I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if they found a proper way to handle it. To my suprise my sister called me today to tell me that she is starting a position at the same company as me. She didn't realize she'd started work for the same bank until she seen my name on the telephone list. She will be working in the same dept doing the same kind of work and low and behold I come to find out that after 3 years with this company she is starting at more than a dollar more an hour than I am currently making. She has absolutly no experience in this line of work (i didn't when I started either, however I did have office/ computer experience which she does not have)infact not to sound maliciouse but she hasn't even held a job down for more than a year for probably her whole life. So while I realize this sort of thing is taboo in the work place I am close with a few of the girls here and as it turns out she is making more than all of us, some with college degrees and years of finance experience. Then I come to find out one of the temps here started at more than a $1 more per hour. My title comes with a number deligation ex. I am a mutual fund rep 3, new hires come in as a mutual fund rep 1 or sometimes 2.... I am considered a senior rep, but am finding out that people comming in with no experience who I am expected to train are making more money than me. I am very upset and feel there should be someone I can complain to without getting my sister fired or anyone else I discussed this with today. One of my co-workers warned me to be careful because she was written up at a previouse job for discussing wages. When did a matter of politeness and personal buisness become grounds to be fired. If I feel comfortable discussing my own personal finances with a co-worker I should be able to. And for that matter unless they have something to hide they shouldn't care. I feel this is a total stab in the back I have worked hard and taken on many extra projects to be promoted to my positon and wage why should a new hire with no experience that i will be expected to train make more money? Has this happen to anyone? How did you deal with it? I feel like quitting and comming back next week. I would if that would not leave me and my family without medical coverage for 3 mos. Also I should mention that it would not be appropriate for me to ask for another raise at this time. Just last month I recvd a raise and bonus. How can a company bring new people in and pay them more than the senior reps that they have doing all the extra work? Lastly I'd like to add I'm in no way a "slacker" I am considered a model employee.
I really appreciate everyones responses, I'm still very angry, but I guess all that I can do is suck it up or find a new job... To my knowledge management may have their eyes on me for a promotion in the next few months and I have a family to provide for so for now I will wait to see how that pans out. Thanks again
Hi M.,
It sounds like to me that you are OVER QUALIFIED for this position....I would put my "private resume" out there and see if there's more money in a higher position....but never quit a job until you have another one lined up.
Good Luck!
J. In Lakeland,MN
I would forget abou the fair wages issue and focus on the fact that this is your sister. Talk to yur sister and let her know yur concern that you will be waorking together, which is most likely not goin to fly with policy and she can be reassigned to another area/department and preferablly another location. After the issue of working in the same department is cleared up then you could approach human resources to confiendentailly discuss yur cncerns in the wage discrepency that yu learned of because of your sister's new job with the company. Be happy your sister was offered a job, she too must be grateful. I can delfinately understand your frustration over someone with less experience and education coming in making more $ than you...there may be more to the story, you'll have to find that out in a calm way that doen't rock the boat, but you do have a right to know, maybe just not from yur sister.
I would keep your feelings to yourself, why risk losing a great job with benefits? You're going to need them with your children. you do not know what lies ahead, perhaps there is a new project you can really show your skills and strengths.
I would suggest you start looking for another higher paying job at another bank. The company you work for has no obligation to pay you more than the new hires. It is company policy that you not discuss your wage so that you don't find this kind of bad news out. Once you have another job offer you may ask you current employer to offer you a higher salary to keep you but chances are they wont. When this happened to me I trained it the new woman who make five dollars an hour more than me with no experience an no college degree and I had to just suck it up and stick with it. Now I am a stay at home Mom. The other thing you could do is ask for a pay increase because of the extra work and the training of new hires, but don't tell them you were discussing your wage with others it will only cause you problems. Best of luck.
A.
I would have to say that you are in a tough place. However it is a huge deal to discuss how much you make with anyone on the job. However irritating that may be I would find a job that would pay you for your experience. This company obviously doesnt care how long you have been there and are willing to hire people with no experience for a wage more then a qualified person with years of experience on the job. Anyway my advise stop talking at work, things get started and your name could get drug into something that could get you fired. Find a new Job!!!!!! Good luck and keep us posted
First of all, you're in a really tough situation and I wish you the best of luck.
Does your sister know how much you make? That would irritate me, as well. However, it is standard company policy to not discuss wages in any workplace for the exact reason of what you're going through.
If I were you, I would start looking for another place to work, get an offer, and take that to your manager. If they give you what the other company would (more than what they're starting your sister at) then you can decide to take the new one or leave it. DO NOT mention the wage difference between your and new hire's wages...especially so soon after your sister started working there.
However, if you stay, even with the new salary, you will have to watch what you do and say more closely as you will be looked upon as someone who will always be looking for greener pastures. With your sister being there, it could cause real problems -- not just in the workplace, but in your personal relationship as well.
If you do go to work somewhere else, you will more than likely get more money and then you can thank your sister for helping you improve your situation instead of making you miserable with your current situation...that didn't seem too unsatisfactory until you found out about the wage differences.
It's unfortunate that people have to change jobs/companies in order to be paid what they are worth, but it's a fact of life in today's world. Instead of being smiled upon for dedication and longevity at a company, you're basically taken advantage of and looked at as either stupid, or not very ambitious. That's not true for ALL companies, but the better majority of them.
That's all the "wisdom" I can come up with for now...I wish you all the best.
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Be careful about compairing wages. Firstly,...it's not her "fault" that she makes more than you. It's your management that you should be angry with. If you are truely a valued employee, then you should have a chat with your superior regarding your quality of work. This is about you...not everyone else and what they make. If you feel that you are underpaid for your work, then you should ask to be compinsated for it. I'd do my best to drop the additude towards the employee who makes more than you do or your boss will see right through it...he/she knows what each of their employees make and I'm sure is well aware that the new person is getting paid more than you and if you start fishing around with him/her, they'll play dumb and it could backfire on you for discussing wages. Also, she is family...you should be happy for her...if you were in her shoes, I bet you'd be happy about getting a well paying job with no experience. Try not to hold it against her...your beef is with your boss. I'd schedule something with your supv. and see where it goes. If you still don't get anywhere, consider going somewhere else where your skills will be appreciated and compinsated properly. Good luck.
M.,
I totally agree with the other girls here. Keep your comments to yourself - don't even discuss them with HR. It will come back to bite you. (And DON'T discuss it with co-workers. Angry words FLY very quickly!)
Take your knowledge, your experience and go elsewhere. You KNOW what you can do and you KNOW what the going rate is - so go get your new job!!!!!!!
D.
milwaukee
