Post # 1
Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
I was recently promoted at work and got about a $4,000 raise. I honestly thought it would be more, but I didn’t want to push the issue. I’m an admin and I basically replaced someone who moved to the same job different location. I just found out that she makes a whopping 19k more than me! Now she has been with the company 3 years, me only 9 months. I have a bachelors degree, she does not (but she did go to a tech school for administration). She also worked at another office before, so yes she’s been here longer and has more experience, but its the same freaking job and I don’t think its ok that she makes almost $20,000 more than me! The other issue is that the reason I found out was because I was “kind of” doing something I shouldn’t. My boss asked me to log on to his email and print off some things, when I did that I noticed an email that said, salary structure with my name on it, I clicked on it and saw that I am seriously at the lowest possible starting point. I have a degree and prior related experience and it seems like they didn’t even take that into account. Is this something that just sucks, or is there a way to bring this up? What would you do?
Post # 3
Member
3219 posts
Sugar bee
I would prob wait a few months and ask for a raise. But NOT mention anything about how much she makes just reasons why YOU should make more $
Post # 4
Member
2538 posts
Sugar bee
@mishelleez: That’s what I would try to do. I had something similar happen to me when I was an admin. It was annoying, but I let it slide for a while and proved myself.
Post # 5
Member
388 posts
Helper bee
That does suck. How comfortable are you speaking to your boss? If this is a recent promotion you could ask to speak to him/her and just ask, what is my pay based on because it seems like I’m doing way more work, or state your case for why a 4k raise isn’t enough. Even just asking what it was based on may give you more peace of mind. Maybe the person in the position before you has tons of experiece?
Post # 6
Member
1553 posts
Bumble bee
That does suck. And of course, you can’t let on that you know.
I agree with the previous posters that you should wait a bit and then request a raise, based on why you deserve it, not because others in the same job make more.
Sadly, in the private sector, pay doesn’t always make sense. She may make that much because she negotiated it when she was originally hired. She may have been making more in her previous job and told your employer she needed $X to make the move to your company.
Two of the admins where I work are paid much more than the others for just that reason. They both convinced my boss at the time he hired them that they were the one for the job and that they couldn’t afford to accept a lesser offer. When I asked him why the others aren’t paid as well (even with similar experience/education), he said, “They aren’t as good as negotiating.”
Post # 7
Member
1752 posts
Buzzing bee
I would wait. Wait until you’ve been there a year, or gotten more responsibilities & have shown that you are doing well in your position.
It gives you more leverage to ask for more money. You can say I deserve it because… and list the things you have done, the new roles you have taken on, etc. Rather than just comparing salaries.
Post # 8
Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
Let me add to the question. I haven’t signed my PAF yet (they haven’t created it yet, this is a very new promotion). Is it ok to bring it up when I’m precented the sheet? Or still wait?
Post # 9
Member
1184 posts
Bumble bee
take some time to prove yourself in the job, and then request a raise. explain that you can’t afford to stay at this low a pay grade. it’s costly and time-consuming to hire a replacement and they very well may be amenable to bumping you up a bit more. keep in mind that when this other woman was hired the economy was in better shape and she was probably offered a much higher starting salary, as opposed to when you were hired and they were cutting back everywhere.
Post # 10
Member
11325 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
What is your PAF? How did they tell you about the raise, did you negotiate about it? I have heard many times that one of the main reasons women make less than men is that we don’t negotiate for higher salaries but rather just accept what we’re given. If your’e still reasonably in the negotiation period, or if you never negotiated, I’d maybe ask for more.
Post # 11
Member
11325 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Oh and whatever you do… don’t tell them you got advice from weddingbee at 3:30pm on a workday… 🙂
Post # 12
Member
652 posts
Busy bee
I know you said that you both DO the same jobs. But does she have a different title? Is she an executive assistant? Typically, the pay difference between Admin and EA is 20K.
Post # 13
Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
@CorgiTales – I didn’t negotiate at all. I basically started last Monday 9/27. I was told they wanted to promote me but would have to get with HR to figure out my pay. I assumed I’d get about a 10k raise, as the new position is a much better position. I’ve also seen a lot of PAF’s for other people and have seen what their promotions were so a 10k raise isn’t crazy. My boss brought me in this morning and said, based on the average and everything this is what you make, sound good? I know I should have voiced a concern then but I just smiled and said sure. I found out what the other admin makes about an hour later. Also very good point about weddingbee 🙂 I’m clearly a hard worker!
@Violet Violet – It’s literally the exact same job, we just do it for two different people that also have the exact same job, title and everything.
Post # 14
Member
11325 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@MrsPinkPeony: if this just happened this morning, i think you are well within your rights to go talk to him again. Tell him you have been thinking about the raise you discussed this morning and you feel that X would be a more fair number. The worst he can do is say no— it isn’t like you’ll get fired for asking for a raise.
Post # 15
Member
335 posts
Helper bee
She does have 2 years and 3 months of seniority over you….how do you think she would feel if “the girl that started working here only 9 months ago” was making the same amount as she is? I am just playing devil’s advocate here.
And I am sorry, but it really irks me when people start throwing around their degrees and imply that they are worthier than those who do not have any. My Sister is one who is ALWAYS saying she cannot believe that my Brother and I make as much money as she does because she has a BA & an MA and a blah blah blah…. Obviously we developed and have great work skills in other fields and our employers believe we are worth every penny…with a degree or no degree. So while she was in school for years studying to get those degrees, we were already in the workforce working our asses off and building up our work experience. To imply that this doesn’t or shouldn’t matter is ludicrous. (meant at my annoying sis not the OP)
Post # 16
Member
3762 posts
Honey bee
I think you need to get some more work experience and time at the company before you say anything else. Right now just be thankful you got a $4k increase!
