That dissatisfaction can worsen when a worker sees a job posting for the same job they’re currently doing offering a higher salary.
For example, let’s say Susie saw her company post a job ad with responsibilities identical to her own. The only problem is that the salary is $10,000 higher than she’s being paid, even though she’s been in her position for three years already.
Now Susie is upset and wondering exactly how to ask for a pay raise that could bring her up to the same level as her future coworker. The good news is, experts believe she can make a case for a pay bump — although they’ve warned that Susie needs to do more than just bring the listing to her manager’s attention.
A salary bump isn’t guaranteed
While Susie may feel she deserves at least the same amount of money as the new hire, an automatic salary bump isn’t guaranteed.
“Employers can lawfully pay new hires more to match today’s market, even when that leaves longer-tenured employees behind. That’s known as salary compression, and it is generally legal,” Brianna Williams, founder and managing attorney at Mélange | A Williams Firm, told Moneywise.
Diana Bernal, a career coach and author of “Career with Intention,” suggested that Susie “dig into the job description and requirements,” as the company may be asking for a specific background or credentials that are different from hers.
“Get real on your accomplishments,” Bernal said. “Have you missed targets or goals? Is there still growth to be had? Have you had conflict with peers or management? Answering ‘yes’ to any of these factors might indicate they are looking for someone who doesn’t need as much hand-holding.”
The reality is, as Sam DeMase, a career expert at ZipRecruiter, explained to Moneywise, “simply bringing the job posting to your boss and asking for the same pay isn’t enough.”
You’ll need to earn a raise on your own merits and the strength of your work, not just based on what the company is willing to pay someone else.
Asking for a pay raise is reasonable, but Susie should come armed with data
Although Susie isn’t guaranteed a raise, seeing that salary disparity certainly gives her a good reason to consider asking for one.
