Work advice - colleague gets paid more than me

dashdoll

Hi folks.

Would love to hear people's takes on this one and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I joined an organisation one year ago - mid-senior role on a fixed term contract. Iv since been offered permanency which I'm delighted with as I'm overall with happy in the role but a person on my team with the exact same job title as me and the exact same qualifications and years of experience is getting paid more than me. I'm obviously not meant to know this but the reason that I do is that I spoke to her frankly before I took the role as we know each other a number of years having trained together in professional services. Our CVs are literally identical in terms of qualifications and experience etc so it's not that I'm nitpicking or jealous of someone who gets paid more than me who is more qualified. I dont know exactly how much more she is paid than me...im guessing between 5 to 10k and this is based on comments to do with our salary in a previous role but is definitely above mine. I didn't dispute it when I joined as I was looking for work mid pandemic and was relieved to get the role. It is a large company for reference.

I suppose I'm wondering if there is any way I can raise it at this point without sounding petty or that we've been discussing salaries. I thought there was such as thing as equal pary for equal work but obviously not. The other person in question joined approx a year before me so not too long.

I'm thinking maybe if I'm talking HR about a new contract I could say something like will my salary be reviewed now that I'm being made permanent to be put in line with the standard or something to that effect or maybe enquire about bands?

Tbh I don't even know if I should broach it but I'm hoping to get a mortgage in the next 6 to 12 months so every little helps. Maybe an offer of permanency doesn't give me free reign to negotiate...I have no idea. It would be really helpful to hear if anyone has experienced anything similar or has any advice about how to approach this without sounding like an asshole or crossing the line!

Thanks in advance.

Enter name here

Yes definitely discuss with your line manager or HR. They should be extremely happy to know you and other members of staff have been discussing confidential salary matters at a mid-senior role.

On a serious note though, you remuneration is based on what you can negotiate or what the company sees your worth. Stating what market rates and other members are earning shows that you are unhappy with the current arrangement and may seek to move on, therefor companies will not go out on a limb for someone unless they have something substantial to bring to the table or offer.

dashdoll

Well we broadly discussed salary before I joined but as I said exact figures have not been discussed and certainly not since I joined.

Enter name here

Are you having a salary discussion before contract signing or just being given contract to sign?

YellowLead

You accepted the role at the salary you were offered and frankly it’s none of your business what your colleagues earn. They were hired at different times and negotiated differently. It’s not public sector (I assume).

I get it must be frustrating - but your only there on a contract? If you feel you should be paid more then explain to your manager or HR why, but defintely don’t mention it’s because your colleague earns more, but that it’s down to the quality of the work you produce etc etc.

piplip87

Your colleague may have identical experience, job title and CV but seems like they have better negotiation skills.

You say she is there a year more than you so maybe the starting salary was the same but she had a salary review ?

Id ask for a salary review meeting and try to negotiate a better pay packet

ted1

How long have they been with the company for?

its pretty standard, that people in the organisation will be on a different salary.

our place operates band. , with a -+15% swing either side of the band. 2 people who started at the same time will be on different salaries after a few years , as one will have performed better.

CPTM

In my experience the easiest way unfortunately is to get a job offer from another company with a higher salary. Your colleagues, even if they're doing the same job, will always behave subtle differences (including but not limited to good fortune) which will get them higher salaries. HR will never talk to you about someone else's setup.

Most efficient way I think is to get yourself valued by another company, and bring it to your current company. If it doesn't work out, you could always just move company.

JimmyAlfonso

Discussing your salary is not confidential. Many employers would like you go think it is though

Strumms

Could have been a leverage situation … the colleague was the only suitable candidate or head and shoulders above the competition so they had bargaining leverage and used it.

spaceHopper

I would not bring the other person into it, just say you have been working there for a year and would like to review your salary. Make the case you are paid below market rate....

Don't forget things like pension and health insurance, were they part of your contract, now that you are permanent will they be paid?

At the end of the day if you don't get what you want and leave they either higher somebody with less experience that you for about what you are paid now or a little bit less or somebody like you but at the market rate in hot job market so for more. If you do get another job, don't play one against the other just leave and take it.

Big Bag of Chips

You can't, or at least shouldn't negotiate your salary based on what your colleague is getting. You negotiate your salary based on what you think you are worth to the company, and what you can offer them. Your colleague negotiated. You didn't.

You've been offered a permanent role. Now is your perfect opportunity to negotiate a higher salary. But do not mention "I know Mary is paid more than me, so I want to be paid the same". Lay out why you think you're worth more. Do you think you're worth more? Were you happy with your salary before speaking to your colleague?

Big Bag of Chips

Moved from Personal Issues to Work Problems.

pjdarcy

It's pretty simple OP:

You have a set of skills that you're trying to get paid as much as possible for.

The company is looking to employ someone with a particular set of skills for as little money as possible.

So you shouldn't feel bad or awkward about renegotiating your salary if you feel that your skills are worth more than you're being paid. It's just business.

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118981731#Comment_118981731

Confidential meaning the company can't reveal your salary to others. There's no confidentiality to shield companies from employees sharing information and bargaining on that basis.

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118982837#Comment_118982837

I agree they shouldn't mention it explicitly but of course it is a factor. Unless you are some kind of irreplaceable specialist whose job no else can do you are ultimately in a fungible role and what Mary is getting is what they are willing to pay for that role.

