Just found out that my coworker with the same position earns way more than me. Should I use this in a salary negotiation? - Comparably | Comparably

Just found out that my coworker with the same position earns way more than me. Should I use this in a salary negotiation?

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56 Answers

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    Top Employee Response

    Of course, this could be a violation of The Equal Pay Act.

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    If you have the same seniority level and you do the same quality of work - yes.

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    Not as the sole basis. Same position does not translate into same skill set, same experience, and it doesn't even mean same job duties. Negotiate based on YOU, ever anyone else.

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    No. You need to show your value to the company.

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    Don't know if it would be a good idea to bring up, you don't know why they are making more, got a larger raise, etc... could very easily backfire. You are not going to get a raise anyway & if you do the rise in insurance will still make your check less than it was.

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    Wouldn’t matter. There will always be favoritism in companies of all kinds and sizes. Plus you may not have certain qualifications that the other person has

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    No. If I accepted the job at this salary the company is being fair. If the co-worker negotiated the same job at a higher salary - they are just a better negotiator than I am. Another employee's personal information should not be used to try to improve my situation or justify my situation in any way.

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    No. It is highly discouraged to share salary information with coworkers. It may even cause termination.

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    You have to consider how long the coworker has been working with the company as well. If they were there for years before you then that can take part. Also their past experience could with jobs could be another reason they make so much, find out more before you go ask about a negotiation in your salary.

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    I would suggest having a compensation conversation with your manager to discuss what can be done. After your manager, HR should be involved so that you can understand the company's position. Then, determine how you want to negotiate salary and proceed.

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    Obviously, you are not valued by management. This is why people ghost jobs. Find a new job. Where I work there are "favorites" or "teachers pets". I have learned to navigate the work flow and pick my battles. Management will usually make poor decisions for the sake of greed.

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    No, prove what you are worth using your own achievement/accolades.

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    Definitely, if I found out I was highly underpaid for the same skill set I’d want to be compensated

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    Most definitely you should

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    Everyone in a free market makes their own deal based on what they can bring to the table. There is definitely a value in knowing what level of compensation others are getting, but using that info directly is way too aggressive. You are opening yourself up to a risk of your employer losing confidence in your discretion as a fellow worker.

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    You will have make sure you have your facts straight. What college degrees do you have, how many years in the field, and how many years at the company? These are questions that will make a big difference in your negotiations.

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    First ask why they earn so much more.

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    Not specifically saying that x employee earns more, but rather argue their worth using specific and numerical examples.

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    No, but it would prompt me to do some market research on if I believe I'm being paid at market value for my role.

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    Same position doesn't necessarily mean the same experience. I wouldn't expect a new licensed optician to have the same salary as a seasoned optician who has been licensed for over 5 years.

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    I think we should have a similar payment in relation to the position if both coworkers have the same position their salary should be very similar.

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    nope. Don't hate; congratulate

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    Fight for yourself, without seeing the other people

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    Not unless you are prepared to find employment elsewhere. Negotiate your own salary based on your own circumstances and be able to show your own worth and efforts as reasons for a raise.

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    Unfortunately no. The company is not transparent about payroll and even prohibits you to comment about it. Plenty of people earn more due to years they've worked, but also there another one more notable that they don't talk about and that is hourly managers who earned higher pay but then decided to step down. Some managers transfer from walmart making $15 to samsclub making $14.25

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    Not directly - you are putting the other side in a difficult position to negotiate from. Better is an indirect approach, such as, "my research tells me that most people in my job make at least [my coworkers salary plus, say, 10%]".

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    There are several factors to consider - relative experience, time with the company, actual responsibilities, work product quality, etc. before considering a 1-1 comparison of salaries. I would not, however, refer to knowledge of your co-worker's salary during an actual negotiation.

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    No. Your negotiation should be based off of the merit of your work. Like the saying goes "worry about yourself". When you bring up someone else's salary, the person you negotiate with probably won't see this as a positive discussion. There are several reasons a peer could be getting paid more than you, and that is not always a good thing for them. The scrutiny that this peer would receive could border on an exit, depending on how high they are getting paid, especially if they are over range.

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    No, because not everyone has the same experience level and also people may have seniority and gotten raises if they've been there longer. This is also risky territory when it comes to HR. Salary negotiations should be based on what you feel like you are worth and how much you think you have helped the company and if your ask is reasonable. Come to the table with accomplishments to make this easier.

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    Only if you have the SAME years of experience and the SAME education and could prove you bring the SAME knowledge, talent and savings/revenue to the company as that coworker; and never name names.

