Is this considered fair pay?

[luvtogo12]

Just throwing this out there for opinions.............

I accidentally found out that my co-worker makes more than me (she slipped). OK, it is only $0.50/hour more but still, she makes more.

We both do the same job although mine is more diversified. I have been there 6 years and she has been there 1.5 years. In my recent review, it states that I run the dept (I was never officially told that). There was nothing negative in my review.

I asked my boss if there was any justifiable reasoning for this and I was told it is only because I work 30 hours a week (my decision) and she works 40 hours a week.

So, now I am curious and turn to the DIS to find out if this is standard practice or just simply unfair?

 

[disneyfreakk]

It is standard practice to pay different people differently. That is why there is usually a policy about not discussing pay with anyone.

 

[luvtogo12]

It is standard practice to pay different people differently. That is why there is usually a policy about not discussing pay with anyone.

No discussion took place, she slipped and I did not respond.
It ceratinly is a valid policy though.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

The best way to approach this would not be to say, "so and so makes more than me, and that's not fair". The best way would be to ask for the raise, citing all your good work and good reviews, and what you think that may be worth to the company. You will usually get a negative response if it is discovered you've been discussing pay scales amongst yourselves, and it's never a reason to use to get more money (unless you're union, then that's a whole 'nother ball o' wax).

 

[DMickey28]

If there is a pay range for the position than people in the same position can be paid different amounts for the same job.

I found out that in my unit at work I make the most by at least $2K. My boss had a piece of paper on her desk and I saw our initials and then recongnized my salary next to my initials. I was shocked .. I have been with the company for just under two years and the senior people on my team have been there for 9 years and do more advanced work than I do by far. I make more b/c I moved from a different salary bracket and they were able to keep me at my salary b/c it was at the top cap for the position in this bracket. I covered up the paper at my sups desk and she understood that the rest would be so upset if they found that out...

So yes, people can be paid different amounts for the same position for any variety of reasons.

 

[oxfordcircus]

In my office, it's a firable offense to discuss pay - even though it was just a slip.

On the other hand, if you're part time without benefits, you're much cheaper than a full-timer, so pay is usually higher for part-time.

 

[cccm]

Different people make different amounts. I would definitely not complain,but ask about a raise. As I go through someones yearly review, I think of the following:

Length of time with company
What was starting salary
What is current starting salary
Merit based yearly increase
Range for job description (approach of cap)

If you work 4/5 of week, you get paid 4/5 of salary that you would make if you worked full time. If 3/5 of week, then 3/5.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

In my office, it's a firable offense to discuss pay - even though it was just a slip.

On the other hand, if you're part time without benefits, you're much cheaper than a full-timer, so pay is usually higher for part-time.

I think most companies use that policy. Almost everyone I have worked as has. Good Luck

 

[JoyG]

I have to say, that's one thing I like about my job...there's an established pay scale based on years employed and education level.

I can figure out what anybody makes if I know how long they've been working and what their degree is.

 

[Charade]

If you work 4/5 of week, you get paid 4/5 of salary that you would make if you worked full time. If 3/5 of week, then 3/5.

In total, not per hour as stated by the OP.

I would be pissed if someone who worked 40 hours a week and made twice per hour than I did if I only worked 20. If we did the same job.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

The majority of the time when one of our employees asks for an increase and is able to back it up and is a valuable employee, the employee is given the increase. Basically, an employee's starting pay is whatever they can negotiate in their interview.

 

[annegal]

Sorry...I disagree. WE have an employee who only works 30 hours , does same work, and she is never there for the "not fun" aspects of the job, which we do at end of day when she is not there. A 40 hour employee is more valuable to the employer, IMO.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Sorry...I disagree. WE have an employee who only works 30 hours , does same work, and she is never there for the "not fun" aspects of the job, which we do at end of day when she is not there. A 40 hour employee is more valuable to the employer, IMO.

Gotta agree, especially in my job.

 

[Charade]

Sorry...I disagree. WE have an employee who only works 30 hours , does same work, and she is never there for the "not fun" aspects of the job, which we do at end of day when she is not there. A 40 hour employee is more valuable to the employer, IMO.

Do those "not fun" jobs require any extra skills (like cashing out a register)?

 

[jonestavern]

I have never worked anywhere that has a policy against discussing salary. IMHO, companies in general take advantage of what has become a taboo subject in the workplace in order to keep salary pressures in check.

Chris

 

[taximomfor4]

I have been at jobs where discussing pay was grounds for disciplinary action.

That aside, many (most) jobs negotiate wages upon hiring. This other employee may have educational differences, prior experience, or just good wage-negotiation skills.

Beth

 

[SeaSpray]

The starting salary for your position has probably risen at a faster rate than your salary has.

My DH just got his ENTIRE department raises, based on this fact. When he was made the manager of his department a year and a half ago, he came home and told me "I cannot believe how much some of the guys make; and these are the guys who've been there the longest and who do a better job/have better experience, than the others. This isn't right.... I'm going to do something about it....."

Back then I did not believe that ANYTHING or ANYONE could change this practice (it's nothing new), including my DH, but he had a plan, and it finally came to fruition a few weeks ago.

In a nutshell, his most valuable employee got about a $30k a year raise....all the way down the lower level employees who haven't been there as long (hence their starting salaries already were pretty much in alignment with the going rate), who got about a $2k a year raise. Most got about $15k a year raise.

When the VP of the company called in each employee one at a time (out of the blue, mind you. NONE of them had any idea that my DH was working on this behind the scenes all this time), the VP was nice enough to point out that it was my DH who they should thank (My DH was there in the room, too), because it was all his work that proved that the raises were in the best interest of the company. One guy wanted to kiss my DH!!

Anyway...unfortunately what you describe is extremely common. When I was 18 years old and got a job in a bank as a teller, I started off making more than the older ladies who'd been working there 20 years. Sad, but true....

 

[Mary Anne]

I agree 100% with Sea Spray, I've seen that over and over in the work place. It's a very sad, but true fact.

 

[annegal]

Do those "not fun" jobs require any extra skills (like cashing out a register)?

I work in a Flower shop...it's Lugging bunches of buckets (heavy with water-that used to hold flowers) to the back of the store for the part-timer to wash & sterilize in the afternoon....then moving "old" flowers(2-3 days old) buckets to the first cooler and hauling all the heavy new flower buckets to the second cooler...lots of the "yucky" chores are done very early or at the end of the day....when the girl who works 30 hours isn't there.

 

[luvtogo12]

I work in a Flower shop...it's Lugging bunches of buckets (heavy with water-that used to hold flowers) to the back of the store for the part-timer to wash & sterilize in the afternoon....then moving "old" flowers(2-3 days old) buckets to the first cooler and hauling all the heavy new flower buckets to the second cooler...lots of the "yucky" chores are done very early or at the end of the day.

That is a Yucky chore and a lot of work I am sure.

Seaspray...Is your DH hiring?