I discovered through casual conversation that my teammate earns substantially more than I do, even though we have the same title, experience level, and workload. It's been eating at me for weeks. I want to advocate for myself, but I'm nervous about how to start that conversation with HR or my supervisor. Any advice?

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I know it’s a frustrating place to be in and I’ve been there. Just a note that if the colleague hasn’t worked there as long as you… Their salary might be as a result of competitive recruiting when it comes to top talent and unfortunately a lot of companies fail to ensure that yearly raises keep pace with jumps in market demand or inflation, especially in fast-growing fields.


Now, as far as your question, I’d reach out to your supervisor via email and say something like

“I’ve been reflecting on my contributions and responsibilities in my role and would like to better understand how my compensation aligns with my value to the company and market standards. I’d appreciate the opportunity to have a conversation about my current salary and potential for adjustment.”

And if they come back with a no after the conversation or a $ that doesn’t meet your expectations… try saying

“Thank you for your response. I want to be transparent, I’m aware that colleagues in the same role, with comparable experience and workload, are being compensated at a significantly higher rate. I’m not looking to compare myself for the sake of it, but I do believe in fair and equitable compensation. I’d appreciate clarity on what factors determine salary differences within our team, because I want to ensure I’m being valued appropriately for the work I do.”


Good luck !

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Love this. 90% of this - but the tone is a little off unless you are utterly indispensable to the team (rolling in with “I want to ensure I’m being valued appropriately for the work I do” is rough if you’re not a top-tier performer - and it’s not about the work you do, but the value you bring).

Lose the “I believe in fair and equitable compensation” and change your final sentence to “can you clarify what I need to do to be valued at the same level?”

That should help.

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