Overheard co-workers salary info...am I overreacting?

[crashtestdummy]

Interesting to see such opposing reactions here. I feel like I'm on the fence. On one hand my salary is alright and I'm able to support myself. On the other hand it probably won't cut it if I want to marry/start a family with my long term girlfriend (which I do at some point). Thinking of trying to negotiate for more during my 2 year review and if that gets denied, looking elsewhere.

The thing that sucks is that this is a small company and so I thought they would reward hard work and dedication more than a large corporation (which I previously worked for). I guess starting salary means a lot more than I thought it did.

My advice: Get another job offer. It's clear that your compensation is a sticking point for you. There's a good chance that if you get another offer for more money, your boss will offer you ~50% of the difference. It'll be up to you at that point to decide whether you want to stay.

 

[SaurusX]

To the OP: if you're anything like me, then it's only going to start eating at you that some shlub without your qualifications is making significantly more than you. Start prepping that resume and don't be afraid to switch jobs. It's the quickest way to close that salary gap without any of the corporate BS that they're sure to spew at you. You'll be much happier afterwards, I assure you.

 

[dr150]

OP,
You wanna make more bank?

Then find another job at another company with more pay and title.

Honestly, this is the easiest way you advance quickly.

Staying loyal and eating shit does you no good. Take the next step up that ladder every 1-2 years.

 

[Imp]

If it makes OP feel better, I have a master's degree and a bachelor's related to my job field... But I'm a technician and still get paid less after 4 years (after annual increments) than a brand new hire, fresh out of school, clueless engineer in training.

I fail at life.

 

[Attic]

There was a bit of drama surrounding this type of thing too at my internship where one of the interns decided to complain to management that some of the other interns were making more than her. Basically her reasoning was that she'd been in school longer and is working on her masters.

I don't get it. Why do people think they deserve a certain pay grade just because they went to school longer than somebody else? It doesn't mean you are better at your job than they are. It should be about results.

Agree there. Often times that not the case though when someone is asked to sign a bigger check. But, always should start with bringing in good/excellent results (what real benefits I bring to the bottom line rather than resume crap) before asking for pay raise.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Start knocking at the competition's door. Send 'round your CV, and let it slip that that's what you're doing.

Of course, diplomatically, you're "just looking at the market, to see if there's something interesting"

If you get an offer, you can always ask your boss to match/exceed it.

what is CV?
constant velocity?

 

[brainhulk]

Leverage must also combine good timing also. Take advantage of times when they need your skills. Like when someone just quit or when there is a lot of work to be done that requires someone with experience.

Otherwise employer will just say get lost, there's the door because I'm just gonna hire someone else at lower pay and no benefits

 

[Skel]

What other people make is none of your business. If you heard nothing, were you happy with your compensation? If so, great! If not, do something about it. Demand more money, or leave.

Some people make out better in life through nothing but luck, and brilliant potential game changers don't see their potential realized due to unfortunate circumstances. That's life, and the only thing that matters is your happiness. You'll always fall short when compared to other people if you pick the right people to compare. OTOH, that works in reverse also.

This is so true. I've never understood why a lot of people are so obsessed with comparing themselves to other people then throwing fits when they come up short. The reality is the OP overheard/listened in to a conversation that had nothing to do with him, but is now twisting it around to make it about him.

 

[thegimp03]

Saw this happen a couple years ago at my company. Employee who had started here as a new college graduate versus an employee who'd spent 3 years in public accounting. The NCG had been here 3 years and was maybe a year or two younger than the other one, but made ~$35k less than the ex-public employee who'd only been here a year. No way that that $35k difference was going to be made up with the pathetic "cost of living" increases either, so there was a big stink made out of it and management had to remind everyone that salary info is confidential. There are also "analysts" in our group who make more than their manager due to having been in the workforce for 20-30 years, but that's not unusual, just funny to see.

 

[Fritzo]

I was in this situation for a while. When I found out that I was being underpaid, I took on a project, completed it, and then used it as an excuse to talk about "competitive compensation."

Got a huge raise out of it

 

[Vic Vega]

You need to understand, you are paid what you were able to negotiate for yourself.

Someone else is paid what they were able to negotiate. You do not and should not benefit because a coworker is a better negotiator than you.

This is a tough thing to swallow, but it's the truth. If you are unhappy with your compensation you have two options: 1.) Ask for more money. 2.) Find another job.

Once you work for a Fortune 500 company your "way is paved" in my opinion. Getting one of those names on your resume opens doors. If you work for one, remember there are 499 out there waiting for you.

