![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Work conumdrums (conundri?)
Sep. 5th, 2006 12:11 pmYesterday evening was interesting; C & I had a heart-to-heart about jobs, Eindhoven, Amsterdam & the like. It came about because, as I walked through the door, she was winding up a conversation with her (effective) director – who was busy telling her that she had to be based there - permanently. (What did I tell you? How about that for predicting the future, eh?)
C told him that this was a non-starter as we had moved to Amsterdam to secure my job & pointed out that, given the miserable wage she was being paid, it was not sensible to endanger 65% of our combined income to secure 35% of it. The director was unhappy about this, but seemed to appreciate being told all the facts in a straightforward manner.
After the phone conversation, we checked her contract & it clearly states that she would be based in Amsterdam, though it also states that relocation can take place, but the company will provide some form of reimbursement for the costs associated.
Which leaves us in a bit of a conundrum, really. On one hand, they seem to be utterly dependent on her being there (hence, imho, the pressure to get her there more often), but they’re not prepared to pay her anything like the wage she should be commanding; shes badly underpaid and they know it (as I understand it, shes paid about half of what her predecessor was paid – essentially they’ve simply given her the old persons job, but kept her salary unchanged).
My gut feeling is that one of the following is going to happen:
1) Nothing – for about 6 months. They’ll grin & bear it until her current project is finished & then re-present her with the ultimatum. No extra money, just an ‘or else’.
2) A better job offer. Very unlikely this, as the offer would have to be significantly better than her current one – and of so, why have they baulked at any pay rise to date? Trying to tempt her away with the offer of better money is probably a non-starter as I doubt they’re prepared to match her required price, which is effectively an increase of 35% – 50% on top of her salary.
3) A cap on her expenses. Shes spending about €1,000 a month on hotel rooms & the like out of her own money & reclaiming it from them; they could try to put further financial pressure on her to more to Eindhoven this way, but this would be a declaration of war & probably a measure too far.
In the mean time, I’ve started looking for work in Eindhoven (god knows, I cant keep a job for more than 18 months); but it cant just be any old thing, its got to be financially comparable & with a n English language firm (ie a major international company) as my Dutch is not good enough. I cant see this happening though - as C pointed out – she is now much better placed (language-wise) to get employment here than me.
So. Interesting times are here again…
S
C told him that this was a non-starter as we had moved to Amsterdam to secure my job & pointed out that, given the miserable wage she was being paid, it was not sensible to endanger 65% of our combined income to secure 35% of it. The director was unhappy about this, but seemed to appreciate being told all the facts in a straightforward manner.
After the phone conversation, we checked her contract & it clearly states that she would be based in Amsterdam, though it also states that relocation can take place, but the company will provide some form of reimbursement for the costs associated.
Which leaves us in a bit of a conundrum, really. On one hand, they seem to be utterly dependent on her being there (hence, imho, the pressure to get her there more often), but they’re not prepared to pay her anything like the wage she should be commanding; shes badly underpaid and they know it (as I understand it, shes paid about half of what her predecessor was paid – essentially they’ve simply given her the old persons job, but kept her salary unchanged).
My gut feeling is that one of the following is going to happen:
1) Nothing – for about 6 months. They’ll grin & bear it until her current project is finished & then re-present her with the ultimatum. No extra money, just an ‘or else’.
2) A better job offer. Very unlikely this, as the offer would have to be significantly better than her current one – and of so, why have they baulked at any pay rise to date? Trying to tempt her away with the offer of better money is probably a non-starter as I doubt they’re prepared to match her required price, which is effectively an increase of 35% – 50% on top of her salary.
3) A cap on her expenses. Shes spending about €1,000 a month on hotel rooms & the like out of her own money & reclaiming it from them; they could try to put further financial pressure on her to more to Eindhoven this way, but this would be a declaration of war & probably a measure too far.
In the mean time, I’ve started looking for work in Eindhoven (god knows, I cant keep a job for more than 18 months); but it cant just be any old thing, its got to be financially comparable & with a n English language firm (ie a major international company) as my Dutch is not good enough. I cant see this happening though - as C pointed out – she is now much better placed (language-wise) to get employment here than me.
So. Interesting times are here again…
S
