'Ever since then I’ve had this terrible feeling of disappointment and betrayal': Veteran worker finds out their new coworker, who they are senior to, is actually making more than them

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Nov 5, 2023 9:00 AM EST

It should be no surprise to any worker in this day and age that companies usually have a far greater hiring budget than the budget for retention and raises for existing workers. Hiring and filling positions is a priority, and there is little consideration of the fact that they fail to offer competitive rates and incentives to their workers to encourage them to stay, which is the reason why they need to hire so many new workers in the first place. It makes logical sense when you quickly lay it out, yet with the way budgeting is often drawn up, this glaringly obvious fact goes unaddressed and employers end up overpaying for workers who lack the institutional knowledge they're losing with their veteran workers. 

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  • This worker, a 5-year veteran of their company, shared their experience of this. When their boss hired a new worker to their previously single-worker department, the veteran was told that they were effectively to be their new coworker's "manager" or at least senior to them in a way that one would rightfully expect greater compensation, based on their experience and seniority alone. Yet, the worker was shocked to find that the new worker was making more than them when they asked for advice from the veteran worker regarding when they should ask for their own raise. Shocked and hurt, the worker took to this popular online community to share their story and gather readers' thoughts and experiences.

  • 01
    Posted by u/DarkBowser95 So today I found out that my new coworker makes more money than me. Backstory: I've been working for this company for 5 years now and I've been the only employee in my department. My workload was getting heavier so I proposed the idea of expanding the department to my boss. He agreed and said he was going
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  • 02
    to do it anyways. He also mentioned that I'd basically be the manager for this new employee and that it was my responsibility to organize the workload for them. Fast forward 3 months working with the new employee. I'm having a conversation with said employee about how his probation is about to end and he's asking me a reasonable salary increase expectation to bring up during his probation meeting with
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  • 03
    the boss. He mentions his current salary and to my shock he's making more than me. Ever since then I've had this terrible feeling of disappointment and betrayal. I don't know how to approach this situation. Any advice is appreciated. I've dedicated so much time and effort to this job and was promised so many opportunities. It's really unfortunate to be taken advantage of like this after my boss continually expressed how much he values my work ethic.
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  • 04
    sdswiki 8 hr. ago It's time to leave. Get another job and a pay raise. I was a staunch stay and work hard guy, no more. You should stay about 2-3 years then get the next job. Reply Share 413 BadSmash45 hr. ago It's unfortunate, but a lot of companies just don't take care of their good employees like they used to. 103 Reply Share
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  • 05
    Cybralisk 8 hr. ago This and lack of pensions are why careers don't exist for a lot of jobs anymore, the only way to get meaningful pay raises is to job hop every 2-3 years. 159 tennisguy163. 8 hr. ago I wish it were different. I've built up a good group of coworkers now and it just to leave but gotta do it these days. Reply Share 48 Reply Share
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  • 06
    Dumb-ox738 hr. ago Common issue. Companies give only just enough raises to existing employees to what they think is likely to retain them. Potential hires get to negotiate based on market conditions and especially have leverage if they are currently employed. Inevitably new hires will get more than longer term employees.
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  • 07
    Companies are seeking to pay the minimum they can get away with and they have zero loyalty to their employees. They know that most people don't leave because of pay, other reasons tend to trigger job searches. Frequent job hoppers are rewarded with much higher pay than people who stay with employers for a long time.
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  • 08
    Personally I think companies are shortsighted doing things this way. People who know the job and company culture best are the least valued while people who jump around and never see consequences for their decisions are highly rewarded. ↑ 68 Reply Share
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  • 09
    -Nightopian-2 hr. ago Companies are very shortsighted. The people who have been there the longest are often asked to do more because they know the most. But they either get paid equal to or less than newbies but are have a larger work plate. Reply Share 1
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  • 10
    obmasztirf 7 hr. ago People say all the time, the best way to get a raise is to find a new job. 37 Reply Share
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  • 11
    The_Aught 3 hr. ago its not just people, its hard facts. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ ethansteinberg/2022/07/28/w ant-a-pay-raise-switching-jobs- matters-much-more-amid- soaring-inflation-report-finds/? sh=18c19b652b54
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  • 12
    the key line: It really does pay to change jobs. During the second year of the pandemic, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis, half of workers who changed jobs saw their pay increase nearly 10%. The median worker who stayed put saw an inflation-adjusted loss of almost 2%. 9 Reply Share ●●●
