Q & A Table of Contents
Should I Let Them Force Me to Sign My Job Evaluation?
From: T Jay, Atlanta, Georgia
Question: I need some negotiation advice on not signing a job evaluation. I didn't sign my evaulation because I didn't agree with the small pay raise they offered. Management said they could not offer more money. I'm in training for another position in that same dept that will pay more once I finish, but management claims if I don't sign the yearly evaluation I can forget the big payday once I complete training. I'm willing to forget the new position & big pay and make a stand about my job evaluation. Legally where do I stand, because none of the verbal agreements or promises made before the training started were written out and signed by me or management. The agreements and promises made had been changed several times in the past year by management. But management is trying to force me to sign and they are saying that we had a deal.
Response: You describe an ugly situation. I don't know how badly you need your current job, but if your skills are highly marketable, you probably should start looking for someplace else to work.
This can give you two results: it may mean you find an alternative that gives you more leverage when you negotiate with management about your current situation. In addition, a job search can give you a sense of what the 'market' is prepared to pay for someone with your skills -- and that will give you a benchmark for measuring what management is offering you. Clearly, you would need to think long and hard before revealing to management that your disagreement about pay levels is based on a job search.
Another way to get comparisons is to find out what other people in similar positions get paid in your company, at competitive companies, or in different companies that employ people with your skills.
More immediately, it sounds as if management needs to have you sign the evaluation. Why do they need your signature? How can you take advantage of this need of theirs in your negotiations with them?
If management says that unless you sign the evaluation and accept the inadequate pay raise you will not be offered the promotion and bigger pay raise, ask whether they will put that in writing. If they will do that in writing, sign the evaluation and co-sign the promotion 'promise' at the same time.
Ask management how long the decision-making process is before the promotion takes place. Find out what will go into their decision regarding that promotion -- so that you can make an intelligent guess about their likelihood of offering the promotion to you.
Think about whether you like the work you do, the place where you do it, the people with whom you work. How much is it worth to you? At what point will the behavior of management cross a line that makes it unrewarding to stay there. At what point will management feel that you have crossed the line?
The situation you face can be dealt with most successfully if you figure out why you and management want to achieve what objectives -- how those interests may be in conflict, and how they may work well together.
I wish you luck in your negotiation. Let me know how it goes -- and if you need to explore additional ideas.
Steve.
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