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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WWYD - Found out about unfair salaries at my workplace

52 replies

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 18:52

Today my (very credible and trusted) colleague and personal friend told me she discussed salaries openly with a number of our junior colleagues. Turns out we're being royally shafted, with some junior colleagues being paid in her case more than her, in my case (I am more senior than her), nearly the same - despite all of them being lower grade and less experienced.

The profession we're in is hierarchical. The whole thing is frankly a pisstake, the firm decided seemingly to pay juniors more to make sure they don't leave too quickly after their training. Meanwhile, the more senior staff like us are being fucked over.

My dilemma: do I rock the boat and speak to my boss? Tried that previously and he was an arsehole, sent me to the CEO, so I gave up. Meanwhile, the junior colleague in my team who is on nearly exactly the same salary as me is clearly his favourite over me (a separate issue). She is also pretty shit at her job (albeit she has improved a bit) and immature, but he doesn't see through her. Speaking to him will likely take me nowhere.

I have a young DC and work compressed hrs. Do I look for a new job which might be challenging on these hrs and would likely be based in a different city approx. 1-1.5 hrs away (that's where the better paid jobs are in my sector)?

Do I put up and shut up?

I am so passed off right now. WWYD, please?

YABU - Speak to your boss
YANBU - Look for a job further away
Stay silent/otherwise - please post

OP posts:

Wildehorses · 29/03/2023 18:58

I assume the juniors are doing much longer hours than you then? So maybe you doing compressed hours for similar money is something the bosses think is fair (not saying it is, but that may be their mindset)

Original poster

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 19:00

They aren't. They come in and leave on time. Meanwhile I work full time in 4 days and often work extra due to supervision/administrative work I need to complete, or substantive work if it's busy (part and parcel of the job).

OP posts:

Phos · 29/03/2023 19:02

It can depend. I know I earn the same as or possibly more than some people who are technically a grade higher than me but its because my previous role was in something very specialist so even though I'm technically junior, I have some specialist knowledge and therefore retain a specialist salary.

I'd say question it but you seem to have written that idea off already so maybe its time to move on.

Original poster

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 19:04

I completely agree re specialist experience. It wouldn't bother me much if that was the case, however in my team I know for certain she has no specialist experience because she's only ever worked here and I know exactly what she does.

OP posts:

mintbiscuit · 29/03/2023 19:05

Come on OP, you know what you have to do. Speak up and give them a chance to right it.

The job market is tough for employers right now but they should all benchmark you appropriately. Do you know what you’re worth in market?

Mumsanetta · 29/03/2023 19:07

This narrow salary banding is happening a lot in my industry for exactly the same reasons. At your next appraisal I would mention it and ask for a raise to reflect your experience and what you offer the team. I would look at the benefits of what you currently have before leaving - it’s sometimes better the devil you know and a new workplace could have the same issues.

Original poster

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 19:07

Yes, realistically I'm worth 10k more to what I'm on, or more. I raised this before not knowing about salary discrepancies though, and like I said it's not taken me anywhere.

I feel stuck because a better paid job would be great, however I don't know how I could juggle my DC and being 1.5 hrs away. There doesn't seem to be the right option at the moment, so I'm asking for your views.

OP posts:

Apocalypticdays · 29/03/2023 19:08

Whenever I've been treated like this by employers I just quietly look for something else and move on. Happened in my last job, was accidentally sent an email with a more junior colleague's salary and they were getting more than me. I didn't let on just handed in my notice, they tried keep me by offering a decent pay rise but once you've pissed me off I'm outta there!
I actually went self employed as a contracter and now earn double. Win win.

Danikm151 · 29/03/2023 19:08

Ask for a salary review. Don’t make it a but she gets paid this much.

state all your responsibilities, what others in your position are getting and what you feel is fair compensation for your role.
I did this and got a £3k pay bump within a month 😄

MMMarmite · 29/03/2023 19:13

Try not to make it about the junior staff member, make it about your own achievements, responsibilities, and the industry going rate. And if you get sent to the CEO, don't give up, make the argument to them.

