Co worker paid more than me
Discussion
Grunt Futtock said:
98elise said:
There's nothing fundamentally wrong with divulging salary. Some companies ask you not to discuss it with other employees though.
The only side benefitting from employees not discussing salary with each other is the company.Op,
IMO, what your colleague earns has no actual impact to you. You might think it does, but it shouldn't.
The real question is - what can you get elsewhere? Is elsewhere at that pay level desirable? If it is, leave.
In my experience, modern companies and HR mindset are locked into doing everything by "rules". One will be that annual increases are between x any percent (whole range being cack), which is then defined by your annual review. It's the mechanism that forces good young talent to leave to get fair value, and also why often the new recruit comes in being paid as much or more as the old hand, because the employment market has moved during that tenure.
I've been on both sides. Years ago, i significantly out earned someone more experienced and better than me - he'd been with the company since uni, i was an outsider. Thankfully, although somehow i knew his salary (he talked too much) he didnt know mine - no issue. TBH i didn't get any pleasure out of it, rather it made me feel like i was working for a bad employer.
A few years ago, i was part of the recruitment process for my same level colleague (team of 2) We found the best guy, and to get him, we had to offer him the same as i was on. The difference in experience, effectiveness, etc? Quite wide. Think Schumacher - Barrichello, but then scale it back: i'm not that arrogant to think I'm a 7 time world champion but i cat remember any midfield situations with a clear no.1 driver!
My line manager was concerned that i'd get upset that new man was on the same as me. My response? It's irrelevant. The only thing that matters to me is what i take home to the family, and how my life is. Having had to cover the work of 2 single handedly for a few months, i just wanted this bloke in role! Whether this bloke got the job or not, the only real question is could i earn more elsewhere, and would that other job be appealing?
As to the posters suggesting you adopt a
hole work to rule type ste? Don't degrade yourself. No-one takes pride in a job half done and if you go down that route you're in a spiral of no job satisfaction. Instead, get yourself connected to some good recruiters, explain exactly what you're looking for, and wait for the right match to come along
The experience i had above showed me that the market had moved, and i spoke subtley to some recruiters (small industry i am in). It took a year, a few conversations that werent a good fit, but a very good fit came along. We spoke, we agreed, i am now in a new job, things are going fantastic and i'm set to have my best ever year.
do my old guys wish i was still there? Certainly. Would they offer me 20% more now to come back? Probably (not that it would tempt me back, i left for more; ironically i'd not have looked if i earned 20% more..)
The thing is, whilst employed it would be physically impossible for them to give me that notional 20% random hike, because the HR / corporate rules would not allow it. I even understand how they can't allow it - what if i was a talker? How many of my wider colleagues would be in the same boat? We had a few thousand employees globally, owned by venture capital, any wage increase would dent the master plan!
Tl;dr? Go get a new job. In the meantime, try not to value yourself by comparing to others. Value yourself by you, and be proud if your work.
IMO, what your colleague earns has no actual impact to you. You might think it does, but it shouldn't.
The real question is - what can you get elsewhere? Is elsewhere at that pay level desirable? If it is, leave.
In my experience, modern companies and HR mindset are locked into doing everything by "rules". One will be that annual increases are between x any percent (whole range being cack), which is then defined by your annual review. It's the mechanism that forces good young talent to leave to get fair value, and also why often the new recruit comes in being paid as much or more as the old hand, because the employment market has moved during that tenure.
I've been on both sides. Years ago, i significantly out earned someone more experienced and better than me - he'd been with the company since uni, i was an outsider. Thankfully, although somehow i knew his salary (he talked too much) he didnt know mine - no issue. TBH i didn't get any pleasure out of it, rather it made me feel like i was working for a bad employer.
A few years ago, i was part of the recruitment process for my same level colleague (team of 2) We found the best guy, and to get him, we had to offer him the same as i was on. The difference in experience, effectiveness, etc? Quite wide. Think Schumacher - Barrichello, but then scale it back: i'm not that arrogant to think I'm a 7 time world champion but i cat remember any midfield situations with a clear no.1 driver!
My line manager was concerned that i'd get upset that new man was on the same as me. My response? It's irrelevant. The only thing that matters to me is what i take home to the family, and how my life is. Having had to cover the work of 2 single handedly for a few months, i just wanted this bloke in role! Whether this bloke got the job or not, the only real question is could i earn more elsewhere, and would that other job be appealing?
As to the posters suggesting you adopt a
hole work to rule type ste? Don't degrade yourself. No-one takes pride in a job half done and if you go down that route you're in a spiral of no job satisfaction. Instead, get yourself connected to some good recruiters, explain exactly what you're looking for, and wait for the right match to come alongThe experience i had above showed me that the market had moved, and i spoke subtley to some recruiters (small industry i am in). It took a year, a few conversations that werent a good fit, but a very good fit came along. We spoke, we agreed, i am now in a new job, things are going fantastic and i'm set to have my best ever year.
do my old guys wish i was still there? Certainly. Would they offer me 20% more now to come back? Probably (not that it would tempt me back, i left for more; ironically i'd not have looked if i earned 20% more..)
The thing is, whilst employed it would be physically impossible for them to give me that notional 20% random hike, because the HR / corporate rules would not allow it. I even understand how they can't allow it - what if i was a talker? How many of my wider colleagues would be in the same boat? We had a few thousand employees globally, owned by venture capital, any wage increase would dent the master plan!
Tl;dr? Go get a new job. In the meantime, try not to value yourself by comparing to others. Value yourself by you, and be proud if your work.
OP here. Thanks for the above post and all the others.
Currently on a two week holiday where I'm on a freelance job working with better, more professional people and earning two months money in a fortnight.
Time to jump into the self employed pool full time yet again? Possibly?
Or just enjoy the fact that my experience allows me to take working holidays and use the company job as a safety net?
Decisions.
The company job did save my financial ass during Covid, but now freelance offers are picking up.
Cheers all.
Currently on a two week holiday where I'm on a freelance job working with better, more professional people and earning two months money in a fortnight.
Time to jump into the self employed pool full time yet again? Possibly?
Or just enjoy the fact that my experience allows me to take working holidays and use the company job as a safety net?
Decisions.
The company job did save my financial ass during Covid, but now freelance offers are picking up.
Cheers all.
croyde said:
I usually get in early, work through breaks to get things done and am not the first out the door at the end of the day.
Stop this, focus on your wellbeing and stop focusing on what others are getting paid. In my old career I know I was paid alot more than others of my grade.
One found out (she went into my drawer and looked at a payslip) and she kicked off.
She was seen as a trouble causer, I don't think management looked kindly on it.
They can pay whoever whatever they want. It's their budget not yours.
Concentrate on your quality of work and you. Your welfare. Look after you.
I stress over my work, I feel I fail when it isn't right (out of my control issues). I forget me. My health and welfare.
Run your own race.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff