I am a contract IT Project Manager, working for a company that is not well liked in my state.

16 Comments

1. AnonymousDecember 23,2023 at 7:15PM UTC

   Consult with an employment attorney before doing anything!

2. AnonymousDecember 23,2023 at 9:40PM UTC

   Omg, knock it off with the employment lawyer nonsense for every work situation that’s not ideal! Someone hurt my feeling, call an attorney! Someone said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays, micro aggressions…call a lawyer. I want my employer to grant me permanent WFH status because I have to take of my dog but they said no to the accommodation…call a lawyer!

   The OP is a contract employee with an agency. That’s undoubtedly her first stop. She needs to learn how to use her voice and advocate for herself. The answer to a compensation request will always be no if you don’t ask.

3. AnonymousDecember 28,2023 at 2:32PM UTC

   Spot in comment!!!! I read that and rolled my eyes. Let’s get litigious before we explore other options and use our words.

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistDecember 24,2023 at 12:04AM UTC

   You don't work for the client - you work for the agency. They're the ones who pay you - you negotiate with them. Chances are the client has no idea how much you are being paid. They only know how much they're paying the agency.

   This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with your gender - it could simply be that the person in that position negotiated a higher rate for themselves.

5. Susan Heidi WolmanDecember 26,2023 at 2:21PM UTC

   Go to your agency. The client may be paying the same. Is your agency the same one that placed your predecessor? Do they hold the primary contract with the client? If they are subcontracting from another agency, that is two companies (at least) that need to get paid before you do.

6. G C HesseDecember 26,2023 at 3:20PM UTC

   Go to your recruiter that got you the position.

   This is going to sound racist but the East Indian culture has jumped on the recruiting bandwagon and really try to lowball women. They will flatout lie about rates, available per diem and just about anything. They tried with me, recruiting for a large power company and I happen to know the rates and what is being paid to contractors.

   Just a FYI! AND I ended up blocking this company.

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistDecember 26,2023 at 9:23PM UTC

   It sounds racist because it is racist.

8. Kristie WhiteDecember 29,2023 at 8:10PM UTC

   I disagree. Indian firms use a business model where they solicit the work in the U.S. and then outsource the back office to India. It’s been going on for about 20 years at least. This model gives them lower costs and faster turnaround for clients because they can throw a lot of labor at it. The flip side is they pay extremely low rates to U.S. contractors because they have a much lower profit margin. Companies using these firms get a lot of applicants but not top tier talent who won’t work for those rates.

9. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistDecember 29,2023 at 9:26PM UTC

   I know exactly what offshoring is. I also know what capitalism is.

   The poster - acknowledging herself it could sound racist - talks about "the East Indian culture" - not the business model.

10. GirlBossanova934974December 27,2023 at 4:46PM UTC

    "Indian recruiters" are not targeting anyone in particular. They try to lowball anyone they can regardless of race, gender, etc etc. Best not answer their calls or emails. They rarely get you even the 1st interview because of their terrible reputation for all sorts of unethical tactics.

11. AnonymousDecember 27,2023 at 1:48PM UTC

    The company was paying $7 more per hour or the contractor was netting $7 more per hour after the agency took their cut? If the latter and you were both at the same agency then go to your agency because it sounds like they're taking a bigger cut of the overall money they're getting from the client in your case.

12. GirlBossanova934974December 27,2023 at 4:47PM UTC

    Depends who is paying you. The agency or the employer where you work. Agencies will low ball you everyday and keep a few extra bucks.

13. Kristie WhiteDecember 29,2023 at 2:57PM UTC

    There is no requirement for equity as a contractor. So the fact that your predecessor was male is irrelevant. Typically men tend to ask for more compensation than women, it’s a habit we need to get out of. So Your negotiation was between the agency and yourself for your rate and skill. That’s when you agreed to your price as an independent contractor. You weren’t the negotiator between the company and the agency. If you want to raise your rate, you can try to open the negotiation with your agency but they wont want to go back to the client and will tell you it can’t be done. Chalk this up to a lesson and raise your rates.

14. Crystal HowellDecember 30,2023 at 12:15AM UTC

    In your contract do you have a review period, go back to the agency and negotiate. Are you there permanently or temporarily? Don't gossip about how much you Heard was paid more, you don't know for sure. Prove your better credentials, and speak up. In the meanwhile, keep your options open for a position elsewhere and stick to your number, you know you are worth it!

15. Annalise MJanuary 5,2024 at 4:43PM UTC

    I think this brings up a good point...if you're basing this idea on something a coworker said, you have no idea if it's accurate because it's likely 2nd or 3rd-hand information. I'd only trust the info if it's literally on a document you found or something.

16. AnonymousJanuary 5,2024 at 7:29PM UTC

    OP here. As a project manager, I see the bill rates of all contractors, including the one I replaced. So it's factual, not something I heard.