DarlingCoffee · 29/03/2023 19:15

Talk to your boss but be prepared to leave if you don’t get what you want.

Phos · 29/03/2023 19:18

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 19:04

Taking that into account and what you've said previously, I sympathise as it seems like you are in between an rock and a hard place. I doubt your boss would be any less of an arse about it this time so whilst speaking up is usually what I'd advise, I can't see it would do any good unfortunately. Do you have any kind of whistleblowing line, or could you raise it with HR maybe? Don't know how big a company it is.

Original poster

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 19:30

400 people. I think HR is very well aware of these discrepancies. They created an employee engagement programme and so many of us have recommended introduction of transparent salary brackets (with allowance for particularly brilliant performers, ultimately we don't begrudge each other being rewarded fairly). This has fallen on deaf ears.

They are banking on the old culture of not talking about what you're on which is dominant amongst older generations, but not amongst us anymore.

OP posts:

NoSquirrels · 29/03/2023 19:36

Sounds like you need a union - or at least a united front of concerned colleagues. Weight of numbers.

Why did you decide not to make your case to the CEO?

Original poster

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 19:41

Good question re the CEO. I don't know. I don't know him very well because he originates from a different team to mine. He seems elusive as well, always focused on the big issues affecting the business externally and I guess I felt scared, perhaps? He is blunt, but so am I, so it's not intimidation. But I guess I felt unsupported by my own boss trying to shift the responsibility for upping wages onto the CEO of the whole business. I don't think it should work this way.

Today I have realised that clearly my junior colleague didn't have to go to the CEO to be on few hundred pounds less than me pa, and being 3 years + less experienced, with lesser expectations in her current role.

OP posts:

LordEmsworth · 29/03/2023 19:41

This is entirely normal in big companies in the private sector. You need to negotiate harder and negotiate better. The best time to negotiate is before you start a new job, so if you're not happy then start looking... And when they ask about salary expectations, don't be shy.

Original poster

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 19:45

How do I negotiate harder and better?

Serious question. I can and do advocate for others professionally, but struggling for myself. They know what I do and they often expect me to take over partner responsibilities, which I do. They aren't blind. And yet this still isn't good enough to reward me fairly, am I supposed to be pointing out to them what they're expecting of me and how I perform, which is there in black & white?

OP posts:

AlwaysColdHands · 29/03/2023 19:45

Out of interest, what sex are most of these junior colleagues? Just wondering if it’s a gender pay gap issue as well?

IAmTheWalrus85 · 29/03/2023 19:47

Are you a solicitor by any chance?

Original poster

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 19:48

Gender pay gap is an interesting point and yes, there possibly is an element of that between two or three other teams that we know of where more senior female colleagues are on the same money as junior male colleagues. However, this could be coincidental to the firm trying to retain juniors and attract them with higher salaries. The issue in my team involves me and another female.

Many of us underpaid are mothers, however, as opposed to juniors who are child free as it stands.

I do suspect they failed to reward us adequately in years during/after maternity leaves, but I have no evidence.

OP posts:

Original poster

HamptonsBasket · 29/03/2023 19:49

I am a solicitor, yes.

OP posts:

MarchingBand · 29/03/2023 19:49

Obviously your junior colleague/s are great negotiators. It's about knowing your worth and fighting for it. Don't focus on them, it doesnt matter what they get paid, focus on you and what your worth is.

GoodChat · 29/03/2023 19:50

You need to ask for the increase and be able to justify why you deserve it - not based on what others are paid but based on your own job.

NoSquirrels · 29/03/2023 19:50

am I supposed to be pointing out to them what they're expecting of me and how I perform, which is there in black & white?

Yes, if necessary. Copying in HR, and so on.

I’d strongly imply to your boss that if you end up having to make your case to the CEO, because he couldn’t be bothered to deal with a staff retention issue in conjunction with HR, that it might not reflect well on him. You’ve got the stats to back up your case…

IDontWantToBeAPie · 29/03/2023 19:51

Ask for a raise. If they say no bring up the unfair salaries.

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