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.

You are focusing on the wrong thing.

Work on negotiating your own salary increase based on the fact that you have taken on new responsibilities.

What your colleagues make is frankly irrelevant.

I am a manager and I am happy to have people approach me about payrises based on their achievements, extra responsibilities and so on.

But if someone came to me saying they want a raise just because a long standing employee is making more than them I would just see them as a petulant time waster.

I’m overly focused on this colleague’s salary on this thread… because that’s exactly what I started this thread about!

Just because I started a thread to discuss this one particular aspect of my thinking in this whole situation, it doesn’t mean that it was going to form the basis of my entire negotiation or that I was ever going to mention that I ‘wanted more than X colleague’. I am obviously doing a wide ranging benchmarking exercise and this is relevant to me because it shows what my company is willing to pay someone for less productivity and responsibility. I’ve explained this numerous times.

Thank you and other posters for all of your of your other advice, it’s much appreciated and I’m just going to leave this thread now because I’m having to repeat myself time and time again.

Jesus, honestly, I’m losing the will to live. I’ve already said that I am approaching this as a fresh start numerous times now, said numerous times that I’m wiping the slate for my colleague and providing every upskilling opportunity and guidance they will need to effectively do to the role.

I feel like I’m in the twilight zone, does nobody read anything anymore?

And yes, I’ve been a people manager for 10 years.

I’m on annual leave.

When I became a line manager 10 months into a new job, and discovered I was earning basically the same as people whose performance I was now responsible for I negotiated for more money on the basis of taking on more responsibility, that I hadn't signed up for when accepting the job. I don't think you are unreasonable to ask for more.

Anyway, a sincere thanks for all the helpful advice, and I love the cream tea analogy @ScaryM0nsteri appreciate your time in commenting.

Im definitely going to bow out now, this thread has been far more hassle than the advice was worth.