Change in Job Responsibilities/No Pay Increase

[Lou]

Last January 1999 my job responsibilities changed from being a receptionist with a pharmaceutical company in Florida to the Administrative Asst. of one of the Directors of the company. According to the company's policy, I read that this is considered a Developmental Move since the job responsibilities change dramatically. This move calls for a pay raise, outside of any merit increase for job performance, of up to 6%. My director assured me that he was working on this with H.R. and that I should get the raise in May along with my merit increase. This never happened. The company merged with another company and my director was laid off. Now this office has hired new Administrative Assistants for the office and they are being hired at a higher rate than what I am making, following the payscale for that position. I have in numerous occasions expressed my concern to the HR department and the new directors but I am getting the run around and have not yet seen any kind of adjustment to my salary. They are telling me that I may have to wait until May 2000 again for any kind of equity increase. I think this is absolutely appalling what they are doing. They have caused me great pain and suffering from me worrying about this situation and I continue to write the HR Department and speak to them about this, but to no avail. My job performance is excellent and I am right now the only administrative person in this office that knows the process and procedures of the company. My feeling is that this company owes me back pay at the increased rate from when I changed job responsibilities back in Jan 99 up until now.
Do I have a case of breach of contract here?
Since they did not adhere to the company policy for developmental move pay increase.

 

[Alice A]

Lou,

This is not what you want to hear, but you have 3 choices --

1. Quit and sue. You possibly have a very minor claim and the chances of victory are slight.

2. Find a new job first and then say you are leaving. If the old firm doesn't do right by you, take the new job. Decide if it might be worthwhile to sue only after you leave.

3. Stick it out and recognize life is unfair.

A person who sues a company they are employed by, while employed, is a fool. Can you imagine what your references would be like? Given the take over, I'd possibly opt for the middle choice.