New direct report earning higher salary

[InAWorkPickle]

Currently navigating some changes at work following a recent restructuring. I’ve taken on additional responsibilities and as well as that, now oversee a department of two people.

However, one of the team members is currently earning significantly more than I am, despite having fewer responsibilities and tbh skills. There are definite issues with productivity etc from the department, which is why I think I’ve been put in there.

Have been told that remuneration will be discussed in a couple of weeks time and I came here because I want to be sure… the salary situation is not right? I can’t be expected to manage someone with less responsibilities and a greater salary?

To me, this seems obvious, but anxiety and imposter syndrome are issues with me and I’d like to get some feedback and discuss here before having the conversations at work.

This team member has negotiated hard and it’s worked.

You need to do the same when the time comes for you to negotiate

If they are older and been there a while, it’s likely a reflection of that, but it is definitely worth raising your own renumeration with your manager.

I’ll be interested to see replies here.

i certainly don’t know how they can justify that! Question is how did you find out their salary? How much is the difference op

Hmmm, neither of you are saying that it’s definitely not right which is concerning me 😅 The team member has been in the role less time than me, and really should not have been given the salary level to begin with tbh, it’s so out of whack and I know a relationship with a previous member of staff helped with negotiations. While they are a lovely person, their work really is lacking in so many ways that has had an impact on the business. And I don’t feel it’s fair for me to manage that, while this person earns a significant amount more than me.

it is not “definitely not right”.

Someone negotiated hard and it reaped dividends.

Now you need to do the same.

We have a crystal clear pay structure. I'm a member of the senior management team, but one of my direct reports earns more than I do. They have a specialist qualification which is in scarce supply and needed for their role.

I’ve had conversations with this person where they have alluded to what they are earning. And I’ve also always been in a senior position so I see the budget figures etc.

So do you know the figure? That answer isn’t clear

I'm not sure why you don't think you can manage a person who earns more than you? People do in other jobs due to specialisms etc.

Whatever their negotiations and whatever they are earning now is really nothing to do with the situation at hand.

Surely you just need to:

a) Manage their performance
b) Negotiate your own remuneration at the appropriate time

I bet it’s a male colleague. Good luck it sounds like you might have your work cut out. How did you find out about the salary? You need to be earning more than someone you are managing so perhaps you will get a pay rise out of it.

This person does have a degree, but it’s not relevant to their role and was earned 30 years ago with little formal upskilling or qualification since.

This is a part of the reason why I do have some imposter syndrome as well. I had to leave my degree (science) as I fell pregnant young, tried to return and just too tough for a broke single mum, so have basically worked my way up. However, I’ve done a diploma course nearly every year, on a topic relevant to my role and I’m looking at a degree course for the next 2 years. I’m quite proud of where I am, but it does make me a bit insecure when serious work things like this happen.

Sorry, yes I do, and there is a £17k variance.

He has three decades of experience? How much experience do you have?

I have 15 years of experience, in a different field. Unfortunately the level of experience this person has is not reflected in their capabilities.

Well this is why I would like to talk it out and understand where I stand in this situation. I’m grateful to posters asking for further details about the situation so I can get a handle on where to begin negotiations.

What a ridiculous comment. Why should it be a man?

It doesn’t necessarily follow that a manger should earn more than a direct report of that person has very specific scarce skills that you don’t have. For example pretty much every single professional sports club operates like that.

It’s more common than you think.

Traditionally people expect to earn more than direct reports but entry level, specialist skills, good negotiators push the boundaries.

What is your argument to be paid more beyond what someone else earns?

This is not a scarce skill, and a new graduate would likely have more up to date knowledge and skill set earning vastly less, and they are in ample supply.

Ya, I think it was the negotiation here, and who was involved.

I guess yes, do I have an argument here to be paid as much/more than my colleague?

While they are a lovely person, their work really is lacking in so many ways that has had an impact on the business. And I don’t feel it’s fair for me to manage that, while this person earns a significant amount more than me.

Well what you absolutely shouldn’t do is start complaining to your boss that you won’t manage X because they earn X and that’s more than you and it’s not fair.

Like PP has said, they obviously negotiated a good package, this is an advantage to you as now you can use the information to negotiate an increase for yourself. The second issue is that you feel they are not performing to an adequate standard for their job/package, and you need to manage that as part of your line management responsibilities.

I’m really surprised that you seem to think this is “wrong”.

you have inherited a team, where one team member with 30 years experience was on a higher salary than you.

your have pay negotiations coming up. Why not see this as leverage?

And if they aren’t doing their job well, then as their manager - you need to address this!

I know all my line reports salaries. They all earn more than me. In my situation, it is not about negotiation skills. It is that my company considers the UK to be a low pay company and none of the rest are in the UK and are paid accordingly. It enrages me and definitely means I have stopped pushing myself as hard.

My DH’s work gives you a pay rise every year if you perform well, due to him having been there a long time he is being paid more than double most of his colleagues doing the exact same job, he is also getting paid a lot more than his manager, it seems very strange to me but I work in the NHS which has very defined pay bands for each grade.

I do see it as leverage! But I want to know I’m right to see this as leverage before I make a fool of myself! 😅

Honestly, I’m not sure the 30 years was in a role like this, and it’s not a specialist role. As I mentioned, they have a degree in a relatively unrelated topic that many, many people work in, with or without formal qualifications.