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Compensation question.

#21
It's like the stupid deals on cable TV for new subscribers. They already got me to sign up so they won't give me 3 free months of cable. I have been paying them every month for years and some new guy comes along and gets a better deal. It's not really fair but it's what happens.

You can try to push for equal pay to the new guys. Depending on how you approach your boss, You just may get it. But you'd better be damn sure you're as good as (or better than) these new hires or you'll possibly be looking for a new job.

For all you know the new guys are better negotiators. I once took a job where almost everyone was making a different amount. We were sales people and some were better at negotiating their compensation package than others. I felt stupid when one guy told me the "Deal" he made to get hired.
 
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#22
Indiana Mike said:
Its complicated for me. Part me says leave it alone. Part of me says don't, because it will fester and affect my attitude, which apparently it already has.

I have no choice but to bring it up as I cant let it go without negativity. At least in the current moment.


Thanks for your input.
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Look at the whole picture before you make any decisions. I had a great job in a small research department at a University. Because the department was small, my options to advance within my department were limited and, after several years of feeling unappreciated, I took a job that advanced my title in another, much larger department.

Sounds great, right? Well, sadly, the new job was a title advancement, but in terms of how the new department treated someone in that rank, it was a huge step backwards. I'd had my own office, the respect of my colleagues, and complete autonomy over my work process in my previous job, and in the new position I was sharing an office with two other people and had a micromanaging boss who thought she knew more about my job than I did, but didn't, and I was treated like a glorified intern. It was horrid, and after spending several months trying to find another position in the university I finally took early retirement just to get away from that supervisor and the messes she created.

So be cautious if, and only if, you find you have a lot to like in your current position. The grass is not always greener.
 
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#26
LBS-bass said:
Look at the whole picture before you make any decisions. I had a great job in a small research department at a University. Because the department was small, my options to advance within my department were limited and, after several years of feeling unappreciated, I took a job that advanced my title in another, much larger department.

Sounds great, right? Well, sadly, the new job was a title advancement, but in terms of how the new department treated someone in that rank, it was a huge step backwards. I'd had my own office, the respect of my colleagues, and complete autonomy over my work process in my previous job, and in the new position I was sharing an office with two other people and had a micromanaging boss who thought she knew more about my job than I did, but didn't, and I was treated like a glorified intern. It was horrid, and after spending several months trying to find another position in the university I finally took early retirement just to get away from that supervisor and the messes she created.

So be cautious if, and only if, you find you have a lot to like in your current position. The grass is not always greener.
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Sometimes the greener grass is actually painted dirt. Learned this already.
 
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#29
Indiana Mike said:
Sometimes the greener grass is actually painted dirt. Learned this already.
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There's definitely a lot to be said for staying in a place where you know all the "dirt", and who's who. I think every company has its own issues that they've slapped fresh paint over, though. Having worked for places as small as 9 (and being the 9th employee) up through 60,000+, it happens everywhere :).
 
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#30
I'm kind of in the camp that it's not my business what my coworkers make. But I do hear where you're coming from and if I was in private sector and discovered what you did, I'd probably be unhappy, especially considering how it impact retirement - I know that every single one of my paycheck decisions revolves around that target. You could always quit and interview for your job... :whistle:

One thing to keep in mind is that it's possible they are being paid a higher salary in exchange for a lesser benefits package. I don't know the size of your company or depth of your ranks. In my public sector world, people in different union bargaining units or classifications will have different compensation packages.

It's certainly worth a chat with your super to clarify what's going on...
 
#31
mrcbass said:
One thing to keep in mind is that it's possible they are being paid a higher salary in exchange for a lesser benefits package. I don't know the size of your company or depth of your ranks. In my public sector world, people in different union bargaining units or classifications will have different compensation packages.
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Yup. As a hiring manager and working closely with HR on this, we look at "total comp" - salary, stock options/RSUs, bonuses (annual, one-time, sign on, or any blend of the above), 401k, health, etc. So you may have a higher TC than the new hires, but lower base salary.
 
#32
Indiana Mike said:
If you found out your employer was hiring people with the same or less skillset for higher compensation than your receiving would you be upset? What would you do?

We are talking a discrepancy of at least $5000 a year.

It's time to have a talk I do believe.:mad:
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This happens a lot in universities and government jobs. There are periodic efforts to even things up but it doesn't hurt to point out the problem and ask for an adjustment.
 
#33
Having had a career that started during a deep recession and the beset by recession since then, I am 100% sure my income is lower than others. Not just now but since the beginning. It is what it is. My wife and I have done just fine anyway. It is a matter of figuring out what you can do with what you have. And not worry about it, especially if you actually like your job. Several of my colleagues could easily make more somewhere else. So could I at this point. We stay because the work and environment are worth more than the added compensation. If I hated my job, I would have moved on five years or more ago.
 
#34
Lots of things to consider before a discussion with the head shed...

Not going to list a bunch of stuff but put yourself in the individual's shoes you will be talking with and think of what questions THEY will ask and how you will answer them, BEFORE you talk with them. You will have to make your case and if not prepared to answer or explain yourself with concrete points, expect to lose the negotiation.

Be prepared. Have your ducks in a row, i's dotted, and t's crossed when you walk in....

The ultimate decision is yours whether to stand up. Be prepared to live with the consequences too...

Part of being prepared is realistically planning for best case / worst case scenarios in advance....

Your call on what you do...
 

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