Found out I get less money, should I say something?

LegacyUser

I recently started a new job, when I was offered the job I was told it was 9.65 an hour, I was making a lot more in my old job but as my contract was over and I couldnt be kept on I took this job thinking I can always look for something better. It was just to have an income,however I actually really like the job and dont want to leave. Only problem is I'm not making enough to live on. I accidentally found one of the payslips from the person I took over from and they earned 12e an hour for the exact same job. should I say something?

kjl

It's a tricky situation.

You agreed to work there for €9.65 / hour and now you want to get a 23% increase in your salary, most companies will either match an offer from another employer or give you a 10% bump per year.

You don't know how long the other person was in their job for, or that the particular payslip you found wasn't based on overtime.

Certainly approach your employer but unless you can justify a raise I wouldn't be banking on getting one.

username123

What someone else got paid is irrelevant to what you get paid.

You agreed to work for the 9.65 an hour. I doubt very much youd get anywhere bringing up a previous employees wage as justification for a raise for yourself. Perhaps that person started on less than 9.65 and hour and got raises along the way?

LegacyUser

shouldisaysomething wrote: »

I recently started a new job, when I was offered the job I was told it was 9.65 an hour, I was making a lot more in my old job but as my contract was over and I couldnt be kept on I took this job thinking I can always look for something better. It was just to have an income,however I actually really like the job and dont want to leave. Only problem is I'm not making enough to live on. I accidentally found one of the payslips from the person I took over from and they earned 12e an hour for the exact same job. should I say something?

HI - I work in payroll , Just a few points

1. Companies often take advantage of replacing some one to reduce costs ,

2. Equally people often either just make a mistake or pick a lower value - and if you raise the issue they may agree to increase it

3. The previous person might have "earned" a higher rate due to length of servie etc

4. regarding 3 above, if not already in your contract i would suggest at the very least you raise the idea of a salary review and get it included annually etc - so you can raise the topic after some service

5. How did you find the payslip - in a drawer, in an email address you now use ? if fairly innocent i woudl raise it bluntly "Sorry to have a query so soon but I've discovered previous guy/gal was earnign more than me - any reason I would not be on same rate"

6. If how you discovered it is less "innocent" - you can still raise it as above but just say it came to your notice and answer "rather not say" if pushed on how you know - be more vague about the actual rate just say "I became aware it was hifger" ( these things are often discovered thro canteen chat etc so they should not push it too much )

You can balance your real enthusiasm for the job with being paid fairly - employers are not p*ssed off by people looking for more money, at the very least it shows you have some back bone and self worth

Matteroffact

You are not there long enough to ask for more money. This would not look good. You could say something after about 3 months or when your first review comes up though.

iusedtoknow

So you accepted a position, signed a contract happily with a certain level of pay, and now you want to change the the goalposts? It won't fly with your manager and it is none of your business what another person earned. They could have been with the company a number of years, had more experience or simply negotiated well when they signed on.

Starting in a job and asking for a raise is not the way to go, especially if you are permanent and on probation for 6 months.

Wait it out until your review and then bring up the fact of a raise NOT the fact that you saw your predecessors pay slip.

toughapple

shouldisaysomething wrote: »

I recently started a new job, when I was offered the job I was told it was 9.65 an hour, I was making a lot more in my old job but as my contract was over and I couldnt be kept on I took this job thinking I can always look for something better. It was just to have an income,however I actually really like the job and dont want to leave. Only problem is I'm not making enough to live on. I accidentally found one of the payslips from the person I took over from and they earned 12e an hour for the exact same job. should I say something?

The same thing happened to my friend. She went and spoke to a manager. She was fired the following week!

kiffer

I would be careful how you raise this especially before you leave your probational period...
Make sure you get a review and ask them if they are happy with your work and so on if they say they are then at that point say "I've been in this position for the last 6 months, I've shown myself to be capable and valuable, now that we're moving into a permanent position I think a raise is in order." Maybe 5% Or something along those lines.
Then if needs be you can raise the point that they've said they are happy with your work, and you are given to believe that the previous person doing that job was getting paid over 12% more than you are so there's a history of paying more.
Be prepared to look for a new job. Also look for a new job.

Your wages aren't just based on the job you do, so a previous employee getting more than you is completely irrelevant. Things like previous experience, salary negotiation during the interview, and how much the employers want you are just some of the factors that come into wage calculation.

I earn €8.65 an hour, while my colleague (who does the exact same job as me, with arguably less responsibility than me too) earns €9 an hour. The reason for this difference? We discussed it once, and it seems to us that the only variable between us is that when she had her interview and salary expectations came up, she said she'd be looking for about 9 an hour, whereas I was so desperate for a job that when I was asked, I just said that I would expect to be paid at or above legal minimum wage. The company has no responsibility to pay me the same as her just because she managed to negotiate a better salary.

If you want a raise, ask for it. But ask for it because you think you deserve a raise, not because you think you deserve to be paid the same as someone else.

Est28

shouldisaysomething wrote: »

I recently started a new job, when I was offered the job I was told it was 9.65 an hour, I was making a lot more in my old job but as my contract was over and I couldnt be kept on I took this job thinking I can always look for something better. It was just to have an income,however I actually really like the job and dont want to leave. Only problem is I'm not making enough to live on. I accidentally found one of the payslips from the person I took over from and they earned 12e an hour for the exact same job. should I say something?

You took the job at the rate they offered so really, no, it won't stand well to you if you ask.

In most jobs where an hourly rate is applied anyway, the rate goes up over time. I started a job on mimimum wage once and over time was over 13 euro an hour by the time I left.
Chances are you are on the "starters" rate and they had been there longer.