FAQ for employees: Pay negotations

When

When will the pay negotiations be held?

Answer: The pay negotiations will take place in March-June. You can read more about the pay negotiations at the faculties/administration here.

Which period does the pay negotiation concern?

Answer: The negotiations concern pay increases for performance and results achieved in the period 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024.

When will pay increases come into force?

Answer: Agreed pay increases will come into force from 1 April 2024.

When will I be informed about the result of the pay negotiations?

Answer: The negotiation period lasts until the end of June. The specific time when your union representative/executive pay negotiator will be negotiating with the manager with the right to negotiate will therefore be agreed locally. Staff should be informed of the results of the negotiations as soon as possible after the negotiations have been completed in the individual units. The time is agreed locally.

How often can my pay be negotiated?

Answer: All employees are entitled to have their pay negotiated once a year.

Who

Who will be negotiating my pay?

Answer: Your union representative/executive pay negotiator will negotiate on your behalf. Some employees have the option of negotiating on their own behalf, that is

  • Managers
  • Professors
  • Part-time lecturers
  • Employees on individual contracts
  • Special and senior consultants
  • State-employeed journalists
  • Administrative officers, laboratory technicians and members of IT staff who are covered by the trade union agreement with HK (the national union of commercial and clerical employees) in specific positions with job content and salary level corresponding to salary grade 35 and 36.

This is governed by the collective agreements.

Who will be negotiating for me if I am not a member of a trade union?

Answer: Even though you are not a member of a trade union, the union representative authorised to negotiate/executive pay negotiator who would otherwise cover your particular field or that of your position will represent you during the pay negotiations.

Which managers conduct the pay negotiations?

Answer: The authority to negotiate cannot be delegated to a level lower than head of department/­head of school (Arts)/­centre director/­deputy director and administration centre manager level.

The managers with the right to negotiate at this level will involve lower-level managers in the preparation for the negotiation meetings.

Who decides the financial framework for the pay negotiations and how the money will be distributed?

Answer: Prior to the annual pay negotiations, the senior management team – following discussion in the Main Liaison Committee (HSU) – decides on an overall pay negotiation budget.

The pay negotiation budget for pay negotiations 2024 (the period 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) is fixed at max 0,5% of the previous year's payroll costs.

The dean and the university director may decide to give departments/­schools (Arts)/­centres/­administration centres and administrative divisions pay negotiation budgets which are lower than 0,5%.

I am covered by the old pay system for academics. Can my pay be negotiated?

Answer: Yes, but to be granted a supplement, you must transfer to the new pay system. You can apply for and be granted a one-off bonus and remain in the old pay system.

I am an apprentice, can my pay be negotiated as part of these pay negotiations?

Answer: Yes. You are entitled to apply for a pay increase on the same terms as other staff covered by the collective agreement under which you are employed. Read more about pay negotiations in the individual faculties/the administration. For information about the other terms that apply to apprentices, see the apprentice site (only in Danish).

I am currently in the third or fourth year of my apprenticeship as an animal technician, gardener or agricultural assistant, can an additional supplement for me be part of this negotiation process?

Answer: The pay agreement for agricultural assistants, gardener's assistants, gardeners, experimental assistants and animal technician assistants (animal technicians) (The United Federation of Danish Workers (3F)) also applies to apprentices. To find out more about supplements for apprentices pursuant to this agreement, click here (only in Danish).

Can I recommend a colleague for a pay increase?

Answer: No. Only the union representative or manager can make such a recommendation.

How

What should I do in order to be considered for a pay increase?

Answer: 

During the annual pay negotiations, your manager assesses the employees in the unit broadly. As an employee, you can make it known that you would like to have your salary negotiated by filling out a pay negotiation form in mitHR. Here, you can write a brief motivation for why you believe you should have a pay increase. Find the pay agreements and critiria that apply to you on your local pay negotiations website.

