I think this is more of a vent then anything. So I took a $3 pay cut to work at this job which I absolutely love. I have been there for a year, and this year I took over as lead of one room (this company is small (there is only 6 of us). My boss asked me if I knew anyone that would make a good assistant for me, and I referred someone I used to work with at my previous job. Make a long story short the person I referred couldn't work there if she had too much of a pay cut. Well she took the job and I asked her if she was happy with my pay. She told me yes and that her pay was match with what she was making at our old job. She is making $1.20 more then me now... I was furious, but I have bad anxiety and no back bone. I finally built up enough courage to ask my boss if my pay was changing this year and they told me no, even though I am in a slightly higher position. I am certified, I have been there longer, and I am lead and my assistant who is not certified and who has not been there as long is getting paid more. I just don't understand and I am so furious. I can't say anything that I know what my assistant gets paid cause I don't want to look unprofessional, or get her in trouble, but at the same time too, I have done everything I could for this job, and I took this position in hopes of a raise. I am so disappointed in my boss, and the whole situation. Everyone keeps telling me to fight it, but the problem is I can't. I have no back bone and I try to fight that but I get so nervous I can't. I don't like confrontation, and I dunno how to fight back. I am assuming they needed the help and gave her what she wanted in hopes that I wouldn't find out, but I just can't believe they did this too me. I don't want to leave my job cause I love it, but now I'm so angry, I just dunno. Any advice would be good, but I dunno if it will help! LOL! Kinda hard when you feel like a weak person. :/

- mmm, this is tough stuff. This is an area that needs to be tread on lightly and carefully.

First off good for you for taking the action and asking about about your pay in general for the year. That is very important, because it is a step that people often don't take and they get stuck, a stuck that could partially be their own doing.

I don't know your situation, but it could be bad to talk about another's pay. If it is not something that you decided on and that you are not in charge of it might be in the forbidden zone = you could get in trouble if you talk about it.

Being at a company for 1 year kind of isn't really a long enough time yet to push buttons like this. I think 1 year is the minimum to ask for a raise, according to career advice I was always given. You need to have enough time to prove yourself and establish yourself within the company. It might take more than a year to do that.

Asking for a raise, and even approaching the subject is tough because there are so many factors to consider: the culture of the company, how your relationship with your boss is, the current atmosphere, is it the right time and place, do you get an annual review that this could have been brought up in?, how well business is, the economy... and I think working for a small business is even tougher because usually small businesses are straining themselves as much as possible (I work for a family owned business and there's so much overlapping in job duties, and it has been increasing, etc). There's not much "in the budget" to speak to dish out more money.

For example, since this past July it will be a year since I have been with my current company. I feel like I should be getting paid more than what I agreed to when I started (based on paygrade research and all the duties and projects I have done in the past). I am getting paid more than before, but I was unemployed (laid off) plus felt not experienced enough to ask for more. Right now is a bad time: business was lost and things have been looking shaky with a main customer these past few months, 1 person was laid off because of it, I got a bonus last month, a meeting and buying period with that main customer is this week, and my x2 bosses will be traveling this and next month, plus one will be out on medical leave next week. So I'm sitting tight.

That whole first agreement is such a vital time to work a deal out. It's gross to say, but you can even be taken advantage of when you sign up. Sometimes it doesn't matter to a company who is the best, they will take the lowest bidder. I don't mean that to put you down or think or know that is the situation you are in, but it happens. I would say never take a job and expect to get a promotion or raise...it's hard for things to work out like that. It's so tight, the economy has not recovered, the business world has morphed and is doing horrid things, cutting corners anyplace it can. The best raise you can ever get is to jump ship to a new ship. I have a very negative view of things, and those last few sentences are extreme...I'm younger and I cannot be like my parents generation who stayed around hoping to receive more from their employers for loyalty. That old mentality gone and I have seen it first hand.

So I don't think that was much help in giving you a direct answer of what to do. Can you fight it? If you decide to fight it you should do research about what you should be getting paid. And make a list of all your duties and accomplishments that you have done so far. Go in with ammo.

Thanks for the reply. As bad as I would like to say it, I would never say anything that I know my aids pay. I'm so stuck I just don't know what to do. I try to let it go, but I'm so mad I can't. None of this situation is fair. :(

I don't know the situation well enough to give much advice, but I wanted to ask a couple of questions. You don't have to answer them, just think about them.

You said you loved your job, and even took a pay cut to be there. It's understandable that you're upset about the difference in pay, but until that can get resolved, do you like what you're doing? Laying aside the whole pay issue, do you truly love what you're doing?

Many times people will love the job they're doing but the work environment is not the best. Are you happy with the place and people you're working with? Is the pay issue the only reason you're upset?

Someone once told me the best job to have is one you love so much you wouldn't mind doing it for free. The pay is just a nice perk. Of course these types of jobs are hard to find, but it's something to think about.

I'm sorry I don't have much advice to give, but I hope the situation gets resolved one way or the other soon. :)

Just going to throw this in here, employers bank on their employees not discussing pay with each other. The reason it's so taboo is specifically for the problem your having, where someone less experienced is being paid more. I had this issue today too, I had to bring up to my manager that I deserved a raise a long time ago and that she knew that. I wasn't wrong and it made her sad because this conversation came up while discussing a new employment opportunity I had accepted. If she had just given me what I deserved, she would not be losing one of her most valued employees. I suggest watching the episode of Adam Ruins Everything about this topic (Adam Ruins Work - S01E08).

I agree with Steph. The Adam Ruins Work episode is super helpful. Truth is, you should be allowed to talk about your pay. Considering your experience and the fact you are in a position above your friend, you should be getting equal or more pay.