How to increase my salary?

[jimk280]

I'm employed as a plumber and GSR. I currently earn £11 an hour for a 40 hour week (£23k). I am provided with a less than 3yr old van and company clothing. If I finish early in the day due to speed I am still paid the full day but if I run over I get overtime. I've worked for the same company since I was 21 and am now 25.

I've recently asked my boss for a payrise. I like working there so don't wish to move on. He surprised me by asking the question 'come up with a way of earning more money and I'll consider it?'

I've thought of asking for a lower salary and then getting paid a percentage for each job. So the quicker I work the more I get paid? I'm not really up to speed on salaries so could anyone offer advice on this, or do you have an incentive that works at your company? Appreciate any SENSIBLE replies please 😉

thanks

 

[macackau]

Don't ask for a lower salary! Are you in a position to start out self employed? Or see what other local companies are paying.

 

[jimk280]

Hi. Don't fancy self employed. Like going home at night and not having customers hassle me.

 

[Best]

Does your firm do private domestic customers?
Just a thought but you could suggest you could bring extra work in and take a cut of the extra profits. Sort of sales work while you work.

 

[Rickster123]

Hi jim what's your average week work wise? What kind of jobs are you doing? Also are you acs qualified and fitting boilers etc for this £11 per hour?

 

[jimk280]

Yeah the company just does domestic. I tend to keep the people I know for weekend privates as I only work Monday to Friday.

 

[Jay The Plumber]

Hi. Don't fancy self employed. Like going home at night and not having customers hassle me.

have 2 phones, one for work only. answer during your working hours only.

once you have been self employed for a while, you wouldnt easily go back.
I was offered £8 / hour employed the other day.. by someone looking for house bashers..
"great" I thought, "just 80p over minimum wage for the kinds skills and tools we have to have"

I would rather work 3 days a week self employed than full time for a ****taker

 

[jimk280]

Hi APP . yes to ACS. All kinds. a mix of plumbing, installs and servicing repairs etc.

 

[macackau]

Personally think your boss is laughing all the way to the bank and you're being underpaid.

 

[jimk280]

Hmmm so do I. What do you think would be the appropriate hourly wage?

 

[Millsy 82]

What part of the country are you in?

 

[lame plumber]

if your just plumbing I would say that is the going rate, if you want more get gas or oil tickets, become an expert in one area, make yourself the golden boy, then you have a means of negotiating, as you are there are loads out there able to take your place, harsh but true and your boss is in business and knows this

 

[jimk280]

South Millsy but not London.

 

[REDSAW]

What part of the country are you in?

let me guess! sailsbury?

you dont want self employed but you do foriegners? your already s-emp part time.
is that on your own gas ticket?

try the BG approach, you need a power flush or you need a filter.
take that back and ask for 10% sales commision

 

[Millsy 82]

let me guess! sailsbury?

you dont want self employed but you do foriegners? is that on your own gas ticket?

try the BG approach, you need a power flush or you need a filter.
take that back and ask for 10% sales commision

Where does it say that?

 

[lame plumber]

you need to work harder, dont do this wont do that, dont want to go se, so happy with being employed. If that is the case youre being paid your worth, kick out and get out of your comfort zone become indispensable or stop winging! Being a bit harsh, but |i'd say your happy at work and not pushing it, fine for your boss who has someone trundling along but if you really want a pay rise, look elsewhere, apply for jobs so you will either get a rise from moving or if your worth keeping your boss will make you an offer.

 

[jimk280]

🙂 I do but not gas work. strictly plumbing for friends or friends of friends etc. I've thought of the BG approach. That could work. Thanks

 

[Millsy 82]

Get another job lined up then go in and renegotiate.

I went for a job and they were offering what your on and I thought it was an insult so I'm sticking self employed.

 

[jimk280]

I'm not whingeing. Far from it. I just asked for a payrise and was given a suggestion. Just thought I'd ask what might be a fair system of pay.

 

[Best]

You have to remember that £23k would be hard to earn as a self employed plumber.

 

[lame plumber]

You have to remember that £23k would be hard to earn as a self employed plumber.

but he has to bring in more than that for his boss to keep him, nothing is easy just takes effort and stress. sorry if I pushed the winging, but you ought to see how my son deals with his staff asking for pay rises. He employs his younger sister and that can cause hassle, she was his office manager, on £20k, she wanted a rises so no she is a sales person, able to get £30k, but she has to work for it. He offered me a job, not that desperate yet to have to work for him 🙂 as I am only £5k a year behind him at present, but I think next year the gap is going to rapidly widen 🙁

 

[jimk280]

thanks Lame, I wasn't offended by the whingeing remark.

 

[REDSAW]

sorry :(

???????????????????????

what?

 

[lame plumber]

???????????????????????

what?

some folks are reasonable, like brusque advice and don't know me yet 🙂

 

[Rickster123]

I think he's pulling your pants down mate. £11 per hour is cack. Look for a new job.

 

[1Steven]

Out of interest, what does your boss charge for your labour?

 

[jimk280]

APP what would you consider a fair hourly ask?

 

[jimk280]

£65

 

[REDSAW]

£22-24k is the going rate!
ask ray...

 

[lame plumber]

bit high for plumbing work redsaw, if the boss is getting 65, take off the 11 and Nics, holiday and sick, add on the insurance, cost of van servicing etc etc and his margins wont be massive.

 

[Rickster123]

Why don't you shop around? See what other work is out there. Don't work for a pound less than you could be working for.

 

[jimk280]

Sorry should have said 65 for the plumbing and 80 for the heating but that's inclusive of VAT. I think I may have to look for another company but am not overly keen on working on a Saturday as I'm used to mon-friday

 

[Rickster123]

Sorry should have said 65 for the plumbing and 80 for the heating but that's inclusive of VAT. I think I may have to look for another company but am not overly keen on working on a Saturday as I'm used to mon-friday

I work for a company and never do weekends or call outs. There are some good ones out there.

 

[jimk280]

APP sounds good. what do you think I should be looking at hourly then?

 

[wiggers]

Housing associations by me pay a lot more than that for plumbing alone with no overtime
Start a search.
Good luck