Renege on new job salary

[MandM!]

Let me put the other side to the above story (which is to respond to this post, not your situation. What they did is not fair and you should walk as it's a really bad sign about the type of company).

But in response to the comment about "part of your bonus" or "increase after probation" - M&M's comments are highly unreasonable. Its VERY reasonable for a company to be circumspect in offering a job and then increase money once the value is apparent. Everyone lies in their CV and their interviews and pretends they are going to add value. It's darn hard to figure out who is actually going to do so. So yes, companies are well within their rights to try first and increase later. Any company that wants to keep valuable staff will obviously pay them their worth.

We do both of the above. We always try to start people at the lowest end of their expectations, because new staff are a huge risk to the company. Once they prove themselves, yes, we DO give them bonuses and we DO give them a raise (normally at 6 months and then again at a year, by which time they are "caught up").

If you only approach job hunting from the perspective of the employee, and never look at it from the perspective of the employer, you will miss a load of possibly great jobs.

Having said that, as I noted in the first line, reducing the offer after seeing your current salary is just rude and bodes very badly for the kind of company you are dealing with. But when you walk away from this and try another one, please don't assume that all companies lie and are only interested in shafting you, because they are not. Many companies see staff as assets that require good treatment to be best utilised.

I'm not buying that load of bullocks. As a former employee, I have never received a bonus at my expectation. It's always been "calculated" differently. After that, I only fought for higher basic salary, and that was the best decision ever. Earn what you are happy with now, instead of a false promise for future opportunities.

Now as an employer, I'm going to try to save on costs as much as I can. I would try to hit the basic salary, put more emphasis on "bonus" opportunities. Fact is, most of my team are not motivated by money, so it's never a future discussion. And if its so important as the OP insists, he's probably going to ask for a salary review or bonus before he even passes his probationary period, and that's going to set off a bad relationship. The dynamic is clearly not a match for the OP and potential employer.

[SeizetheCarp]

Thanks a lot, everyone, for your replies. I understand negotiations are part of salary discussions when starting a new job, but it just seems so unscrupulous when one thing was said and then suddenly it changed when I had to submit my previous salaries. I was in no way asking for anything unreasonable. I was aware of the salary from someone who did the job a few years ago, so I know what I asked was not out of line. I just find the "Hong Kong way" of basing your current salary off your previous salaries, which are really not your potential employers' business, so insane.

[shri]

I just find the "Hong Kong way" of basing your current salary off your previous salaries, which are really not your potential employers' business, so insane.

You buy properties based on transaction records, not emotional value.
You buy stocks based on previous prices, not emotional value.

Just saying, that I do think that your previous salary is always a good indicator as to where negotiations to start. Then, up to the employer - not all HK employers are as bad as some people make them out to be. Having said that, not all expat employees are as good as they make themselves out to be either. Have been on both sides of the fence.

It does look bad though if an offer made, is lowered. Not very professional.

In real estate, stocks, investments... the first offer usually should be the lowest one from the buyer.

[DimSumBond]

I just find the "Hong Kong way" of basing your current salary off your previous salaries, which are really not your potential employers' business, so insane.

I don't think it's fair to bash Hong Kong. It is common practice actually. Companies request this to make sure that they are getting up to date remuneration data points and to ensure they calibrate accordingly. No company wants to be the one catching a falling knife with staff that are all overpaid. Overpaid is always subjective from the person seeking job change and objective from the employer. The market will naturally fix this. It's why a lot of people can't change their jobs as they know they have a good thing right now.

You buy properties based on transaction records, not emotional value.
You buy stocks based on previous prices, not emotional value.

It does look bad though if an offer made, is lowered. Not very professional.

In real estate, stocks, investments... the first offer usually should be the lowest one from the buyer.

This is true. It actually looks very bad. I would run.

[MandM!]

The real question is, did you receive a real offer in writing, that was subsequently lowered. Or was it casual chat that you took for granted? The practice is lowering wages is very low and likely to piss off an employee - not sure what their objective is here.

[SeizetheCarp]

I've been speaking to the same person throughout the process.