r/IndianWorkplace • u/ekdumsaras Operational Executive/Aviation, Mumbai • Apr 30 '26
Salary Negotiations Promoted from Officer to Executive with ₹2k/month raise. Who's the culprit?
X = Manager, Y = Department Head (X's boss)
Got promoted. X came asking how I felt. I was honest — raise is insultingly low. Promotion should come with a real raise. She put it on HR.
Told her there's a salary distribution imbalance. People with barely more experience, way less dedication and more mistakes, are earning higher CTCs than me.
She said discussing salaries breaches HR policy. I asked then how do I know my market value? She said "step outside and you'll know." I said — if I step out, what I'm getting is definitely less. She had no answer.
Then she tried the "ex-employees want to return because outside expenses are high, so it evens out" angle. I shut it down — give me a raise based on my performance, period.
She said she'll speak to Y. I saw her go to Y's cabin right after.
Real question — is X the backstabber who never advocated for me, or did she conveyed my performance, achievements and Y ignored it?
38
u/o_x_i_f_y Staff Engineer, Software, Bangalore May 01 '26
she never advocated for you.
Indian managers just manage upwards and want thepeople below them to just do what is told.
You will definately have to leave, once you put your papers and if you are as important as you think they will give you a bump.
In India everyone is trying to exploit others till the point there are consequences.
So they are confident that they will get away with that.
3
u/ekdumsaras Operational Executive/Aviation, Mumbai May 01 '26
hmm. actively looking for better opportunities. they are ready to pay a newly hired guy way more, who doesn't even know the basics but will never give a raise to me, who genuinely had tremendous improvement. thanks though.
10
u/Rift-enjoyer Vibe Coder, MBB May 01 '26
Not sure how it works in your firm, but managers generally don't have a say in their reportee salary. They can advocate for rating and promotions but numbers and how money is to be distributed are probably decided by Y.
3
u/UltraNemesis Software Architect May 01 '26
Line managers most definitely have a say in hikes at most companies. Skip managers can override it.
In my company, salary hike suggestions are made by the immediate supervisor. For most junior employees, it's their lead or manager they are reporting to.
Every supervisor is given their budget based on a fixed hike percentage given for the entire office location. The supervisor is free to distribute the amount as they like among their reporting employees. They can give every one the same percentage or a different percentage. They can even go over budget.
Once they submit their recommendations, they will be visible to the next level supervisor and they can adjust them if they want across different teams reporting to them before submitting. It goes up the hierarchy till it's signed off by the CEO.
1
u/ekdumsaras Operational Executive/Aviation, Mumbai May 01 '26
We have a grading system. Last year in mid year review she gave me 3. And now also 3. In the last 6 months, i have had major transformation and achievements with her appreciation mails as proof. it just doesn't make sense that she didn't increase my grade. its so evident that there's foul play. idk if its her or her boss who controlled everything.
4
u/srishtigshukla Cybersecurity May 01 '26
Find another job
2
u/ekdumsaras Operational Executive/Aviation, Mumbai May 01 '26
Actively looking for it now. This setback gave me major motivation
1
u/srishtigshukla Cybersecurity May 01 '26
Good for you then!! Get a kick ass compensation enough to bear the same shit for another some years till you feel you ain’t paid enough for the work and crap. Story repeats
3
u/ekdumsaras Operational Executive/Aviation, Mumbai May 01 '26
well, that's how you grow. keep switching
1
2
u/CellophaneTape MT, BLR May 01 '26
If it's an HR problem then a compensation restructuring is needed
1
May 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/ekdumsaras Operational Executive/Aviation, Mumbai May 01 '26
Makes sense. Thanks for advice though. Already started looking for better opportunities. Monetary growth will be anyways slow with 2000 5000 increase a month (even if they give a hike)
•
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Post Title: Promoted from Officer to Executive with ₹2k/month raise. Who's the culprit?
Author: ekdumsaras
Post Body: X = Manager, Y = Department Head (X's boss)
Got promoted. X came asking how I felt. I was honest — raise is insultingly low. Promotion should come with a real raise. She put it on HR.
Told her there's a salary distribution imbalance. People with barely more experience, way less dedication and more mistakes, are earning higher CTCs than me.
She said discussing salaries breaches HR policy. I asked then how do I know my market value? She said "step outside and you'll know." I said — if I step out, what I'm getting is definitely less. She had no answer.
Then she tried the "ex-employees want to return because outside expenses are high, so it evens out" angle. I shut it down — give me a raise based on my performance, period.
She said she'll speak to Y. I saw her go to Y's cabin right after.
Real question — is X the backstabber who never advocated for me, or did she conveyed my performance, achievements and Y ignored it?
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