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.

I think this is a reasonable way to approach it, but they are very likely to call OP's bluff.

Thank you, and yes, I do see this as a huge opportunity to increase my salary, and the increase will make such a big difference to me and DC. The role is also a great challenge so it’s an exciting time.

I’ll definitely be dealing with both issues separately IRL. I will deal with the pay, without saying I want to be paid more than X is paid as I bring much greater value to the company. I’ll simply be demonstrating the value that I bring and showing the benchmarking research I have completed.

On the performance side, I’m going to take a ‘fresh start’ approach as I mentioned. I’ll map the new direction for the department, set the new expectations etc. and offer all the upskilling and guidance my colleague might require to fulfill the role, if they accept it. I do actually like my colleague, and I will absolutely be fair to them in this process. It’s just really unfortunate that they are so bad at their job.

This is excellent, thank you so much for this. I like how you’ve worded the new management responsibilities and I will definitely work some of this into my discussion. I have started working things out today and I can demonstrate increased and new revenue streams etc over the years I have been here that are directly linked to my performance and I currently bring in approx 10x my salary value, managing much more than that per year so will be sticking primarily with very easily proven facts around my performance. Thanks again x

This is obviously a possibility, but it wouldn’t be a bluff, I am prepared to walk, although I’d prefer not to at this moment.

It may be completely reasonable if they have additional skills which could be used if needed, you just haven't seen yet.
Or they could have bargained hard.
Or worst case for them, you may have been put in place for future restructuring.

I was once offered a role that I wasn't hugely interested in - so I said I want to work compressed hours and X amount of money thinking there was no way they'd agree to my ridiculous request. They said yes straight away, didn't even discuss amongst themselves, really opened my eyes in terms of asking for what you want.

Gosh there have been some nasty people on this thread.

The op is quite within her rights to feel annoyed under these set of circumstances.

She is taking on board the sensible advice and is clearly not jealous at all of this person! You can see if anything she is irked that they are underperforming. That in itself is a huge headache because someone at my work place is the same and I don’t think any amount of interventions will ever bring them up to scratch

How much is £17k in percentage terms relating to your salary @InAWorkPickle ?

It would be just under 30% of my current base salary.

Whereabouts are you based? What he initially recruited in same geographical area?

Yes, all based in the same area (SW) when we were recruited.

Do you know his manager before you? Have you had discussions with him / her about this individual? What’s their thoughts?

Yes, the previous manager has taken redundancy. They had a good rapport and no real knowledge of my colleague’s field of work so I doubt there was anything in the way of constructive feedback offered to my colleague. However I am aware that there were many complaints to this previous manager about the productivity of the department.

Any idea what his previous manager was on?

Yes, it would have been about double that of my colleague and nearly triple my salary roughly. But they had a wide ranging remit and lots of responsibilities outside of this department.

Meeting on Monday? What are you going to go in at?

That doesn’t make sense

Double your team member’s salary but triple your salary. How does that work. You are on £60k. Your team member is on £76k.

Well it’s not quite triple mine and not quite double my colleague’s, I was being vague.

Figures are roughly £150k plus benefits for that role, £70k and £53k.

My meeting is likely to be week after next once job spec is received. Still in the middle of my own benchmarking but I’m thinking of going in at £80k and see where that goes. I’m underpaid in my current role by at £10k already I think.

Now you have established that.
I would park salary negotiation and focus squarely on why you’ve been brought in to do the role, so you have something tangible to draw out the hat during negotiations.

Otherwise it’s just…. I want I want I want

OP you can’t justify a salary increase on the basis of what someone else earns. It’s great that this new report has such a high salary because it’s given you the jolt you need. Now go and make an excellent case for why YOU deserve more money. If there are areas in which you do more than your job spec, or you’ve exceeded expectations then be sure to include those. Make a case for being an experienced, hardworking, talented pair of hands.

You can’t base a request for more money on what someone else earns. In theory then, if they cut the other person’s salary, you shouldn’t get any more money.

Is 53 the salary for your old role, was there any increase when they gave you this one? When was the last time uour salary was increased?

also is the business doing well, are you sure they aren’t taking out the higher costing individuals.

Yes, 53 for the old role with annual increase of about 3% per annum. This new role has only been discussed this week with me, still waiting on job spec and remuneration discussions should be week after next.

Don’t worry, I know not to compare to my colleagues salary during negotiations. But I can’t help but see what they’re willing to pay someone who does not perform at my level, and use that info for confidence in asking for the level of increase I feel is warranted.

Oh and business is doing fine @Frenchfrychic. Recent large investment made so won’t be going anywhere soon. Tbh, I think if they were trying to take out the higher costing individuals, they would be looking for ways to remove my colleague in the round of redundancies. Maybe they feel that that might naturally happen anyway though me managing them.

The restructure and all that that entails from a HR side of things is still ongoing. We were all only told on Monday. I’ve been offered a role, others have been made redundant, others have to reapply for different roles, there’s a lot going on. All of that is happening at the moment with a view to everyone being in their new roles in 2/3 weeks time.