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The Salary Demand Maelstrom - My HR Perspective






This week, I stumbled into a friend's Facebook post about a fresh graduate of ADMU refusing a job offer from an HR Colleague two days ago.


She was offered Php 37,000 per month for a level entry position but she refused the offer because she wants a Php 60,000 per month salary, worthy of being a graduate of a prestigious university (Ateneo De Manila University). The HR, eventually given the vacancy to someone whose equal to the said person in terms of qualification but coming from the University of Sto. Tomas.


Lots have been said (including mine BTW) on that post and on my friends' FB - both in and against the poster of the tweet and the involved graduate. The post was shared all over social media and in reputable websites such as News 5.


In the midst of the maelstrom that started this open discussion of salaries in the Philippines; to copy the headline of News 5: TOO LOW? | After viral Twitter post, netizens debate if P37K starting salary is good enough?


Let's put this into perspective - an HR perspective (I know someone from my community's going to raise an eyebrow here) but let me explain.


First of all - I need to emphasize that - as long as you the have the qualification and achievement, then you can demand for a hefty sum of salary worthy of your standing. But the thing is that the said person is a fresh grad. Greenhorn, Nada experience (if you can count the number of organizations he/she joined in) or On the Job Training "experience" - ok fine lets take that as "real world experience". The experience and credentials you present to any organization will be the key to getting what you wanted.


Second - people should realize that there is a specific salary budget for each position in an organization. The said Php 37K per month may be the maximum amount one can offer by the Recruiter. In short, eto yung budget ko for the position says the Hiring Manager and HR has to work around it.


In corporate salary structures, there is range you need to consider for positions in the organizations and you need to really justify why this person deserves this salary to begin with to Management.


Third - and most important - You also need to consider any employees who has been with the company for so long and getting less than what you demanded for. Let's be honest, Php 60K is a Manager's salary level here.


The problem is that people will (whether you like it or not folks) going to discover that a fresh graduate or someone with less than two (2) or more years experience receives this salary, will definitely gets anyone angry if not demoralized. Di katangap-tangap di ba? You worked that long, stayed loyal and then suddenly a newbie gets a better salary than you right?


I have always been in the receiving end of complaints coming from disgruntled employees (whether we're talking about a newbie bypassing or during annual increases) about their salaries. As an HR Practitioner, I've seen this myself since I have been approached more than I can count about this issue, can only listen without further provoking them. I do not have the answers because of the Management prerogative principle in place.


On the other hand, you have a view that this person really deserves the salary he/she demanded from, Php 37K is not suitable from someone who graduated from a prestigious university and low if we're going to consider the Cost of Living in Metro Manila, which was - days ago - tops the highest living standard in Southeast Asia.


But there are people receiving lower than what was offered here - those receiving minimum if not below minimum wage? Those who are also graduates but came from lower ranking Colleges and Universities but can and willing to work and prove their worth despite minimum credentials.


I'm not bashing this person, there may be reasons why the demand for a Manager's salary for an entry level position. I have attended job fairs as an employer representative and yes, I've seen that range. Maybe professors emphasizes expectation that they should be receiving better wages because they came from so-and-so colleges, etc. I am not saying that this is wrong per se.


Let me share my experience: I was hiring for a Salesforce Administrator and stumbled into this well-experienced employee, has the training and certification to boot. But he has a two year degree from a Computer School (take note Computer School no College/University Degree) and was asking for a hefty salary that time. I ignored that salary demand because of the major factors in place.


The Management questioned my decision to recommend him and said my piece. Yes, he was hired despite the so-called reservation on their part with that salary he asked for.


At the end of the day, it was experience, accomplishments, hard work getting them and credentials that matters. Not how prestigious is your school where you came from nor the inculcations of your peers that you deserve it because of Alma Mater in which you came from.


To the HR person who posted the tweet - yes, I agree with your choice, it was a hard call on your part and brave enough to put this in Twitter.


To the said person who just refused this, it was your loss and yeah, opened discussion on what is supposed to be fair in your view and the rest of the working class.


Dear - Welcome to the real world and yes keep your feet on the ground moving forward. And expectations anchored on the lesson learned today.


BELATED HAPPY LABOR DAY.


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