I am not quite sure what to put this in the comments.

Anonymous

September 30,2023 at 2:53PM UTC

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I am not quite sure what to put this in the comments. But at my work, they pay the males more than they pay the females, even if the females have degrees. I have three degrees. The two men that I work with get more then I do. The one that just got hired gets $2 more an hour then I do & has no experience or degrees, the other one has been there one month longer then me & is handsome & never even finished school with a very shady past & gets $3 more an hour then I do. I have also worked in this industry for over 25 years. I’m very upset about this & have already approached management about it twice. Any suggestions?

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AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 3:05PM UTC
Start looking for another job, where you'll be paid correctly. This sounds like a "good old boys" place and you probably will not be paid what you should be.
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 6:44PM UTC
I am currently looking for other job positions at other facilities. Thank you for understanding my situation.
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 3:15PM UTC
Sounds they are using you to take credit (commissions)
You can do much better.
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 6:42PM UTC
Thank you
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 5:30PM UTC
How do you know their salary and specific experiences?
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 6:37PM UTC
People here tell each other everything. Plus, I’ve seen there paychecks with my own eyes.
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 11:36PM UTC
Where I work, if you THINK of discussing pay: good bye. If someone asks, I say it's confidential.
I've worked in payroll and I've been sworn to secrecy. Besides, I don't want to start drama or know details like this.
What I don't know won't hurt me.
AnonymousOctober 1,2023 at 2:06PM UTC
If you work in the US, that’s an issue.
Lisa McCartneyOctober 1,2023 at 3:05PM UTC
HR and payroll can't discuss. Individuals can, the old adage of don't tell is going by the wayside.
Plus if she works in payroll or HR she's most likely going to see it.
AnonymousOctober 3,2023 at 6:54PM UTC
It is actually not against the law to discuss your pay.
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 6:38PM UTC
I show my worth everyday, I’ve even been told I do the work of two or three people.
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 6:41PM UTC
First of all you are supposed to given us helpful advice & not be rude. Secondly, I wrote this in a hurry & you are not focusing on helping other women, you are focused on putting us down.
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 6:54PM UTC
Time to find a new place to work… That does sound pure janky
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 30,2023 at 7:53PM UTC
What country are you in?
AnonymousOctober 3,2023 at 6:53PM UTC
United States of America
AnonymousSeptember 30,2023 at 9:58PM UTC
It depends on where you are, the labor laws and structure and the culture.
AnonymousOctober 1,2023 at 1:01PM UTC
If you've already approached management and HR, then it's time to approach a labor lawyer. You gave them a chance. Don't let anyone tell you it's not worth pursuing a lawyer for this reason or another. Any fight fought in the spirit of fairness and equity helps all women, not just yourself. I am also in a situation similar to yours. I have a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree, and my place of employment is run by uneducated, ignorant men. They are not all bad -- just the ones who run the show. We have one particular manager who has alienated himself from every woman who has ever worked for him. He hires women in supervisory positions, then lets the men treat them like secretaries. HR has done nothing about this. These men will not change, and HR will continue to look out for the company, not the employee. A labor lawyer will not charge you for a consultation, and will usually only take cases where they are certain they can win. So you have nothing to lose by contacting one. However, you have everything to lose by listening to people tell you not to waste your time.
AnonymousOctober 3,2023 at 6:52PM UTC
Thank you for the advice
AnonymousOctober 1,2023 at 2:07PM UTC
You have 3 degrees and are an hourly employee and worries about a coworker making $2-3 more an hour than you? What field are you in? If you are that degreed I feel like you are way underpaid.
AnonymousOctober 1,2023 at 2:15PM UTC
Generally speaking, the longer you stay somewhere, you're never going to catch up with people who were hired after you if market rate for the position keeps going up. If all the males who are getting more were hired later than the females then the reason they could be paid more is the market rate was higher or they did a strong job negotiating their pay to start. Management won't do anything about it unless they think you're going to quit, because then they know they'll have to hire someone at the higher rate and have to train them, so productivity will be down and labor costs will be up. Your best tactic is to go out there and look and see what other employers will pay you given your experience and education, and then either use that to negotiate a raise where you are, or just take the money and run to that new job and don't look back.
AnonymousOctober 1,2023 at 2:33PM UTC
Discuss with HR, perhaps there is a reason, maybe the restructured the salary plan. If there isnt a good explanation, I would file an EEOC complaint, because it is an illegal practice
