About The Probationary Pay Gambit

One of the many little tricks from small company employers that I've grown to detest, is what I call The Probationary Pay Gambit. I alluded to this in a blogpost in 2015, but today, I'd like to give it even more attention.

Simply put, this is when the employer tells the employee that his pay will be increased after passing the probationary period. It doesn't sound too bad when you say it like that, because, who doesn't want more money, right? But no, this is actually a case of the employer wanting to pay less money.

Let's say, for instance, you ask for 3,000 SGD a month. The employer says, sure, but first we have to put you through a probationary period of, say, three months. During which we will pay you a reduced figure, maybe 2,500 SGD per month. You'll only get paid 3,000 SGD per month after passing the probationary period. (Take note of these example figures, we'll be using them again later on.)

I know. Christ on a stick, right? That's what a lot of small companies do. Many big companies don't even bother with this nonsense. Guess why? Because unlike these small-time players, they don't have to pinch those pennies.

What's that, you say? Employers aren't the cheap bastards I'm painting them as? They actually have valid reasons for The Probationary Pay Gambit? Sure, let's examine some of these reasons.

Why employers think it's fair

"It'll motivate them to do better."

Some employers think a raise after passing probation serves as motivation. These employers are, for lack of a better term, fucking delusional. If an employee is worth 3,000 SGD, paying this employee less isn't going to be much of a motivation to stay. The only reason they would be motivated is if they were worth less than 3,000 SGD a month in the first place.

"Prove that you're worth the money."

Some employers think that this is fair because it protects the company from paying the full amount for a potentially bad hire. If a developer still needed to prove himself to the employer after being hired, there's something abysmally wrong with the employer's hiring practices. Ideally, you want to hire people who have already done shit and aren't interested in having to prove anything.

Besides, this is petty. If the employee turns out to be a bad hire, paying him the full amount from the start would only cost an extra (500 x 3 = 1,500) SGD - not a big deal to a company that isn't dogshit financially already on shaky ground.

Oh no, I'm gonna have to pay!

"It's a reward for doing well."

Get real, please! If an employee performs well during the probationary period, codes his heart out and stays in the office twelve hours a day programming like a boss, the employer isn't going to think, gee, what a bargain! He's going to think, oh crap, I'm used to paying only 2,500 a month for that standard of work, soon I'll have to pay 3,000! That's human nature. Look at Grab who have recently started charging their users realistic cab fares compared to the bargain prices they constantly had years ago. Is there anyone feeling grateful that they got all those cheap cab rides instead of whining like little bitches as to how expensive the rides are now?

How The Probationary Pay Gambit would be fair...

... or a little less one-sided in terms of favoring the employer. Because, let's face it, as it stands, there's no way a deal like that is fair to an employee.

Make up the difference. You want to pay less during probation? Fine. After it's over, not only do you pay the poor sucker the full amount as agreed, you also pay him the money you've been withholding during the probationary period. So if you paid him less 500 SGD per month during a three-month probationary period, you also give him a one-time payment of (500 x 3 = 1,500) SGD after the probationary period ends. Oh, that doesn't sound fair to you? Were you really so looking forward to saving a measly 1,500 SGD?

Discount your expectations accordingly. 2500 SGD is roughly 83% of 3000 SGD. So if you're going to pay the employer only 83% of his salary during the probationary period, it would be fair to expect only 83% effort. Oh, what's that? You expect 100% effort but only want to pay the employee 83% of his wages? You think saying it like that makes you look bad? Well, no shit, Sherlock!

Squeeze 'em, baby. Squeeze.

If the employee is an intern. Interns are expected to prove themselves. That's why they're called interns. They need the experience... and if you are an exploitative asshole who will squeeze them for every drop of blood, that's experience. At least they know what to avoid (i.e, people who try The Probationary Pay Gambit) when they go out to work for real.

What to do when an employer tries to pull this?

Do what I do - end the damn interview. Thank them for their time and inform them that the interview is over. If you really want to join that company, tell them these terms are unacceptable. And be prepared to walk if they disagree.

But, if you're an intern or fresh out of school, hey, suck it up and pay your dues.

Moral of the story

Employers either can pay your employee what they ask for, or they can't. We're all professionals. If you want to be taken seriously at all, don't play these silly games. This sort of deal only attracts the under-qualified and desperate. And honestly, if employers are playing these games, they probably deserve developers who are under-qualified and desperate.

Never settle for le$$,
T___T