What to do about a contract discrepancy?

[Gandalf]

Last year I was given a preview contract which showed my verbally agreed to pay increase in print. However, yesterday on seeing the new contract updated for the new year and ready to be signed this wednesday the salary has increased by 3 times more than I was expecting. The figure is the same on the contract they will keep and on mine.

What would you do in this situation? Just sign it and go with it? Or question it and potentially find your increase back to the minimum originally offered? One thing I do know is that instead of hiring 2 professors they have only hired one new one and furthermore our class sizes have increased by 20%. Just maybe this is some recognition of that and some of the money has come my way, but I have no idea.

Thoughts?

[Nameless]

Are you telling us that they did increase your salary by 3 time what you expected and that you're not sure about what to do with it or did I misread?

[Gandalf]

Are you telling us that they did increase your salary by 3 time what you expected and that you're not sure about what to do with it or did I misread?

Yes, precisely. Do I stay hush or do I say something? You don't want to spoil a good thing, but you don't want trouble later.

[Memphis]

Are you telling us that they did increase your salary by 3 time what you expected and that you're not sure about what to do with it or did I misread?

Yes, precisely. Do I stay hush or do I say something? You don't want to spoil a good thing, but you don't want trouble later.

Head down, gob shut.

[Gandalf]

Are you telling us that they did increase your salary by 3 time what you expected and that you're not sure about what to do with it or did I misread?

Yes, precisely. Do I stay hush or do I say something? You don't want to spoil a good thing, but you don't want trouble later.

Head down, gob shut.

I'm thinking that way. I've asked my mum and my wife and they both say the same thing as you. And seeing the way classes are packed to the rafters this year, 2.5% really wasn't cutting it with the 20% student increases, and so the guilt factor isn't really there. Might as well just sign it and see how it goes.

[Master]

You should do the honourable thing and ask why it has increased. Your conscious will be clear, you may be rightfully entitled to it, and your reputation will be enhanced.

[Gandalf]

They are giving me a new contract tomorrow with my crappy original increase. Where is the motivation when they add to your workload and give nothing back in return? And so tonights co-worker dinner....no thanks. I am not doing any extras when my classes are up 20%. I will enjoy my free time and when class is done I am out. I have also reduced my office hours this year to one contact hour. I see no reason to give any more than that. You give me the bare minimum and that is what you get back in return.

[Master]

Do you enjoy the work?

If you do, then enjoy it.

[Gandalf]

I will do my work, but no extras. I enjoy what I do, but not when they are forcing bodies into a space that simply cannot handle extra bodies, or where in real terms factoring in inflation I am losing out, or where they ask you to finish a hard day and then go to dinner.

I'm at the stage where I will do my work and do it well, but no bullshit extras. It is all take and no give and I don't play the slave game.

[superheavyrhun]

I will do my work, but no extras. I enjoy what I do, but not when they are forcing bodies into a space that simply cannot handle extra bodies, or where in real terms factoring in inflation I am losing out, or where they ask you to finish a hard day and then go to dinner.

I'm at the stage where I will do my work and do it well, but no bullshit extras. It is all take and no give and I don't play the slave game.

This all seemed to be gravy until they decided to go back to the original pay rise. Employees are like women, treat em mean, keep em keen.

[Gandalf]

My original increase made me angry anyway and then coming back to find classes bulked up and for us to find out at the last minute just seemed off. If I had known demands would be increased by 20% I would have thought differently about even agreeing to the original contract. We thought it would be the same, just not much more money, but instead it's full on 'let's exploit student and professor' mode.

My large old classroom is being taken by the Dean who has significantly less students than me. His could easily fit into my room. Most of the students at the back of my room can't even see my projector display because they can only see other heads. Just not cool.

[Gandalf]

Anyway, enough bitching from me. I agreed to the year so I should suck it up and I will. It gives me lots of time to calculate my next move. This year is simply about me regaining my confidence anyway.