[HELP] Feel like I am being shortchanged by my company, what should I do?

[_bluehavens]

Hi guys,

So I have been working in an engineering/computer science IT statutory board for close to 2 years. Everything was pretty much hunky-dory until I found out that some other colleagues of mine are earning a bonus allowance - about $400 (or an 8% increment) just because of their "IT-degree" or if they are scholars.

When I tried to talk to HR, explaining to them that my engineering degree was specialised in computer engineering (which is IT-related), and that I had a scholarship with the company, and that I also was doing IT software work, they replied a few weeks later saying the exception was not approved and I was not given this allowance.
Their reasons were - My specialisation is Comp Eng but my discipline/degree is not IT-related, I did not have their main scholarship, and no reply given to the fact of my current IT work

Am quite frustrated about this, and looks like HR is not going to budge from their position. Any thoughts if I should just
1. Ask for a mid-term salary negotiation? (I've never heard of such a thing in the public service, not even sure if it's possible. I currently don't have any leverage apart from my good performance for the past 2 years and that I'm doing their "IT" work)
2. Find another job and move on

Any similar experience, advice or help is appreciated!!!

Originally Posted by _bluehavens

Hi guys,

So I have been working in an engineering/computer science IT statutory board for close to 2 years. Everything was pretty much hunky-dory until I found out that some other colleagues of mine are earning a bonus allowance - about $400 (or an 8% increment) just because of their "IT-degree" or if they are scholars.

When I tried to talk to HR, explaining to them that my engineering degree was specialised in computer engineering (which is IT-related), and that I had a scholarship with the company, and that I also was doing IT software work, they replied a few weeks later saying the exception was not approved and I was not given this allowance.
Their reasons were - My specialisation is Comp Eng but my discipline/degree is not IT-related, I did not have their main scholarship, and no reply given to the fact of my current IT work

Am quite frustrated about this, and looks like HR is not going to budge from their position. Any thoughts if I should just
1. Ask for a mid-term salary negotiation? (I've never heard of such a thing in the public service, not even sure if it's possible. I currently don't have any leverage apart from my good performance for the past 2 years and that I'm doing their "IT" work)
2. Find another job and move on

Any similar experience, advice or help is appreciated!!!

Just move on.There is a set of criteria for the allowance and HR is just following it. They dun break it or do something special for u one. If really unhappy and skills in demand, just find another job with higher pay.

Originally Posted by _bluehavens

Hi guys,

So I have been working in an engineering/computer science IT statutory board for close to 2 years. Everything was pretty much hunky-dory until I found out that some other colleagues of mine are earning a bonus allowance - about $400 (or an 8% increment) just because of their "IT-degree" or if they are scholars.

When I tried to talk to HR, explaining to them that my engineering degree was specialised in computer engineering (which is IT-related), and that I had a scholarship with the company, and that I also was doing IT software work, they replied a few weeks later saying the exception was not approved and I was not given this allowance.
Their reasons were - My specialisation is Comp Eng but my discipline/degree is not IT-related, I did not have their main scholarship, and no reply given to the fact of my current IT work

Am quite frustrated about this, and looks like HR is not going to budge from their position. Any thoughts if I should just
1. Ask for a mid-term salary negotiation? (I've never heard of such a thing in the public service, not even sure if it's possible. I currently don't have any leverage apart from my good performance for the past 2 years and that I'm doing their "IT" work)
2. Find another job and move on

Any similar experience, advice or help is appreciated!!!

agree with above post. unless senior management presses on HR, they will not bend the rules for you especially when it comes to money in govt sector. so you will either have to risk rocking the boat and escalating your concerns, or go with option 2.

anyway, if your role is IT related there should be plenty of options available for you since demand is high now.

If you are halfway decent, you can find a new job and jump 20% easily in the current IT market. No use fighting when HR alr say no lol

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Just move on.There is a set of criteria for the allowance and HR is just following it. They dun break it or do something special for u one. If really unhappy and skills in demand, just find another job with higher pay.

yeah just move on

Originally Posted by _bluehavens

Hi guys,

So I have been working in an engineering/computer science IT statutory board for close to 2 years. Everything was pretty much hunky-dory until I found out that some other colleagues of mine are earning a bonus allowance - about $400 (or an 8% increment) just because of their "IT-degree" or if they are scholars.

When I tried to talk to HR, explaining to them that my engineering degree was specialised in computer engineering (which is IT-related), and that I had a scholarship with the company, and that I also was doing IT software work, they replied a few weeks later saying the exception was not approved and I was not given this allowance.
Their reasons were - My specialisation is Comp Eng but my discipline/degree is not IT-related, I did not have their main scholarship, and no reply given to the fact of my current IT work

Am quite frustrated about this, and looks like HR is not going to budge from their position. Any thoughts if I should just
1. Ask for a mid-term salary negotiation? (I've never heard of such a thing in the public service, not even sure if it's possible. I currently don't have any leverage apart from my good performance for the past 2 years and that I'm doing their "IT" work)
2. Find another job and move on

Any similar experience, advice or help is appreciated!!!

I would advise you to move on, as someone working in a few govt agencies, i can firmly tell you that the HR in most agencies don't have any knowledge in Talent management. They don't know what degree is really related to the agency and what's not. To them, so long you are a ministry scholar, president scholar, armed forced scholar, etc, your degree and experience will always of relevancy, when on most cases, it was not. The HR i met before don't even know what degree exists in Singapore and what's not, they are so shallow to just want a definite degree title that matches to what the agency is doing.

Originally Posted by _bluehavens

Hi guys,

So I have been working in an engineering/computer science IT statutory board for close to 2 years. Everything was pretty much hunky-dory until I found out that some other colleagues of mine are earning a bonus allowance - about $400 (or an 8% increment) just because of their "IT-degree" or if they are scholars.

When I tried to talk to HR, explaining to them that my engineering degree was specialised in computer engineering (which is IT-related), and that I had a scholarship with the company, and that I also was doing IT software work, they replied a few weeks later saying the exception was not approved and I was not given this allowance.
Their reasons were - My specialisation is Comp Eng but my discipline/degree is not IT-related, I did not have their main scholarship, and no reply given to the fact of my current IT work

Am quite frustrated about this, and looks like HR is not going to budge from their position. Any thoughts if I should just
1. Ask for a mid-term salary negotiation? (I've never heard of such a thing in the public service, not even sure if it's possible. I currently don't have any leverage apart from my good performance for the past 2 years and that I'm doing their "IT" work)
2. Find another job and move on

Any similar experience, advice or help is appreciated!!!

Honestly, they are following the rules. Government don't do counter offer if you are thinking of throwing letter to get the allowance.

Find a new job which offers 15% increment rather than quibble with HR over $400 per month.

DSTA spotted. The reason they do this is probably because their data indicates that people with comsci degree easier to get hired by elsewhere so need to offer them more competitive salary. If you jump ship you can help to add an opposing data point

You got IT work experience. Now IT roles are in demand also. Jump ship lor. Why restrict yourself there and be angry everyday coming to work. Faster find while IT is still hot. (seems like you got plenty of time till IT is not hehe)