Cut Salary?

Question

I am a Field Service Engineer. I make around 55K/year with 3 years of experience. Friends that graduated in the same class make around 60K+. My questions is the following. My employer pays me a low 42K base salary the 13K left is dived into 2 bonuses plus Overtime. so, for example I can make around 3K is OT and the 10K left is divided. 2/3 (6700) in March and 1/3 (3300) in September. Older engineers tell me they make the same as me in Base salary and I know it is true. They make more bonus money eg. 20K 40K 60K divided into 2 bonuses.

Is this fair? for the employer to hold our money and I guess invest it or do whatever they want with it? Plus if you screw up during the year they can lower your bonus because they consider it a gift. Can I place a complain on through the government? I don't want to be making 80K and live check by check just because my employer decides to hold my salary.

Thank You

P.S.
Older engineers hate the system as well.

I work for a private company that represents a large Medical company (Like GE) locally. The complain comes from 85% of the employees, not just me. We have pointed the issue every year and they were going to do quarterly bonuses but then they used a lame excuse (too much paperwork).

Answer 1

Unless you have a valid employment contract that specifies that you be paid under some other arrangement, your company is entitled to pay you however they see fit (i.e. - this payment scheme is not illegal in the US under federal law). So forget about complaining to the government, getting a lawyer, etc.

I would get a group of employees together and approach the human resources department. Explain why you think this payment scheme is unfair and suggest an alternate. If they are unresponsive, looking for another job is about your only option.

Good luck. :-)

Answer 2

You didn't tell us for whom you are a Field Service Engineer. You obviously signed some type of employment contract with the company; are they living up to their end of the contract? As for people "who graduated in your class", what their company pays them does not reflect too much on what your company pays you. What is your "job description" and how have you been rated. While it is no sin to underpay you compared to other companies (as much as you may not like to hear that), it would take discrepencies in your employment vs. others in your company to make a case. PS. if you have a case, try and resolve it first within the company.