Can an employer pay me significantly less then a person with less qualifications?

Question

I have over 4 years experience in A/P. I have a series six license and have worked with cash accounting. I am being paid 6.50 less then a girl that started after me and who has absolutely no accounting or bookkeeping experience at all. I also do not get paid days off but the new woman does. I am talked to like I am completely stupid and demeaned at every oppurtunity. I was expected to train this woman also.* Grrr* The other woman is praised and coddled. She has been late more often than not but was given the key to the front door and the alarm code. She is a "friend" of the owners and therefore more favored. Does this qualify as discrimination?

Answer 1

It happens all the time. You get paid based on the salary that you negotiated when you were hired. This other lady must have been a better negotiator. Here's what you should do, look for another job and when you have another offer for a job that pays more, give your notice to your employer and let them know that you'd consider staying (if you want to) if they would pay you an equivalent salary.

Also, I'm not saying this applies to you but sometimes people think they're good at their job but they really aren't. I've been an Accounting Manager for several years and some of the worst employees think they do really good work.

Answer 2

Your pay is based on your qualifications, and how you help the employer's bottom line. It is not based on what your coworkers have managed to get paid (for whatever reason, real qualifications or not). It is not illegal to pay someone who is less qualified more than someone else. I'd suggest coming up with an action item list:
-an action you took
-result of action you took
-impact of action (this one is where you state how it improved the bottom line, and preferably how it helped save your employer money)

Go to your boss, say that you are ready to take on greater responsibility. Explain your qualifications before coming there (which only mean so much, they want to see what you can do not what you have done already) and then justify what an excellent employee you are by the actions you have taken and in what way they have saved the employer time and money, or helped improve customer relations, etc etc. Do some salary research (salary.com is a good one) on how much you should be getting paid in your field. Then when you justify what an excellent employee you have been (with proof) explain that you also have done some research on your worth in the marketplace and feel that receiving an x% raise will place you within the range of your market worth.

Employers will often favor friends, prettier people, friendlier people, and all sorts of things. They may not give you your raise after asking for it. That is a sure sign you should go look elsewhere but it can't hurt to ask for a raise and more responsibility now. By not asking they can continue to ignore you or assume you are not very ambitious. By asking they can tell that you want to move up in the world, learn more, and will be an effective employee. Good luck.

Answer 3

No, unfortunatly it doesn't. Especially if she's related.

If he owns the business; he can pay his employees as much as he'd like.

If you don't like this treatment; send out your resume and see if you can find a better job! 4 years experience and the like is very demanding.

You can find a job very easily. You just have to search well and hard. You should post up your resume; send out your resume; and you won't have to interupt your work now. Take a sick day on your interview days! I did it before :D worked like a charm.

But if you like where you're working now; you can simply talk to the boss about it. I mean; if he values you and sees you as an irriplacable worker he might give you a raise and more responsibility!

If he doesn't budge; find a new job. You don't need to degrade yourself for anyone.

Answer 4

I worked at a job with similar frustrations. The people who quit and came back later were treated much better than the ones who had been there a while and not quit (or threatened to quit).

I finally went hunting for work and when I first gave my notice, they started treating me better as well. I still ended up getting a different job and leaving, but not before I noticed that I got better treatment after saying I was leaving.

Companies just do not respect the hard workers who are loyal. They respect disloyal employees. So to get anything good for yourself, you need to show them you are not quite so loyal as they thought.

Start looking for another job. Then when you find one (make sure you're really interested in it), give you notice. If they offer to bargain with you, listen to their offer and consider it. If not, work out your notice and start your new job.

Answer 5

I have noticed that if you are not in a union you pretty much are not guaranteed anything. I have watched people at my job start after me and get better benifit and pay packaGES because the nigotiated it before they were hired. I had to wait 1 yr to earn two days vacation! But i know a guy that nigotiated 2 week paid vacation into his first year. (He didn't even have to wait.) So pretty much as long as they don't pay you less than minimum wage and you are not protected by a union they can do what ever they want and it's up to you wether you want to put up with it or move on.

Answer 6

Well - it certainly sounds like discrimination, but not necessarily illegal discrimination.

Put your resume together - A/P is a good field - find somewhere that you will be well-treated.

Oh, my two cents about the suggestion above me - you aren't just unhappy about your pay - you are unhappy with your situation. While you might be able to change your pay, the environment is a VERY difficult thing to alter. Find a different company and GO - don't stay there no matter what they offer you!

Best of luck.

Answer 7

I recommend that you start to look for another job. The "new" person will ultimately use her influence with the owners to make your life miserable in the future.

Your employers have shown how much you mean to them ("being paid 6.50 less.."). Build on your skills and move on to a better place.

Answer 8

Management's job is to get as much productivity out of it's employees as possible. That means paying them as little as possible and still keep them working. The reason your employer can afford to pay the new woman so much is because you accept as little as you do.

You have a choice. Accept what they give you or demand more and be prepared to go elsewhere if you don't get it.

Answer 9

he can do whatever he wants. welcome to the real world, it's all about who you know, not necessarily what you bring to the table...