[denisesykes]

Hi there

We have been here in NZ for 18months now and love it enormously.However we are struggling financially.My OH works as a Safety Manager and was offered a salary of $60K to start.As no one in New Zealand actually does what my OH does it was difficult to gauge the quality of this offer.We were told that it was comparable with a branch managers salary here in Wellington.

Having lived on this salary for 18 months with 3 children and a $200,000 mortgage and my paltry part time teacher's aide wage I am beginning to think that he is not being paid enough.

My OH runs his own department, organises and carries out safety inspections and training courses and spends at least 50% of his time away from home.He has nationwide contracts with all the large NZ companies and in my eyes should be earning a wage where we do not struggle from 1 paycheck to another!

From reading different posts son the forum it would appear that migrants are being offered considerably higher wages for such skilled positions.

Am I right ? and we have been shortchanged by this company or does his salary appear realistic.?

If this is a realistic salary , are other people struggling as we are?

For the purposes of comparison , my OH was earning £30,000 in the UK, (doing a similar job) we had a £100,000 mortgage and did not struggle!

Thanks for your time in reading this message, I feel that this is quite a personal issue and not something that I would discuss openly face to face

[Lupin]

I'm not sure. Are there any jobs advertised that are comparable? If you can find some perhaps he can take them to his current employer and renegotiate. He sounds valuable to the company. I'm sorry you're struggling.

[Trigirl]

hi denise. sorry to hear its not going so well. the money issue is a huge one and is discussed regularly around here so you should be able to find posts about it.

from other posts on this board and from my own position i'd say earning 2$'s for every £ you earned in the UK is about right. but obviously thats a generalisationand doesn't apply to every job.

[willsken]

From a personal opinion. I am a head of ICT in a school of about 600 pupils, my department isn't very big and I earn more than this. I think for the job you described I would expect to earn more as well. I'm not surprised that you struggle with a $200k mortgage. We would too. You said $60,000 to start, is there no way to renegotiate this salary now after 18 months?

[Milliemoo]

You said $60,000 to start, is there no way to renegotiate this salary now after 18 months?

Plus, if he's the only person in NZ doing this job, surely that puts him in a very strong position to negotitate a decent pay rise :nice1

Milliemoo

[stu70]

I wish you luck. If I were you I would request a pay review. To me your husband is in a great position to open this issue with the employer. Regards

[Mart1]

Yep,

Get hubby to speak to his employer ASAP. Point out the facts - best of luck

[Manny]

Hi,

Sorry to hear you're struggling

I had the same feeling 2 months ago, what I did about it is the following:
I went to look for another job. After a couple of weeks I found one, the employer was willing to offer me $15000 more then what I was earning with the old one. I went to see my boss, told him I had found another job for $15000 more and the dude just said, well then if I offer you the same, would you stay? I took the offer and still work for the same company, now earning $15000 more for doing exactly the same job! :cheers

I have the strange feeling those Kiwi's really know how to take advantage of immigrants, desperate for a job and PR. Just fight back, it's okay if you do it politely:D my experience is that they need you more than you need them.

Cheers,
Manny

[andrewandjane]

i reckon that they know we wil take a low pay offer to start with as most of us were desperate to get a job offer and come out here, ive only been here 5 weeks and mentioned it to anothyer member of the team that i think ive been given oay at the bottom of the scale as im from the uk etc.. he said yep thats probably the case and to get a review on it when the next pay review comes up, problem is that theyres no pay scales as such to see what otehrs are getting and cant just go up to some one and ask them,

BUT the employment market here definately is in favour of the employee as there seems a wealth of jobs about (Id definately ask fo rmore cash, im going too when its review time theyu can only say no!)

[Trigirl]

cant just go up to some one and ask themyes you can. its really against our reserved british ways i know but sometimes its the only way to really find out.

[Howie]

I know some migrant professionals who have taken a job with a low salary to start, but with an agreement that the salary will be reviewed in, say, 6 months time. That gives the employer the opportunity to find out how much they think the employee is really worth and it also gives the employee time to figure out what they are really worth in the current market. But this is something that should really be negotiated up front.

[veronica]

look around for another job, 18 months in one job is a respectable time on a CV. just go out and get a feel for the market. there can't be just one company that needs the skills you OH is offering.

[Singel]

Have a look at this salary info : http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9651

I think the comparable position is OH&S Manager.

Hope that your hubby could negotiate for higher salary - GOOD LUCK :nice1 :nice1