Advice wanted please - maternity cover

[bloonoo]

Hi there

I have been asked to do maternity cover for someone who's senior than me. I have said yes as it'll be a good experience, but I was wondering what the etiquette is regarding salary? The lady I am covering for is on substantially more than I am, but I don't know if it's general practice I will be given a rise or a bonus for the time I am covering. Has anyone else been in this situation?

Thanks

[KidKruger]

i think you'll have to make your case if you think there is one, looking for a precedent (outside your own organisation) will be totally subjective and open to challenge.

Unless you're covering exactly what the senior does there's obviously less of an argument for securing pro-rata what the senior earns. The organsiation willprobably be still paying the senior something and may not want to 'double' the wages requierd to cover her role, by paying you extra. Maybe you can earn/store days off in lieu.

If you're getting additional experience, is that not a good incentive in itself ?

Perhaps, given the pressures in some organsiations, your asking for additional payment will be viewed as not being a team player supporting organisation objectives.

Do you know the senior woman wellenough to suggest/request some of the cream falls on your shoulder ?

Whatever you decide to do please do not follow the dire example set by some Britons in striking during the Olympics !

[bloonoo]

Well I didn't expect any additional money, however several of my colleagues have all asked 'oh are you going to get any more money' so that got me thinking. I was happy with the extra experience, but I didn't know (because of my colleagues asking) if that was the 'done' thing for companies to pay an incentive for maternity cover. I will be covering her role entirely, moving into another office and reporting in to her boss, and I am assuming they're going to get a temp in to cover my role (though this hasn't been dicsussed - as usual I expect they'll leave it to the last minute)

[Jessie]

I think you should expect and ask for a payrise - your job will be more senior, so they should recognise that financially. I thought this would have been a given.

[reeko]

Hi Bloo noo

this is a great opportunity, but if you are taking on additional responsibilities then you should expect to be renumerated for them - you are an employee - not someone on work experience! I have assumed you are female, and one of the reasons that women are often paid less than men for doing the same work is that we don't ask or fight for fair pay. I had to learn this in a previous job where all the men were paid more than the women simply because they played a better game of hard-ball. Don't give your employers an option as to whether or not to increase your pay, just ask how much the pay increase will be and if you don't think it is fair, ask for more.

Good luck!

[Marmora Man]

As a senior manager I have often authorised an "acting up" payment to individuals in your situation. Usually at a rate somewhere between the absent person's salary and the "acting up" individual - arguing that the acting up opportunity is, itself, a reward in terms of experience and input to CV.

In public sector organisations there is often something about this in your ToRs. In private sector it depends more upon your interpersonal and negotiating skills.

[bloonoo]

thanks all :)