The form will be sent to your union representative, and if agreed locally, the form will also be sent to the manager involved in the negotiations. If you are entitled to negotiate on your own behalf, you only have to state in the negotiation form that you want to negotiate. If you are entitled to negotiate on your own behalf and want the manager who is involved in the negotiation to know your arguments for wanting a pay increase before the negotiations begin, you can write your arguments in the pay negotiation form. You can also choose to wait and present your arguments during the negotiation.

How do I fill in the pay negotiation form?

  • You find the pay negotiation form in "Flows and forms" in mitHR.
  • In the form, you will provide your motivation/reasons for a pay increase.
  • You can click "Save as draft" at any point under "More actions", and when you are ready to send, click "Done".
  • You receive a confirmation for your submission via your AU email. 
  • Going forward you can find your completed motivation in mitHR under "Flows and forms" for the next 18 months. Please note that your submission from 'Pay Negotiation 2024' is not available in mitHR. If needed, you can request a copy from your local HR department."

Your form will now be shared with the manager responsible for the pay negotiation and union representative (unless you negotiate on your own behalf) who will use the information during the pay negotiations.

Video guide

In this step-by-step guide you are guided in how to fill out the pay negotiation form:

In the video, we mention that you can access your submission in mitHR for 18 months. Please note that this does not apply to your submission for 'Pay Negotiation 2024'. If you need to view your submission, you can request the text from your local HR department.


Guides for other scenarios

Are you unable to access the form?

If you do not have the "Annual Pay Negotiation" form under "My flows and forms", please contact your local HR department.

Multiple paid assignments

If you have multiple paid assignments at AU, please note that the process for providing information for pay negotiations is slightly different.

If you wish to negotiate the salary for one of your assignments, please submit your motivation using the pay negotiation form in myHR. At the top of the motivation field, kindly specify which assigment your submission pertains to. For example, you can write "Motivation for salary improvement for my assignment: Laboratory Technician in Biomedicine."

If you wish to negotiate the salary for two or more assignments, please do not use the form in myHR. Instead, contact your local HR department.

Have you regretted sending your form?

If you have sent your form too early, please ask your local HR department to reopen the form.

In relation to the information about me in the pay negotiation form, how is this information protected?

Answer: 
The information about you in the form and the information about your pay from the payroll system will be handled by your union representative, the HR team in your unit’s administrative centre, the manager with the right to negotiate, and your immediate manager when preparing the pay negotiation and in connection with the actual negotiation.

When the pay negotiation is completed, your data will be stored in accordance with the general guidelines. See also AU's website about protection of personal data (GDPR).

What

Which supplements can be negotiated?

Answer: The supplements which can be negotiated during the annual pay negotiations are the supplements for qualifications and one-off bonuses. 

  • Supplements for qualifications: The supplement relates to the qualifications of the individual employee, e.g. education, experience, results, collaborative skills, innovativeness, readiness to change and commitment. The supplement is usually negotiated during the employment process and during the annual pay negotiations. 

  • One-off bonuses: One-off bonuses are granted for an exceptional and important contribution in a specific period. One-off bonuses are usually negotiated during the annual salary negotiations. 

There are two other types of supplement that cannot be negotiated during the annual pay negotiations but only in exceptional circumstances: 

  • Supplement for responsibilities: For example, this may be a supplement for special functions performed during a specific period. The supplement is generally granted for a limited period (the duration of the function). Supplements for responsibilities are usually negotiated in connection with a management decision to make an employee responsible for a special function.  

  • Temporary appointment to another position: Supplements granted in connection with temporary appointment to another position are negotiated in connection with the appointment. Employees in a temporary appointment may apply for additional pay increases during the annual negotiations. 

Is it possible to negotiate anything other than these supplements?

Answer: For certain groups of employees, a change of the base pay/new pay grade can be negotiated. This is set out in the trade union agreement or collective agreement applying to these groups. You cannot negotiate extra holidays, additional pension or funding for supplementary education.

How does the Danish pay system work?

Answer: To find out more about the Danish pay system, click here. The information in the section beginning on page 21 is of particular relevance to pay negotiations.