Am I getting gypped at work?

Question

My company just went through a reorganization. Before I was a mid-level manager and after I'm still a mid-level manager. Before I was supervising a total of 5 permanent employees and 4-10 seasonal employees and I had a medium level of responsibility. Now I'm supervising 9 permanent employees, 3-10 seasonal employees, and I have a high level of responsibility.

A co-worker of mine, who is also a mid-level manager, went from supervising 13 permanent staff to 7 permanent staff and 1-3 seasonal staff. Here's where the problem comes in. This person has a salary 25% higher than mine.

More particulars: The co-worker has about 15 more years managerial experience than me but has only worked for our company for 1.5 years. I have worked for the company for 4 years now.

Should I argue for a pay raise, given that our budgetary outlook is not good?

Answer 1

No I do not believe you're getting gypped.

Lengthy management experience has significant value to a company and it is appropriate that your coworker be paid more because of it. Further, the number of direct reports has little or no relationship to the compensation expectation for a job. For example, I had an organization of roughly 100 direct and indirect reports reporting to me at one point. Later, this number doubled to more than 200. I had no expectations additional compensation simply because I had more reports in my organization. Frankly, it never crossed my mind.

Finally, while tenure within a company certainly has value, it's a two-edged sword. Employees with long tenure at the company have more experience with the way the company works, but also tend to have fairly fixed mindsets about the way certain kinds of problems should be solved, generally based around the "way things have always been done". Managers with less tenure but significant outside experience will bring new and diverse viewpoints and problem-solving skills into the company. This also has significant value to the company.

At the end of the day, two equally competent managers, one with a few years of experience and one with more than a decade of experience should be compensated at different levels.

Answer 2

First check out the classifieds to see what other companies are willing to pay in your field & experience level. I would also suggest to send them your resume & attend a interview. If you are interviewed , you tell them what you want & expect. This will be your back up , if this particular company is willing to hire you .
This way you can aproach your boss with confidence for pay raise , medical , sick pay vacation days etc.

TIPS (ASKING 4 PAY RAISE) :
FIRST - never LET YOUR BOSS(ES) KNOW THAT YOU ARE DISCUSSING SALARIES WITH OTHER EMPLOYEES.
Also ,no matter what the outcome may be never burn your bridges. There may come that day were you might ask for your job back & your current company is going to be giving out your refferal .
GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS

Answer 3

The budgetary outlook is not your problem. The only trick will be to ask politely when you know they're taking advantage of you.

Answer 4

just become your own boss - and bye-bye corporate ladder climbing.

Answer 5

stand up and fight