Caryn BruynsOctober 1,2023 at 2:50PM UTC
If you’re all doing exactly the same job then why wouldn’t they just hire all females at the lower pay rate?
AnonymousOctober 2,2023 at 8:43PM UTC
My guess is salary compression. New hires are hired at market rate, and raises haven't kept up.
Audrey KirschOctober 1,2023 at 3:10PM UTC
It’s an antiquated idea but some companies feel that men have families to support so need the extra money. You have expressed your dissatisfaction with the salary disparity. Now you have a choice to make. Stay and be mad, look for something else that may be better or take legal action. I wish you luck with whatever you choose.
AnonymousOctober 1,2023 at 3:30PM UTC
Have you flat out asked for a raise? A lot of times, the only way to make more money is to change companies. Is it worth it to you brush up your resume and start job hunting? Women has been paid less than men for hundreds of years. It has gotten slightly better over time, but still a thing that needs to be equalized.
AnonymousOctober 2,2023 at 5:02PM UTC
If male colleagues who were hired years ago are also being paid less, the issue would be wage compression, which is not illegal, but it sucks.
AnonymousOctober 1,2023 at 4:39PM UTC
Create a written presentation to present to your boss and ask for the specific salary that you want. In that presentation, state that due to your education, years of experience, and skill level you deserve to be paid more on an ongoing basis than someone who has less education, experience, and skill. As new staff are hired, you would like your salary to be reviewed yearly. You don’t have to mention names, but you can state facts such as you have become aware of team members who do not have degrees or experience but are making $2 - $3 more per hour than you are, and you are aware of the disparity between the male salaries and the female salaries at the company. Given that it is their culture, it is unlikely that it will change, be prepared to leave. Have your resume ready and start job hunting because as soon as you meet with them they likely will start to target you and point out every little flaw you make. Document everything.
AnonymousOctober 2,2023 at 11:55AM UTC
An actual presentation is not going to fly with most bosses. Asking for a brief meeting to discuss, being succinct in your delivery, will go much further.
AnonymousOctober 2,2023 at 5:01PM UTC
Written presentations are kind of a last resort.
This could be simple wage compression that's affecting lots of people, so looking into any remedies available through HR might be a better first step - not a request, but asking if there's something in place to bring the old-timers up to market pay.
AnonymousOctober 1,2023 at 5:03PM UTC
File a formal complaint to the EEOC and FEHA and see how it goes. Why you have knowledge of others compensation is a bit of a worry. As an alternative move to an employer that pays fairly and openly across the board.
misskelleypOctober 1,2023 at 6:15PM UTC
Are your degrees related to the job field? For instance, if you're working at Starbucks and have a degree in film studies - well, that's not exactly related. IF your degrees ARE related to your field, I would calmly and professionally go to your manager and ask for a raise. Simply state, I have been in this field for over 25 years, I have these degrees which add value, my performance has been excellent (only if it HAS been excellent - the devil may be in that detail), and I deserve $X as that is the market rate for a senior person with my qualifications. And before you have this conversation, practice, and do the research on what the market rate actually is. Good luck.
AnonymousOctober 3,2023 at 6:46PM UTC
Yes, my degrees are in the field. Thank you
Liz MilneOctober 2,2023 at 3:15AM UTC
To engender change you need to upset the status quo. Get louder. Go public with their gender inequality. Make it more uncomfortable for them to persist than make a change. And start looking for a job where you'll be paid your worth. Bosses are never going to pay people more without some incentive to do so - why should they? At present YOUR extra money is going into the BOSS'S pocket, I'm sure he's delighted with that...
AnonymousOctober 3,2023 at 6:45PM UTC
Thank you
AnonymousOctober 2,2023 at 11:57AM UTC
But if the OP is mentioning her degrees, I'm guessing they have relevance to her actual job. Which is why I am asking what field she is in.
AnonymousOctober 2,2023 at 12:11PM UTC
Some cultures accept this as normal and expected.
AnonymousOctober 2,2023 at 4:58PM UTC
Look into EEO law to see if you have a case.
Even if you do, think about whether it's worth it to bring a case.
AnonymousOctober 3,2023 at 6:41PM UTC
Thank you
AnonymousOctober 2,2023 at 7:45PM UTC
I’m not sure what your degrees are in, but learn the difference between “then”and “than” in anything you might write up about this incident.
Not knowing what state you live in, you could possibly go to the labor board and file an EEO complaint. Good luck.
AnonymousOctober 3,2023 at 4:31PM UTC
That's not terribly helpful--what is the OP's first language wasn't English or they have a learning difference that makes grammar hard for them.
AnonymousOctober 4,2023 at 5:41AM UTC
all depends upon skills not degrees now a days
AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 7:31PM UTC
I am not sure why everyone knows everyone else's hourly pay. That is none of your business and it is none of theirs how much you make or how much they make. Men have always made more than women, we know this and it's not a surprise that this still happens. Is it fair? No, but I really think money is a personal matter. Places used to fire you over talking about your pay.