Pretty miffed

[phleb]

I was a band 3 on payscale 3, and now with this new job, they only took me down to payscale 1, on band 2.

I was aware i was going to be a band 2, but payscale 1 is taking the p***. Im really peed off, and will ask my manager why this has happened. As i moved into another job internally, they really should have kept my payscale as the same. I know they are skint, but thats their own doing, not ours, so why we getting punished for it???

[factor-fiction]

Were the terms discussed when you were offered the new role? If it's the NHS I would have thought there are published scales and bands and there is not a huge amount of flexibilty

[factor-fiction]

I don't think it's a case of punishing staff. I can understand you being miffed and you should raise it with your manager who should have to explain why you were given the impression it would be scale 2

[phleb]

Not really discussed it, but HR said i should tell my manager to put the case forward. I doubt that will happen. They spend a billion on IT SYSTEMS that don't work, and 100k on a finance manager, but we,hard working citizens who run the place like clockwork, get treat like pooh....arghh

[askyourgran]

Didn't you check this out before applying for the move? No-one takes on another job for less pay, if this is an internal move HR should be aware of your experience in the office and your pay grade.

[phleb]

Factor, no one gave me that impression. I am a band 2, but scale one. I thought i should be a band 2, on scale 3. As i have been there 3 years, and it works on the year.

[phleb]

Every year you go up a scale in the NHS. HR know i am fully capable and deserving of scale 3, but as phlebotomy have minimum budget, it may not be the case this time round.

[factor-fiction]

I don't know how these bands and scales work in the NHS but I would have thought the main factor is the grade of the job rather than what someone of your experience deserves. Sometimes with a transfer down there is an agreement to preserve the salary- maybe freeze it until the scales catch up with your salary- but this is best agreed before the move.
Good luck

[bednobs]

you don't have 3 years experience in phlebotomy though, do you?

[phleb]

No bednobs, thats probably the reason i am right down the bottom. :(

[lcg]

err....no-one in my health trust is going up any scales at the moment-pay is frozen for another 2 years (bastards). it sounds like they have done you over....all you can do about it is contact your union and see if they can do anything (i doubt it - they have always been a bit useless).....or apply for other jobs with higher pay. but if your trust is anything like mine.....all the 'new' jobs (that are old jobs, of course) also now have crappy pay scales. i feel for you....good luck with things x

[factor-fiction]

Pay scales have been frozen for a couple of years now in schools as well lcg76 so there have been no 'cost of living' increases. However are you sure annual increments have stopped- I thought they still continued (apart from for staff at the top of the scale of course)

[boxtops]

Hi Phleb, I'm very familiar with NHS payscales, and when you start a new job you will always be put at spine point 1 on the scale of the new job. The only way that you can be put on a higher point is if you can evidence that you already have some of the skills required by the new job - then at the time of your appointment, your manager would have to fill in an extra payroll form giving reasons why you should start on a higher spine point.

All this should have been sorted out at the time of your appointment - your offer letter will have shown you your pay band and spine point.

"I know they are skint, but thats their own doing, not ours, so why we getting punished for it??? " That's not a sensible way of looking at it. The NHS has to save millions over the next couple of years, and part of that is by skill mix and becoming a lean organisation. It's not your employers' fault if you have dropped a band - you knew the job was a lower band and it's NHS policy ALWAYS to start a new role on the bottom of the band. Factor is right, there is very limited flexibility - unless the competencies in your previous job map directly into the new one, you'd be very unlikely to keep your spine point. It's not punishment, you've chosen to take a new job, it was your choice (and I know how much you wanted it).

Every year you do go up a spine point - yes, but not if you change jobs, you'd then be on the spine for the new job. You are being trained so you are on the minimum. How can HR know that you are capable when you only just started as a phlebotomist?

It may be no comfort to you but for budgetary reasons, nobody in my team has had a pay rise for the last five years.

Your only chance is the competencies, if your manager can demonstrate that you have the competencies now that warrant you being on point 3, they can send a form into HR/payroll - but at this stage of the financial year, it may be something they can't afford.

However - I still don't understand why this wasn't clearly demonstrated to you in your offer letter, which you accepted...

[THECORBYLOON]

Do you believe you have the same experience and ability as someone who has been doing the job for three years?

[phleb]

I love the job, and pay is an issue, but its not a major one for me. I prefer to be stress free, and part time, which i am now. I guess i was just having a rant, and am now over it :P. I do hope NHS are back on track, and stop paying for immigrants that do not pay into the system. I am not as experienced as one that has been there 3 years. I am good though, and have picked up the job straight away. Patients have complimented me on how gentle i am, and take blood so quickly.

Between us, i think there are some flaws in phlebotomy from other staff that have been there longer than me. I am doing things by the book, and in the correct order/procedure, i have seen others doing the quite opposite...i won't snitch though. Patients have pointed it out.

[phleb]

I'm sure you are all pretty fed up of hearing about my job...i will stop going on about it. :-) x

[bednobs]

as you get more experienced you'll learn the things where it's essential you do things by the book, and the things that don't matter so much. It's called the theory/practice gap

[Zacs-Master]

Mmm.

[factor-fiction]

>I do hope NHS are back on track, and stop paying for immigrants that do not pay into the system.
I would question that. I think there are far more non-immigrants though that don't pay into the system- children, long term unemployed including those who have disabilities...

Anyway, that's my rant over. I hope you continue to enjoy it and will get the financial rewards too at some stage. Good luck

[phleb]

Mmm aswell. lol

[phleb]

I keep putting my foot in it....sorry factor! I am sure you are right about that.