An award-winning team of journalists, designers, and videographers who tell brand stories through Fast Company’s distinctive lens. Leaders who are shaping the future of business in creative ways. New workplaces, new food sources, new medicine—even an entirely new economic. While some companies are embracing a culture where all salaries are transparenthow much your colleagues make is still an uncomfortable topic in most offices. And while a lot goes into determining individuals compensation packages, finding out that a mew in a junior position makes more than you do can plant the seeds of dissatisfaction that are difficult to uproot. So what do you mzking Confront your boss?
Where the Problem Starts
I work at a small office and we have lost two employees this year…. I decided to discuss this with my boss and this did not go particularly well. In that case I said I would be giving notice. My boss asked me to reconsider and she would think about raising my salary in 6 months. She asked me to think about it and let her know Monday. So my question is, how have others in similar circumstances dealt with a situation like this? Any advice for me? When the experienced worker requested a raise, the boss essentially said no and justified the high pay for the new worker by saying the position was hard to fill. If the boss is telling the full truth about the reason for hiring the new worker, then if the experienced one quits as well, it will cost the company significantly. Not only would they have to hire someone at the higher rate of the new worker, there would also be costs associated with training, plus the loss of productivity associated with moving from an old hand to a new one. In this case, it pays to play hardball. It makes business sense for that person to pay Bea at least the same as the new worker if she requests it.
Your Approach to Hiring Is All Wrong
For some jobs, the external market value increases faster than company salary levels, so employers must offer more to recruit such candidates, says Barbara Vietor, a compensation consultant in San Francisco. Vietor says. Sometimes, applicants can demand more because they have skills current employees lack, says Fred J. This is common in technical or engineering fields, says Mr. Younger hires might earn more than older, more experienced employees since they have more up-to-date knowledge and skills, he says. Skill shortages also cause external pay to rise. This is currently true for financial professionals and nurses, who are being paid more than existing staffers to join organizations, says Ms. He advises meeting with your supervisor to ask why the new recruit earns more. Your boss may say the increase was justified to attract someone with skills the company needs.
Don’t Freak Out After Discovering a Coworker Brings Home a Bigger Paycheck
You feel demoralized, insulted by your not-such-a-great friend employer, and resentful of your coworker. Stay calm and follow these steps. Your gut reaction might be to gripe about the situation to your manager or fellow coworkers, but take a step back to thoroughly think about it. As frustrating as it is, there might be fair reasons why your coworker earns more than you. Perhaps the market value or demand for the job has risen since you were hired, so the company had to offer more to newer applicants. Psychologist Art Markman says on Forbes :. While there is always the chance that this is related to gender, it may also reflect market forces. Right now, for example, the economy is good, and so there is a lot of competition for new talent. As a result, companies may need to offer high starting salaries to attract new hires. If you were hired in a softer job market, then you may have gotten a lower offer, because that was what the market would support.
Fast Company
By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy , Privacy Policy , and our Terms of Service. I have a very solid experience in Software Development and Project Management, and I just learned that the company I work for has posted a new position that requires half the experience and a lesser set of skills than I have. This new position pays the same salary as my current salary, while at the same time they declined to pay this same salary to me when I was joining the company. First and most important, get over the idea that salary is going to be fair. New people often make more than existing employees because they have to offer that level to get new employees because that is what the market is now charging. Once you are an employee, they know they have you and don’t have the need to offer more because you were already willing to work for less. Yes this is short-sighted and it results in lots of the best employees moving on. But as long as MBAs think that anyone not a senior manager is an interchangeable part, this will continue to happen. They aren’t worried that you will leave because chances are that you won’t and if you do and they have to pay the new person more than you were getting, well that is the same as giving you a pay raise only there might be several months when they get work out of you while you are looking where they don’t have to pay that, so it is cheaper in their minds to get a new employee if they are going to have to eventually pay that rate anyway. So now you get around 69K. In the meantime, it’s gotten harder to fill postions and new employees won’t accept new jobs unless they get substantial payraises. So if you were looking for a new job, you might want K. So will the people who are replacing you if you leave. So to fill a new postion they have to offer say 78K which is way more than you make and the person isn’t as experienced as you are and certainly doesn’t have your intimate knowledge of the current software.
Should you use your knowledge of your coworker’s higher salary in your own negotiations for a raise?
I would think that my years of experience should speak for. Hirds go to your boss or supervisor and ask for a raise. No kidding! Make a plan for how you are going to ask for this raise. You know your boss and the personal dynamics of your work situation, so keep that in mind as you strategize how to go about. Do you think you should point out that you know the new hires are making more money than you are? Do you need to put something in writing that points out all that you do for the company? Toot your own horn.
Do you think the face-to-face approach works best with your boss? Plan for that in-person meeting but carry with you your written request for a raise.
Be sure to leave that on their desk after your conversation. Are you willing to take on new tasks and new responsibilities assuming, of course, that your current job allows time for them? Taking on a new task can be as simple as keeping office supplies stocked or helping shred new hires making more money or tidying up the break room; or it makung be more involved and specific to your job.
Find something more you can do for the company that you know your boss will value. If your request for a raise goes unanswered, keep a good attitude about things at work and continue to nes in a professional way, hites, assert yourself and after a period of time, ask for that raise again! All Rights Reserved.
World War I forever changed human reliance on fossil fuels such as petroleum. This product, consider January 19, Makng. Toggle navigation. New Hires Making More Money? What strategy neew work best with your boss? How can you raise your confidence and assertiveness before this meeting?
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Most innovative compensation technology backed by the most experienced team in the industry. Buy our surveys. Learn. Get a Live Demo. For the most part, you and your colleagues get along fairly. That is, with the exception of one team member, who does the least amount of work possible. Ironically, you discovered the same colleague also makes the same amount of money as you. Are the two of you in the exact same job with matching job responsibilities? Do you have the same education level? Perhaps your coworker has a higher degree, extra certification, or more years of experience. Your first thought was probably to ask for a miney. But make sure you go in armed with the right information. Did you negotiate makijg when you were hired? But before you go in and try to remedy that, do some research. But either way, you should have a target and a plan before you go in for the negotiation.
Maintain the Proper Perspective
I organized everything and made the company office something everyone in the field could depend on. I am called the Office Manger; but I do everything and basically am the President’s right hand except for the construction. Now his wife has brought in her old employee at a lot more than I’m making and she has had to learn everything about our business. New hires making more money had to teach her, as well as do my job. I’m devastated as well as disappointed that I’ve worked hours a week at making this a great office and have gotten nothing in return. Things are tight at the company, but so are they at my house. How can I get this raise and keep the job I really love too? There are several big no-nos of asking for a raise, and unfortunately you’ve mentioned two miney .
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