Is my job racist in how they compensate / reward bonuses?

Question

I am a 26 year old black female, who for the most part, tries to look at the bright side of things. Well, this past friday, the company I work for awarded fiscal year bonuses. Now, there is a 40 year old white woman who does the exact job I do and gets paid the same wage that I do (she showed me her check stub one day). This person started about 6 months after me and daily she comes to work, does her job, surfs the internet, collects her check at the end of the week, and that's that. I on the other hand, come to work daily, do my job, assist others with their job, have requested to move to one of the other teams (my department has several teams with different functions and I wanted to learn them all), sign up for additional training classes my company offers (ocassionally coming in on my off days), and collect my check. This same co-worker and I were talking today and she said her bonus was $1850 but mine was only $1200. I'm confused and I don't think it's fair. Are they racist?

I ran out of space for the initial part of the question but here are the extras:
1. We do the same job
2. We make the same amount
3. I NEVER asked her how much she made or what her bonus was... she volunteered the information. SO I WAS NOT BEING NOSEY!!!!!
4. The only difference between us is that she is a 40 year old white woman and I am a 26 year old black woman.

4. My manager is not the person who hired me. He just started with the company about 4 months ago.

Answer 1

Yeah, I'd go straight to the boss and ask why EXACTLY was their such a considerable difference in bonuses.

Don't leave until you get a satisfactory answer.

White people will never understand why race is an issue. B/c deep down inside, it really is. They'll never know what it feels like to be less important than their "all-american looking" counterparts just b/c they promote the right image.

And sometimes bosses think with all the overacheiving and question asking that you are a trouble-starter, rather than a fall-in-liner, which unfortunately is what some employers want.

Answer 2

The lady might be right about her paycheck but sometimes,that might be a lie.
You know why most ladies have their men taken by friends? it's because they listen other people more than trying to find out themselves.
I'm wondering how close you are to this lady to make her show you her paycheck. I am very close to my sister,yet I've never seen her paycheck. She might tell me but not let me see it for myself.
If it is too good to be true,it is. Focus on your job and work harder. That woman has now gotten into your head with her paycheck.See it has got agitated.
Racism has got nothing to do with this. Why can't we black people accept the irregularities in life. You can't expect everything to be the same or equal.
Would you call your boss racist if you'd a bigger pay than that lady? of course not; you would back it up that you are fresher,talented and more energetic than that lady,right?
Take it that she is older and more experienced;hence,she gets the lion's share.

Answer 3

You didn't say if you worked on commission or was it a piece work type of job. You yourself said she does her work, is this bonus in relation to sales? I once had a job where we did the same job but any bonuses were in relation to our sales, one month I would have more ,the next his was more. Racist, probably not, unless you were to cry discrimination, than it becomes a racial issue, for what it's worth

Answer 4

There could be many other reasons other than racism for the lesser bonus. Why is the racism card always pulled? Fact is, not all companies operate fairly. I once worked for a company that pretty much based their pay scale on how well the owners liked each employee. I was lucky and was one fo the favored ones. My friend was not and whenever she complained about her pay, I felt guilty because I made more. Yeah, it's poopy but what can you do?

$1200 is a damn good bonus.

I suggest that you quit worrying about what other people are making. Stop discussing it - whether you're bringing it up or not. It's rude and makes your co-workers uncomfortable. A lot of companies have policies that if employees discuss salaries, bonus', benefits, etc it is grounds for automatic termination.

Answer 5

I'll answer your question with a question.

We had two fellow employees at work. One was a white male and one was a black female. The white male worked hard, volunteered for and worked all of the overtime he could get, had more enforcement actions than anyone else in his start group and had many friends on staff. Two weeks before his probation was up they fired him because he wasn't a yes man and they didn't like his attitude. They told him that he was on probation and they didn't need a reason to fire him.

The other employee (the black female) never works overtime and half the time she hides in the bathroom on her cell phone during her regular shift. She has 8 enforcement actions in three years (far behind employees hired even two and half years after her), she went on vacation and didn't come back for three extras days (without so much as a phone call). She has missed overtime assignments she was forcibly assigned (mandatory OT is part of our contract) and just left and went home. She actually quit at one point while on probation but they let her come back. She has missed look-outs and yelled at other employees in front of passengers. She then claimed that all of this hard work stressed her out and didn't show up for SIX MONTHS. Still they haven't fired her (they say they need to build a case) Last week they made a deal and transfered her to an area many seasoned officers have tried to get to for years and let her come back to work.

So I have to ask, Is my employer racist?

Answer 6

Before I would go asking if they are racist, I would say try and find out if there was a standard that the bonuses were based on. Ask you're boss how the amount for each bonus was decided. then decide if there is a problem.

Answer 7

Having been in positions were something seems or is unfair, I try to remember there is two sides to every story. It may seem that this other person is doing less and getting more and it may be true that they are, but have you researched this to make sure? Also you stated she was 40 years old. Her 14 years of experience may be why she got a bigger check. Before you do anything make sure you have your ducks in a row. Otherwise you may be opening a can of worms you don't want to eat.

Answer 8

I guess you could say that, I wouldn't say it, because I don't see how it is a racist decision.

If you were going to the mall to shop at one of there 75% off all merchandise sales, that started at 6:00 a.m. and ended at noon, you found some things you liked, got in to line, but by the time you got to pay it was 12:30. Are you going to say the store is racist because the people in front of you were white and got the discount?

You can refer to race in anything you want, doesn't make it the case. You could also go to your boss and ask them how the bonus was determined, and see what they tell you!

Answer 9

Maybe not......you may think your work is above hers but the reality may be she is a better worker than you. Maybe you should ask your boss if your work meets standards. Why does race always have to be an issue? Maybe you are not as efficient as her. Besides if you have the time to see what she is doing all the time then obviously your not worrying about your work.

PS... before listening to the suppose attorney below think this out.....I was in a major discrimination lawsuit...attorneys love them because they get $$$ for them....however, they are not what you think it is....you will lose your job (no matter if you win), you will lose your friends, you will be alienated from other workers and it WILL be the worse time of your life. People that telll you to file are usually people that have never experienced it. Caution: remember like one lady told you there is 14 years of experience between you and the other lady. I know I get a few hundred a week more than a new employee due to my experience. You will too when you get the experience.

Answer 10

If your check was more than hers would you still think they where racist? Only $1200.00 thats better than I got this year a huge $50.00. Most of the times they figure in the amount of time you worked there. 1/2 a year will make the bonus bigger normally.