To wonder how this is acceptable at work

[Putriddiabolicalwasp]

I was hired a few months ago in a supervisory role at a company on an hourly wage which I was told had gone up in April 2026 and would do so each April.

We are only paid around 25p an hour more than junior staff in the company. They seem to be hiring a lot, I've seen on indeed that they've put new ads out for junior staff, on a higher wage than the supervisors?
It's bad enough that it's higher than existing junior staff, but how can they justify paying more than supervisors who have additional responsibilities?
We've heard nothing about an hourly raise, I asked my colleague and she had no idea either.
I'm going to speak to them but will be looking elsewhere if I don't get a satisfactory answer. Has anyone else had this?

It's a care company.

I knew even before you posted your second comment it was going to be care work.
Apply for one of the new jobs - more money less responsibility. See what they say?

So this is not unheard of... yes I think i will do, they have good reviews on indeed and paint themselves in glory as one of the 'better' companies but it's a lie.

It happens in the NHS, or rather Compass/Medirest as well. They have problems recruiting, so up the wages for new starters.

Interesting.. it's not on at all is it. I took the supervisor role for (slightly) more pay, I'll be interested to see what they come up with as an answer.

I suppose they're paying what they feel they need to to recruit to the roles.
There tends to be more benefits to a supervisory role than money. Greater autonomy, less front line work, career progression etc.
I guess it's up to individuals to decide whether the benefits are worth it, the supervisory role more interesting and comfortable, or whether they'd be better off applying for the better paid lower level roles.
We have similar in my sector, but we still get people who'd rather not have to traipse about doing so much hard graft and choose to have more office/wfh and voice in decision making, and would rather be a supervisor even if they earned less.

We have 0 more autonomy over the care staff, we actually get paid less mileage than them and we still do frontline work, we just have to shadow new starters/fill in papers.

YANBU but it happens all the time in many businesses. The market changes and the only way a business can attract new employees is by offering the going rate. Which is often higher than the people already doing the job. It was the reason I used to change jobs every 2 years. It was the only way I could get a decent wage!