'Pay me less for exponentially more work': New hire negotiates salary based on "assistant" title, only to discover on day one that he is a department head

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Aug 27, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

Imagine going through the entire job application, interview, and salary negotiation process only to discover that your actual job has far more responsibilities and expectations than you were anticipating.

This new hire spent thousands of dollars relocating to a new city in order to be a communications assistant. He had negotiated his salary to reflect the typical range for a position of that nature. However, after beginning the job, he learned that he was the head of the entire communications department and no one told him otherwise. This, of course, seems like a pretty convenient bit of information to reveal after one's salary negotiations. Always remember that human resources is there to protect the company and not the employee.

Keep scrolling below to see what happened after the Redditor confronted HR to reopen the negotiation discussion. For more stories like this, take a look at this post about a part-time worker whose company was run by a group of incompetent recent high school graduates.

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  • 01
    5 FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RESERVE NO RVE NOTES SOFAMER L4484 9 STIVALS CEILING L RALRE NITED STATES 4700 SHILL THE U FED FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE NITED STATES OF AMERICA F 50088469 WASHINGTON.D.C "My boss lied to me" THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER RAL DENTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ET 6 RALRESERV EUNITED STATES OF VENOTE AX MERICA 969823 NGTON, DC. NOTE MERICA THE UN FEDE E 95597674 E O 882 THE UNI FED MERIO 850402 WASHE
    via Alexander Grey
  • 02
    My boss lied to me my about my job and responsibilities. What should I do now?
    via starscream35
  • 03
    So basically, I applied to a Communications Assistant position and was told that my responsibilities and duties would be that of an "assistant" level
    via starscream35
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    position. Throughout the entire process, from beginning to end, including all interviews and onboarding, I was always told that this was a communications assistant position and the job was advertised as such. I was never told anything different at any point in time. Knowing that, I negotiated
    via starscream35
  • 05
    the salary based on those responsibilities and job title. Due to salary transparency laws, a pay range was posted however, I still negotiated based on said "assistant" job title and associated responsibilities with that title.
    via starscream35
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    However, after spending thousands of dollars myself to relocate for this job and being hired, I was told by my boss that there is no such thing as a "communications assistant" and
    via starscream35
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    that the only classification for this job, according to HR, is a "Communications Director" and my responsibilities would be, effectively, increased based on that job title designation. I would have
    via starscream35
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    a more demanding schedule and I would be expected to do more work as a result. There would also be higher performance standards and expectations as well. Throughout this entire process, my boss stated that she had absolutely no idea until now.
    via starscream35
  • 09
    Knowing that, what should I do now? Additionally, is this legal and is there any legal ramifications for this? While I have a job title increase, I do feel very deceived and lied to and I don't know if this was intentional or not, to pay me less for exponentially more work.
    via starscream35
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    Nevertheless, while my responsibilities have now substantially increased, no pay raise has ever been brought up or discussed however, I would definitely like one due to the more
    via starscream35
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    demanding schedule. I was just hired though so I don't know how I would go about asking for a pay raise, given I just negotiated my salary. I also don't want to come across as " or aggressive however, I do feel manipulated and deceived.
    via starscream35
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    Any input or suggestions as to how I should go about this would be helpful. I am in California should that be useful.
    via starscream35
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    bluetortuga 1 day ago You have to tell them you want your pay scale adjusted to match your adjusted responsibilities.
    via starscream35
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    They won't just offer and it's not to ask. If they think it's aggressive that's too bad. You won't get anywhere in a corporate environment pussyfooting around. The worst thing they can do is say no, they won't fire you for asking.
    via starscream35
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    And then they'll probably say no. You will have to decide how to proceed from there.
    via starscream35
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    tcollins317 23 hr. ago You have to TELL them Be ready to walk away and sue them for fraud. They will not listen unless they feel you mean what you say.
    via starscream35
  • 17
    1 day ago RollingBird edited 1 day ago Most lawyers will consult for free. If you can prove the things you're saying it sounds like promissory estoppel which is grounds to sue for damages.
    via starscream35
  • 18
    Better title is cool and all but they're not going to pay you for increased responsibility? Rake em over the coals if you can
    via starscream35

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