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  • 13
    payagathanow 7 hr. ago What others are saying is right, it doesn't take the sting out of it, but he negotiated better and it's simply more expensive to hire today than yesterday. If you truly were his manager you would be doing the review not your boss. 41 Reply Share
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  • 14
    cer_vix 7 hr. ago I found out I was making the least doing the most at my last job, all with same education and background. I asked for a raise (still less than what most others in the clinic made) and was told by manager he'd talk to HR. A week went by and I heard nothing, started casually applying, took an interview 5 min down the street, and a year later I make $30,000 more and have already been promoted at my current company. Leave, you're not valued and that is insulting. ✩ 40 Reply Share
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  • 15
    RightSideBlind 7 hr. ago As others have said, it's time to move on. I'm dealing with a situation very similar to yours right now, actually. I've been at my job for almost five years, have always gotten glowing reviews, but my raises didn't keep up with inflation. I tried to get a promotion, but was told that I
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  • 16
    would have to "prove myself" before they'd officially give it to me. Six months later I found that they'd already hired the new guy to that position, but just hadn't mentioned it to me. So next week I start at a new company, with a 45% salary increase. 12 Reply Share ●●●
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  • 17
    Phobos420 8 hr. ago I get the vibe that he is your replacement. 53 Reply Share Zyklon007 hr. ago Why would they pay more for a replacement? 15 Reply Share
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  • 18
    vividfox21 6 hr. ago Don't forget: Hiring budgets are always bigger than retention budgets. Always. 11 Reply Share
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  • 19
    shadowromantic 5 hr. ago That Just remember, your employer isn't your friend. You're using them, and they're using you. 9 Reply Share
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  • 20
    MyNameIsSkittles. 7 hr. ago If you want stability, get a government or union job. Otherwise this happening to you 10 will just keep Reply Share
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  • 21
    burritolittledonkey 6 hr. ago Happened to me once. I was literally in charge of someone, frequently had to train them, and then found out that they were making $4,000 more than I was per year. I was not pleased. 9 Reply Share ●●●
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  • 22
    Manic Mini 8 hr. ago This is incredibly common. You weren't taking advantage of, the new employee just negotiated a better salary than you did. This is why IMO is always cheaper to hire from within vs outside. Throw an internal employee a 10% pay bump and save an additional 20% over what you would have paid to find a new employee outside of the business. 16 Reply Share ●●●
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  • 23
    Mycopsycho476 7 hr. ago This is extremely common. This is why people job hop. You are much better learning the skills you need for a year or two and then finding something better for more money. I bet if you left you'd get an instant raise. 5 Reply Share
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  • 24
    crickinit 6 hr. ago I was at the same company for 15 years. I grew up there starting just above entry level and left at the VP level. For most of those years is was a great job and I am proud of my work. Many people from the outside thought I had the "dream" job.
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  • 25
    However, I experienced this a couple times. First was finding out someone hired in two levels below me made within 5% of me. The second was when I took over another team (meaning increased responsibilities) and was shocked at the massive pay disparities at both ends.
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  • 26
    I met with HR to primarily advocate for two of my new team members who were paid embarrassingly low and also discuss my comp relative to my new responsibilities (and the obvious fact I now had someone reporting to me with less experience and tenure making significantly more than me even after the geographical cost adjustment).
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  • 27
    I received a token comp adjustment that I would characterize as just enough to make the situation less embarrassing for the company. But it didn't leave me feeling warm and fuzzy.
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  • 28
    In case you are wondering how this ultimately ended for me...this once great company did a series of layoffs (including voluntary separation packages) for the first time in its 40 year history. I am no longer there because of this and fortunately came out just fine given what was offered based on length of service. But, the moral of the story is I should have left about three years prior when I
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  • 29
    started feeling like the company was no longer part of my long term career plans. I went from a hard working enthusiastic employee to "just do my job and shut up attitude" my last two years. I never thought I would be that person but it happened. My advice to others is always keep your resume sharp and eyes open for other opportunities... even if looking around validates staying where you are. I was blindly loyal for too long... 45 Reply Share
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  • 30
    Firm_Bit 6 hr. ago Have you asked for a raise? No one just hands out money. Think if a number you'd be happy with. Add some to it. And ask for that. If they don't say yes, and even if they do, start looking for a new job. You need to benchmark your salary against the market every 2 years max. 43 Reply Share ●●●
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