 

[Vic Vega]

And just to show I know what it's like - someone with my exact same title I know for a fact makes $30K more than me. I also know of another person with the same exact title which makes literally 25K less.

 

[sourceninja]

I find I have to jump jobs ever 3 - 5 years if I want to keep up with the salary average for what I do.

I get hired in with a great rate, but 3-5 years later I'm either promoted without a raise or the going rate for what I do has increased, so it's time for a new job. I've never been given a counter offer.

 

[brainhulk]

My retirement pension is dependant on number of years served. So there is incentive to stay until you are fully vested

 

[Juddog]

My retirement pension is dependant on number of years served. So there is incentive to stay until you are fully vested

It's rare for companies to even offer a pension anymore unless you work for the local / state / federal government. IMHO companies should bring back pensions if they want to see more employee loyalty.

 

[Doppel]

In my experience the only way to get a good raise is to get a new job.

 

[rudeguy]

Start knocking at the competition's door. Send 'round your CV, and let it slip that that's what you're doing.

Of course, diplomatically, you're "just looking at the market, to see if there's something interesting"

If you get an offer, you can always ask your boss to match/exceed it.

You obviously have zero experience with what you are talking about.

 

[sactoking]

Situations like this are why, as opposed to popular belief that it's "none of your business", pay information for everyone should be public. The "keep it quiet" mentality only fosters resentment and breeds inefficiency through turnover.

I've also found that those most vehement about keeping salary information confidential are those most vocal about public employee salaries being open for inspection; i.e. the "It's good for everyone except me" mentality is prevalent.

 

[Fritzo]

Situations like this are why, as opposed to popular belief that it's "none of your business", pay information for everyone should be public. The "keep it quiet" mentality only fosters resentment and breeds inefficiency through turnover.

I've also found that those most vehement about keeping salary information confidential are those most vocal about public employee salaries being open for inspection; i.e. the "It's good for everyone except me" mentality is prevalent.

People that want salaries kept quiet are the people that receive special benefits. Kind of like the way Wall Street works.

 

[sze5003]

If you work for a large organization, managers gave to eat a bunch of crap from higher ups when they promote or give a current employee a raise. A promotion at my company from one step to the next in the technical field is generally 10% increase in pay as well as any regular yearly performance based raise the individual receives.

So these promotions are hard to get because they can't just give them to everyone if all of us are doing great, at least where I work I am working with hundreds if not more developers.

They also have a thing where if you are new you get rotated to different teams and departments. My previous manager rated me as good to go for a next level promotion but I got rotated to another team so now it's up to my new manager to go through my previous manager's comments on my performance report. It's also still development but a different line of development.

I was called by my previous manager and told that if he has an opening for a next level developer then he will submit to have me moved back that way I can be promoted under him. But who knows when that may be, in a year or more, when they stop rotating new people, or maybe in a few months which would not be good since I'll be deep into the new project.

So it is a lot easier to hire new people at higher pay than it is to go through all the corporate crap and red tape to justify why person x deserves the promotion and raise. You really have to get the attention of dept heads and it's a pain sometimes.

So if you have worked there longer than a year or two see if you are comfortable applying to a new job and ask for a higher starting salary. Depending how bad they need someone, the new company may give you it or they may give you 1-2k more than your previous salary.

 

[Brigandier]

Quit eavesdropping if what you hear makes you butt-hurt.

 

[Midwayman]

You know if companies want you to keep your salary secret, its not in your best interest to do so. I wish they were more up front about the whole thing.

 

[Fern]

What other people make is none of your business. If you heard nothing, were you happy with your compensation? If so, great! If not, do something about it. Demand more money, or leave.
-snip-

^^This^^


Plus, and IDK what field/profession you work in, but in my profession those with higher degrees are on a higher pay scale. It's that simple. I have no problem with it either. First, that higher degree should make them more valuable. Second, if it doesn't, they're probably gonna history before too long. That other person likely has paid an extra $40K or more in education than you, or they have huge student loans. (Another reason pay scales are higher for higher degreed people - to attract them.)

And that 'bonus' for a higher degree will eventually disappear from the pay scale as you rise in career levels.

Fern

 

[Dumac]

This is why the idea of glassdoor is important.

Everyone being hush-hush about salaries and acting as if its rude to discuss such things just gives corporate the advatange. They have all the info, and more info = more power.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Yes, you're over reacting, eaves dropping biatch.