fair pay?

[Annie456]

I just found out that the other 2 people on the sales team are being paid more than me. I've been here longest, know the most about the industry (they come to me for help) and have the toughest accounts. I'm really angry that my boss obviously sees me as a pushover. I can't say I found out from the other girls because we're not allowed to talk about it - now i know why. What should I do?

[rachjordan]

Firstly is it alot more?

When is your pay review?

[Annie456]

Its not lots more, just a couple of K but it's still more and I don't think it should be that way at all. They are both new and inexperienced. They are both on X amount and I am on less!

[Annie456]

I had a pay review in April and got a small payrise - before that I was being paid 4K lower than they were.

[Taz70]

Are you happy working there or would this cause bad feeling for you that you'd rather take your talent elsewhere? I know it seems hard, but I can't think of any way of letting the boss know about it without them knowing you'd been talking about it.

Do you get on well with the other 2 people? Do you think they could be trying to wind you up? You either have to live with it I'm afraid or get another job.

[cascarelli]

If you think you deserve more money for the work you do then go see your boss and make a good case for it - not by comparing your salary with others you work with but by pointing out how much responsibility you have, how much experience etc etc.

How does your salary compare with a similar job at another company? Apart from what your co workers claim, have you any other 'evidence' that youre underpaid for what you do? Were you happy with your pay before you found out what the others earn?

As an employer I'd listen if someone came to me with a reasoned argument as to why they deserve more.

[Annie456]

I think i can stay here if I am paid equally to the other girls and the only way I can find out is by bringing it up with my boss. I can't put forward a proposal for a payrise without bringing up their salaries as I already did that 6 months ago and got a slight rise then, I would need to compare our abilities and pay in any discussions. I feel that I can't leave without at least trying so it's just a case of managing how I go about it.

[luvlylady]

Have you tried going to ACAS. They may be able to advise you on which direction to take.

[dancecaller]

It is unreasonable and unrealistic to forbid you to talk about it.
Could you say that you 'get the impression' that they get more (you could have been talking about tax or NI or something)

[meglet]

I would just like to add that I was in exactly the same position a year or so ago. I was working for a company for 10 years in the sales department, had regularly brought in a 10% of the company's turnover singehandedly and was digusted to find other sales staff on more basic pay than me (although I did earn far more commission). This was because I had worked there so long that my pay was being slightly increased year on year and new staff were brought on the payrole on a higher wage as the jobs market had dictated it. I told my boss that I knew of the disparity in pay and he immediately gave me a �5k pay rise. (It helped I think that I was female and all my colleagues were male as that would not look good). I would say you are in a good position to ask for equal if not more pay. They can't enforce that you don't discuss this with colleages and they won't want to lose a successful account manager. Good luck!