Ask HN: Co-workers paid more. What to do?

Re:Ask HN: Co-workers paid more. What to do? by st1x7 on Sunday November 29, 2020 @04:56AM (#25244109)

1. Ask for a raise. Your company likely has some kind of review cycle and there are times in the financial year when employees can get a pay review. Make sure that before that moment comes around you've had a conversation about salary with your direct manager and you're on track to get a raise. Since you know other people's salaries, you can ask for specific numbers instead of asking for a raise in the general sense.

2. Don't focus too much on other people when you're having these conversations. Since you're performing well and have never had a compensation review, it's reasonable to just ask for a raise even without the knowledge of other people's salaries. It might be reasonable to say that you're looking for a salary that's in line with what the rest of the team is making (but I certainly wouldn't start with this). Whatever you do, don't discuss other people's deservingness and don't badmouth anyone.

3. Since you're comfortable financially, you always have the option to quit and find another job. For the same reason you might be less likely to quit because of salary. So if you don't get what you want, it really comes down to your personal priorities about what aspects of your job matter to you and no one else can really give you good advice on that.

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Re:Ask HN: Co-workers paid more. What to do? by adit20 on Sunday November 29, 2020 @12:12PM (#25246404)

Thanks a lot for a very detailed response.

1. I was never comfortable discussing it with my manager.

2. Great advice on not bad mouthing others. Will keep it in mind. Actually I dont mind not getting a hike/promo. But underserving ones getting is what I am upset about. My manager is very good and I heard he has been trying his best. But I got to know its the layer above him that plays the spoilsport. Apparently due to the perception. I dont market myself and have always been humble.

3. Till now I never thought about quitting. Now I am contemplating. Somehow I get a feeling that its the same no matter where you go. My other plan is to stay here, but dont work hard. Just do what is asked. But its difficult to implement since I always want to give my best.

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Re:Ask HN: Co-workers paid more. What to do? by codegeek on Sunday November 29, 2020 @02:13PM (#25247214)

"But underserving ones getting is what I am upset about."

Sorry but that is not your call to make. Don't mix you not getting a raise with someone else getting an undeserved raise. Focus on your issue. You want a raise. That's the issue. Ask for it. Make your case. Be vocal. Be Prompt. Don't badmouth team members. Good luck.

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Re:Ask HN: Co-workers paid more. What to do? by selfishgene on Sunday November 29, 2020 @06:41PM (#25249197)

Of course it's the OP's call to make. Most companies have a finite set of resources from which they can draw to reward employees, except maybe defense contractors.

If someone is not competent and is hurting the team effort, it is not badmouthing that person to express your concern.

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Re:Ask HN: Co-workers paid more. What to do? by codegeek on Monday November 30, 2020 @10:02AM (#25254420)

You can express concern about an underperforming team member but not in the context of a raise. Don't tie your own raise to someone else not performing. That's the point I am making. Ask for what you deserve based on what YOU think you are worth. Otherwise, you are basically saying "The other person who is shitty gets paid more than me. I am less shitty than them. So pay me more".

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Re:Ask HN: Co-workers paid more. What to do? by bot41 on Sunday November 29, 2020 @01:27PM (#25246893)

Your manager is very good for the company but not for you.. he is, in part, responsible for your salary.

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Re:Ask HN: Co-workers paid more. What to do? by giantg2 on Sunday November 29, 2020 @11:03AM (#25245930)

I agree with this. I would just add that if you are bringing up any comparisons in #2, I would have a document from a third party like Glassdoor that states what your specific market rate should be based on your attributes.

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