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    It depends on the culture and relationships with the people involved. You don't want to cause problems for the coworker if they will get in trouble for sharing the information. It could also be that they have more responsibilities, education, qualification or experience.

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    Unless you are in a union, I'd say never. Discuss salary based on your record of accomplishments and in your productivity. side note: If you know the salary you feel you should receive is less, state that amount as a target talking point without stating where you came up with the figure. Look up standard salaries for you position, not your co-worker's salary.

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    How much they (and you) earn even in the same job position will depend on serval factors including bit not limited to: such as the amount/type of responsibilities you have, how many years you've worked for the company (and years worked in that type of position even at other companies), your perfomance at work, the quality of your work, decision making abilities, and even attendance. Just because someone with the same job title as you makes more is not a sign of favoritism or discrimination; I would only use that info if you feel that you and this coworker are equal in terms of various aspects listed above. Also be prepared for some scrutiny by your superiors if you bring this up with them. When negotiating a salary it is also a good idea to be able to list out your work accomplishments and ways that you have had an impact on the company and/or department you work for.

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    Have you been there the same amount of time? Do you have the same education and training? Are you doing the identical duties? I think it might be better to look at industry averages and if you are still underpaid, maybe bring that up. Do your research & be able to back it up.

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    No. What you coworkers make has little bearing on your salary.

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    Possibly if it's related to discrimination of some kind. But, they might also be more productive or more knowledgeable, increasing their value to the company. Tread carefully, but speak out against tyranny.

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    Maybe. Each worker has different levels of skill that they contribute. If you feel you are contributing equally then it should help drive some of the discussion. My experience is that men doing equal work or less quite often received higher pay which is unfortunate.

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    Not if you have confidentiality clauses you are bound to. Better off to do a salary comparison through an internet search and use that.

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    You could but be prepared with facts that show you deliver the same or more than they do

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    No. You may have the same position, but your co-worker may have better skills or do other things better than you. There is nothing more frustrating for a supervisor than to have a mediocre employee complain that they don't make as much as a star player. Instead, I recommend you focus your discussions on what you do best. Your ability to focus, complete tasks, close sales, etc are the reasons you deserve a raise. If you are truly the better employee and your boss doesn't see that, then you are better off seeking your fortune elsewhere. And if you are truly the mediocre employee, they'll likely be happy to see you go.

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    No. It’s none of your business.

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    Absolutely, but be sure to do it tactfully.

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    No. Pay is private information in the US. Respect the privacy of others by keeping information not intended for you private.

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    if you have leverage i.e. experience, time invested, skill set. And at that point it should be used as a benchmark but not a direct comparison

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    This will cause a rift for sure. Questions will be asked as to how you obtained this information. It is better to find out what is the salary range and skills for the position, then start negotiations from there. Demonstrate to your employer and state your case why you believe you are worth a higher salary.

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    Yes. For sure. Especially if it's a pay difference between male an female. Good luck to you

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    You can, if they also have equal seniority and education. Some jobs take both of those into account to arrive at a salary.

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    No. Your salary negotiation should focus on what your performance merits not what your coworkers earn.

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    No. The co-worker may have other responsibilities.

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    Not really except if he has the same experience as you. It’s better to use the here is my market value because how can you be sure your colleague isn’t lying

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    No, but instead ask for the raise saying what you’re asking for is comparable to others doing the same job

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    No. Your salary is not based on OTHERS, it is based on YOU and your abilities. Maybe they are better at the position? Not all Quarterbacks are paid the same.

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    Phrase it more as "I know the going rate for this job is significantly higher than I'm being paid." After all, the coworker probably has some strengths you lack, at least in the eyes of management.

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    If you obtained that information by a means from which was illegal or unscrupulous then your integrity would be called into question . You can however use it to look elsewhere and then leverage that opportunity with your employer to match

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    If this person has been doing the job for a significantly longer time, then the difference may be justified. Otherwise, you might not want to say outright that you know your coworker is getting more, but you could talk about "market value" of the work you are doing. That approach would appeal more to fairness and would probably score you more points than pointing fingers at your coworker.

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    Since there are many ways now to know some of this information or minimally reverse engineer a ballpark figure, you should use this in negotiation but not openly. Allude to your new insight by comparing market value of title, location, and job skill for both candidates then ask pointed questions. Also do not fail to reference level of job satisfaction, personal ambition, or equality in the workplace as additional motivators in seeking an increase in pay.