To wonder if manager did this deliberately

[Eastie77Returns]

I had my annual pay review today over a call. My manager opened the document up on a shared screen and began talking me through it. It was immediately clear to me I was looking at someone else’s document and the base pay was completely different to mine. Overall this person is paid £80k more than me. I was so stunned at this discrepancy I could not register what my manager was saying to me. After a few minutes she ‘realised’ the mistake and shut down the document.

She is usually meticulous and can’t believe this was an error so I think for some reason she wants me to know. She made a point of telling me at the start of the call that she had just finished ‘Jane’s’ pay review (my colleague) so I don’t know if I’m suppose to conclude this is Jane’s pay.

Needless to say I am job hunting.

I am so confounded by this whole situation, I am just in a daze. I knew people in my team were paid different amounts but never dreamt the discrepancy could be so wide. I think I am probably the lowest paid member of the team.

Well, you know now. Did you use it to negotiate for a bigger raise?

That’s a data breach surely, I’d love to know what you do that someone could earn £80k MORE than you wow. Not nice to see such a huge discrepancy in front of you, looking for another job might be best. Not sure I could stay knowing that!

Unless of course you used it to your advantage and said well wow I want to be paid what Jane is getting too!

Donyou do exactly the same job as Jane? Ask to schedule in another meeting and propose a pay rise. If you are thinking of leaving anyway you have nothing to lose.

She is usually meticulous and can’t believe this was an error so I think for some reason she wants me to know. She made a point of telling me at the start of the call that she had just finished ‘Jane’s’ pay review (my colleague) so I don’t know if I’m suppose to conclude this is Jane’s pay.

Needless to say I am job hunting.

By all means job hunt, & find out how much more you are worth in an open market, but surely your first port of call is your meticulous manager, for an informal chat?

"Manager, I was a bit too blindsided in the pay review to formulate an instant response, but now I've been tipped the wink about how flexible the salary package for my & similar roles is, can we discuss what needs to happen to get my own salary closer to the upper level?"

I'd wonder if she is trying to encourage you to push for a pay rise, assuming you are doing the same job.

@Eastie77Returns is that a typo? €80k?? Are they same level or managerial, similar experience, qualifications, workload as you?

Was she hinting that you should ask for a big pay rise ?

Needless to say I am job hunting.

What do you mean 'needless'??

Why not 'Needless to say I'm going to ask for a pay rise'?

£80k difference??? What on earth do you do?

If it's the same job, you and Jane have equivalent skill levels and you're otherwise happy with the company, I'd absolutely schedule another meeting and ask what you'd need to do to reach that level of compensation. Your manager can't have failed to notice that she did it - might as well use it to your advantage.

Even if she tells you there's no way you can get there and there's no good explanation as to why not, you were already planning to look for another job anyway.

£80k difference?

What do you do OP!?!

Do you do the same job

To clarify, the £80k difference is total pay including commission and a specific allowance we get. So the base pay was £30k more than mine. Then the Commission (not guaranteed but we usually get close to 100%) plus the allowance took this persons pay to £80k more.

Pay rises only take place once a year and managers have made it clear they receive a set budget and have to split it amongst their teams so no room for manoeuvre.

Even if I received another rise it’s not going to be anywhere close to this persons pay and it will gnaw away at me, hence looking for another job. I feel embarrassed and demoralised.

I work in IT.

Yes we do the same job. Jane was recently promoted. Even allowing for that, the discrepancy is too much.

She's done you a favour
I know you say there's a fixed budget but I think you'd be a fool not to try and negotiate a payrise.
Maybe she wanted you to know the discrepancy to give you a push into asking for one!

Even if I received another rise it’s not going to be anywhere close to this persons pay

How do you know that?

5 minutes ago, you didn;t even know it was possible for a colleague to out-earn you by £80k. You can't possibly know what figure is achievable for you, but you DO know that your manager has given you a blatant steer to do something about it.

As a PP suggested, you;re looking for a new job anyway, so have nothing to lose by asking.

If they want to keep you they will find the money.

Did you get a screen shot

She doesn't need one. She has a memory.

Anybody with any clout who OP need to negotiate with will know what Jane is paid.

As PP just said - if they want to keep her, they will pay her accordingly.

She wants you to leave

£80k discrepancy is a lot and yes I would be l
job hunting as well but will you be able to get £80k more from a new job?

That’s a significant jump unless you’re already earning hundred of thousands of pounds in the first place. Jumping to new job you can get 20% 30% increase so it depends on how much £80k compared to current income.

That was no accident

She wants you to know where you are on the totem pole. Maybe they are looking for a pretext for you to leave on your own without being let go?

Exactly. That was on purpose, no mistake made. Your boss isn't that stupid

If she likes you, she wants you to ask for a pay rise.

If she's doesn't, she wants you to quit