Today I have negotiated with Finance director, to give a decent pay increase to my female indirect report. She was on less money than others because she didn’t negotiate my offer and her experience was less relevant than some previous hires, so I took some risk hiring her. After a year, she has proven excellent in her role and so I have brought her pay in line with the rest of the team.
My (male) manager, not Finance director, has made a point repeating twice that the rise also fixes gender pay gap. I have disagreed because it has nothing to do with gender, I would have followed the same process with a male new starter. Boss has not worked with me long, so we do not know each that well. I have felt that with that statement he is partly taking away the credit for hard work of this lady, and partly “greenwashing” or implying that me original decision was anything to do with gender.
I didn’t labour the point too much, he is one of those who will have the last word on way or another, my goal has been ultimately achieved for today. But am unreasonable to feel some resentment towards seemingly a valid point?
My frustration is fuelled by something else he said. There were complaints about one former colleague, so boss asked if he was ever inappropriate with me, which he wasn’t. In fact, nobody ever has been in this company. My boss then said that it was good and he would not stand for it, if anything ever happens, I should come to him to sort it. It’s only later that it hit that this was the most sexist I was ever told in this business, him implying I need him to fight my corner. For context, I am Eastern European single mother who have reached a senior manager position in male dominate industry in the UK, I have 15 male reports, you don’t get get there and survive without learning to manage confrontation.
So, what is his deal - just a bit naive, insensitive, lacking in emotional intelligence or a closet sexist, covering up his true nature? Or am I being overly sensitive, being a hormonal woman?