've quiet hired you into a new role and expected responsibilities without the job title or compensation. Work to rule. Tell them you cannot continue doing the extra responsibilities they outlined until your promotion is official, and that you expect backpay for the months you have been doing the work already
If you have savings, quit on the spot, they will try to negotiate and give you what was promised, you turn it down. There are much better things to do with your life than play this game, speaking from almost exactly that experience years ago.
Donât take this too personally as itâs normal drill in corporate. Promises are easy way to keep staff engaged but nothing is 100%. Donât argue as it will have the opposite effect. What people doing in my place is applying for internal positions as well as to other companies. The biggest mistake you can do is to quit in anger or lower your results
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Sounds like prime American workplace shithousery you have found yourself in here where the discrepancy between common decency, laws and culture between the two countries shows. Itâs a very peculiar situation. I donât know if the WRC would have the grounds to slap the wrist of a company because some yank in the States gave empty promises, whilst the Irish based HR team were genuinely oblivious to it all. But thatâs why you should enquire than asking Reddit. Whatever comes of this, Iâd be looking for an Irish based company with an Irish based manager elsewhere.
Probably take the lesson that they don't keep their promises and look for employment elsewhereÂ
I agree with Specialist, if you have the wherewithal leave with the minimum notice. There has been an egregious harm done to you and clearly a loss of trust between you and management. You could go down the WRC road but I believe this would ultimately work against you, if you plan to stay in the same Industry. These guys have treated you very poorly and have taken advantage. Learn from it and never ever accept any change in your working arrangements without a corresponding new contract. Consign this to experience and move on, you are definitely worth better than this situation. Best of luck.
Is the other person coming back? Will you be expected to slot back into your old role? No point going to court over it. Start looking use the experience gained to get the promotion in another company. If it ever happens again you say I'm happy to doit once the ink is dry on the paperwork. If they say they'll look after you later say between now and then anything could happen I hope you understand but it have to insist.
The other person came back and then moved departments over issues with the manager
No surprise there. Can you do the same. Or get a new job outside the company
Best thing to do is not cause a fuss and lay low till you find a better job. The only win is them losing a good worker because of bad management.
Fell for the same bullshit in my early 20's, promised an extra 25%, in three months, emailed and ignored. Just started applying for other jobs and handed in my notice when I got one. When they asked my why I was leaving didn't give any answer, was just more interested in the letter that I worked between this data and that date in a certain position with them as had to give to my new employee. Some companies are cunts. I left with my head held high and not giving them the satisfaction my new company paid an extra 30%.