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Enthusiast
Rising Star
Andor is really, really good.
Conversation Starter
Rising Star
I’ve read all the comments and agree with what you’ve been told so far about trying to true up and making sure they benchmark on value delivered.
Having been where you are - except the colleague you now scorn was at the time my best friend making 50% more - taking the long term perspective has helped me ease the sting of feeling undervalued in the past.
I’ve come to appreciate having a higher “value delivered to employment cost” ratio. When my early employers went through downsizing, I’ve always been the last person standing. I’ve made up the difference in continuity paychecks, it’s easier to find a job when you have one, and you generally build a tremendous reputation. I’ve leveraged that reputation into a job where I feel appropriately valued for what I do and far out earn those who I previously worked with that had less of a value to cost ratio.
Here’s what I did.
1) Document everything. All your tasks and responsibilities. Try to be impartial. I broke mine down year over year. Number of projects, workstreams, size of team led, certifications, how much time with client leadership, client feedback etc. things that can be quantified. Sometimes people need to be reminded of your value add.
2) Provide to your career counselor and/or practice leads. The higher you can get it to a senior leadership level, the better. Be clear that you don’t think you are getting the market rate given your skills and responsibilities. Ask them what they think the next steps you need to take. Have them work with you and HR to get you a fair deal.
3) Apply to jobs. Even if you want to stay, do this, trust me it will help syphon off that negative energy a bit.
4) Take time off. Honestly, I was ready to take a blow torch to all my bridges. I was miserable, unproductive and downright mean. I had nothing but bile and vitriol for my entire team, including the poor analysts following up on deliverables I could no longer care less about. I took two weeks off and didn’t check email or do anything during those two weeks. I was slightly less angry - but even that little bit helped.
It took about two months but not only did I get my pay adjusted. I also got promoted and a nice raise due to that, turns out no one was really keeping track of how much I was doing except me.
Chief
This unfortunately happens more often than you think, oftentimes management and HR are oblivious to it. Bring it up professionally, but don’t lose your temper. Accept that although your employer may want to adjust it, their hands may be tied by internal policy and bureaucracy. If that’s the case, be prepared to leave.
Feelings are totally justified. The two steps you take are what P1 said. Ask for a comp raise as soon as possible
Thank u for sayin this! I had a mgr that was in ur position and they took it out on me in very hateful ways. total abuse of power. it wasnt my fault that I was paid more than them. They should have addressed it on thier own or found another role. It was very traumatic for me to be in that position. I do understand your anger and I can appreciate your need to address it. I would be angry too! You are human. But acknowledging that it's not the fault of your team is helpful to me. How I was treated still does a number on me! I do hope that you get the compensation that you deserve. This is awful all around.
Happened to me as well and the peer was making 40k more than I did. When I did go to HR they said they would look into it and it came back that we are both “in range”… which is BS. I ended up leaving the company and then asking for 40k more in my next role (and got it)
Enthusiast
Start looking for another job. In the meantime, ask HR for a comp rate analysis.
Thanks P1. I did #2 which prompted all this mess to begin with.
Also actively looking for a job now.
I think the feelings are natural and justified in some sense (not the anger towards your colleagues though). I’d recommend just taking a couple of days off, process this and basically be mentally ready to quit as soon as you have a new job lined up. It’s fine to be mentally checked out, you cannot be 100% all the time anyway.
Chief
Your feelings are valid. It’s ok to be mentally checked out. I’d encourage you to start looking outside your firm and not put all your eggs in one basket (by staying where you’re currently working at). The job market is pretty hot right now.
Chief
Have you asked internally to bring you up to the current market level? If they say no start looking.
Enthusiast
Have you told your bosses that you know what other people are making? I’d flat out tell them and list the responsibilities you have that are even more than your peers and say you would like to be compensated at least as much as them, but likely more since you do more/have been there longer, otherwise it won’t be economically possible for you to remain at your current firm with your current workload.
Pro
First of all I'd definitely ask HR for a comp revision, and ask to a raise to match the TC.
That being said, are you sure about your peer doing half the work you do?
Pro
Well, if what you're saying is true, might be a good idea to have an open talk with your manager/leadership ASAP. If they don't value you, I'd start to apply to another company, cause it would be clear that they're nothing valuing - and shame on them for it.
Take a look at similar positions in other firms, I'm pretty sure you could get a referral here to help you
Rising Star
Consider what feelings you’re emphasizing. I was in a similar situation but instead of focusing on the unfairness, I looked at it as a lesson on American capitalism. It’s harder to be angry when you think the other people played the game better than you.
The days of employers having some sort of fiduciary duty to employees to be compensated fairly are long gone. The rules are that you need to negotiate and use every available lever to get the best compensation package possible. Unfortunately this is the morality of our society, where we encourage people to fend for themselves (while advocating for fairness).
Aside from the other advice people have given you, start dropping numbers to anchor expectations. If the data is publicly available it won’t be a breach of trust to point leadership to what can be found by a Google search.
Enthusiast
I often wonder why people complain about this. You accepted the offer because it was the best offer you had at that time. 1. Peers lie about pay 2. HR already knows where you sit in band, doubt they randomly level you up w/o a competing offer. Your only true option is to leave, but the grass isn’t always greener. Many aspects to a job outside of pay.
Enthusiast
It’s a good post. You’re in an unfortunate situation, however without a competing offer it’s unlikely they are going to significantly update your salary.
Conversation Starter
OMG I was here. Do research on your market value and the value (in $$) you bring to the firm. Say pay me my worth or I'm out.
Just curious (sorry if you previously shared) - how did you find out what your peers are making?