HildaOgdenx

Tbh I don't even know if I should broach it...

Yes, you should, imo. You have nothing to lose. Do some homework beforehand, have a good look at what the package is. As mentioned upthread, are there provisions for health benefits, pension and so on? Ask about bands and salary reviews.

My personal mantra is always to focus just on myself, and my situation. I never mention colleagues and what they might or not be paid. So as I say, my advice is do your research and ask your questions as they pertain to you, and you only. The employer would probably be surprised if you didn't ask such questions.

Best of luck.

BronsonTB

OP - You'll find that's normal enough in most companies in the private sector.

Exprience, qualifications, length of service all factor in wages varying between employees in the same organisation.

Alot of news recently about how wage gaps even differ between male & female too.

dashdoll

Thanks everyone for the advice, some solid perspectives there abd very much appreciated. I was never going to reference my colleagues salary when speaking to HR so won't won't down that route. I dont get healthcare paid and when I joined on contract I had asked for an allowance for this which they did build in so I think it would be fair enough to raise that point to ask if it could be built into my permanent salary. Ie the 3k before tax I got when I joined for that purpose if I could have a 3k increase in base salary going forward for that reason.

bitofabind

Learn to negotiate and negotiate everything. Next time you book into a hotel, ask for an upgrade. Negotiate give/gets in the workplace - if I do this for you, can you help me out with that. Read "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss. Take a negotiation course. Too many people lack this skillset and it is literally life-changing.

New contract, new opportunity to negotiate. "I'll be happy to accept this position on the condition I receive a salary increase in line with the value I bring to the organisation" Ask for 20 percent, you might land at 5-10% if it goes well. Build leverage - interview elsewhere, push to get offers, see what the market offers you.

I got asked to pivot positions at work recently, after 6 months in the company, I said yes if you pay me to reflect the value this new position plays to the company's growth. Base salary doesn't cut it, I can make twice that elsewhere. I got a 25% raise.

Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate.

Horn_of_Africa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058243405/work-advice-colleague-gets-paid-more-than-me

It's between you and your employer to negotiate the terms of your contract.

joeguevara

How do you know that they are telling the truth? (Not that I’m saying they are not) But if going to a salary discussion immediately after accepting offer (which I wouldn’t recommend)

she also could have her partners tax credits, or additional weekend work, or been there longer. If you are happy with your salary then no issue. If you’re not then you have two options negotiate an increase or bide your time, get a new job and leave.

kennethsmyth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118981731#Comment_118981731

Salaries should be open and transparent - any other way only benefits the company, there are laws to allow discussion of salaries.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119754878#Comment_119754878

Which laws?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119754878#Comment_119754878

If your salary is known to everyone, then you have much less scope to negotiate a higher salary with a new employer, they would know what your currant wage is. Also, it could have a downward effect on wages in difficult times as employers would point to what employees are paid in other companies and attempt to reduce pay.

kennethsmyth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119759082#Comment_119759082

Really? Seems to work very well in Norway. All salaries are public knowledge and they are paid well. Again its only in the employers interest to keep salaries unknown.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119762923#Comment_119762923

If it is "only in the employers interest", then why do I as an employee absolutely do not want everybody knowing my salary? Am I secretly my own employer?

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119762923#Comment_119762923

I do not want anyone knowing my personal information.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119763006#Comment_119763006

What exactly is personal abouit?

Your name, address, phone number, ppsn .. all identify you. Your salary is just a metric, like your height, weight, and shoe size. Lots of other people have the same value. And there is no law saying you salary is private.

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119763220#Comment_119763220

What are you on about?

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119762923#Comment_119762923

Still waiting for you to back up your claim that there are laws to allow for salary discussions....

While it might be in your interest, it certainly has never been in my interest that my income was public knowledge, it were I would be at a disadvantage in negotiating by renumeration.

northknife

What I'd like to know is can a company take disciplinary action against employees if they discuss and show their salaries to each other. Most companies have this threat in their procedures, but are they legal/lawful?

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119764519#Comment_119764519

I'm not aware of any laws to forbid it, either. At least not in Ireland.

Salary transparency was a buzzword maybe 5 years ago. Haven't heard if it recently, but it is preferred in some companies - and forbidden in others.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119764847#Comment_119764847

Your contract of employment, and the laws which apply to contracts, may forbid it.

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119764960#Comment_119764960

You cannot contract out of certain rights and obligations. That's just a general point. I'm not saying it is relevant to the OP.

For example, a non-compete clause you signed might be subsequently found to be unconstitutional if it were found that it denied your right to earn a living. In which case it would not be enforceable.

There might indeed be valid reasons why a company wouldn't want certain things to be disclosed.

kennethsmyth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119764519#Comment_119764519

Only saw your post now. Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to prevent employees from having discussions with other employees to establish if there are differences in pay. However, an employer can require its employees to keep pay rates confidential from people outside of the workplace.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119768645#Comment_119768645

Isn’t that a UK law?

Cyrus

In summary OP what anyone else is getting paid is neither here nor there. You go in and make a case for what you should be getting paid based on what your worth to the company is or what your equivalent would get paid elsewhere.

generally you get nothing if you don’t ask so make sure to ask.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119764847#Comment_119764847

Neither am I, but the the previous poster made a statement to that effect.