Worker is asked to train new employee, threatens to quit when they find out trainee makes $3/hr more than them: 'I immediately called my boss and said how this is a slap to the face'

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

In some communities, it's gauche to talk about how much you earn. In others, it's as natural a question as "What neighborhood do you live in?" I happened to grow up in a community where it is considered bad manners to ask about money. But I sure as heck wish I didn't. When money rules so much of our lives, we shouldn't be afraid to talk about it. We should demystify it as much as we can in order to give it less power. 

If we're all transparent with each other, then it's easier to do things like ask for a raise or know when someone is taking advantage of you. In so many other areas of life we stress that "communication is key," but when it comes to money many of us clam up. Maybe we don't want to risk making others feel bad, and likewise to us. But it's important to in order to avoid situations like this. 

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  • 01

    New girl I'm training to do the job makes $3/hr more than me

    So I've been with a company for a year and a half now, and have really been a good asset. I've been training new people and when I was talking with my trainee, they mentioned how they took a paycut from their last job to work for this place. Then just nonchalantly said her rate and it was approx. $2.65 more an hour than me.
    via u/Irishweedle
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10500436736
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • In this story, a pair of employees found out there was a significant discrepancy in what they were earning to do the same job. Even more than that, one of them was way more experienced than the other. So experienced that they were training them. Read on for the details and see what you think.

  • 03
    I was mad. When I had closed down for the day I immediately called my boss and said how this is a slap to the face. The new person I'm training, who has the same title, is making more than me. I said I wanted the same rate or I'm quitting. Now it's Saturday, and I'm thinking to myself what I did was unprofessional, but at the same time, I have to stand up for myself.
    via u/Irishweedle
  • 04

    Other workers chimed in with their two cents.

    CodeToManagem... . 4d ago Are they being trained to do your exact job? And do they have the same experience? I regularly have people help onboard new employees who could be making up to 50k a year more than them because it's good experience for junior people. to have.
    via u/CodeToManagement
  • 05
    If they are doing the same job then don't negotiate based on what they get paid. Negotiate what you bring to the job yourself - with a years experience you should be worth more than a new hire who's doing the same role as you.
    via u/CodeToManagement
  • 06
    Irishweedle OP • 3d ago I help my manager, who was just brought on board regularly, with anything she needs. I would like everyone to succeed. I agree with you. It's great experience for me. We have both been in leadership positions for quite some time. We're around the same age. I just believe that I am worth that as well, like you said.
    via u/Irishweedle
  • 07
    Slight_Valuable6... If you're in the USA, a . 4d ago company cannot stop employees from talking about pay rates. The way you went about it may be questionable but no, you should go after more money. If you're not worth more than what a new employee makes, you're not good enough to train them.
    via u/Slight_Valuable6361
  • 08
    clumsysav . 4d ago Be careful bringing this up though. While they can't fire you, they can make life difficult. My employer tried to threaten taking away my raise because other people knew how much I was making. I already knew it was legal to discuss pay, nevermind the fact that I've been. with my store for 20 years so of course I get paid better than the teens that have worked for us for a few years max. I went on a semi-
    via u/clumsysav
  • 09
    rant about how if other people want raises and try to use my raise to rationalize their request, they need to prove that they're worth the raise. I got my raise because I bluffed them with a two week notice. I knew they needed me, and they came to me with a generous offer two days later. I sent a direct link to the law clearly stating that their threat to take back my raise was illegal and they made my life absolute h_I for a while.
    via u/clumsysav
  • 10
    brainfreez012 · 4d ago Just the fact that you're training these new people deserves a pay increase. I'm not sure of your role, but I would take your experience elsewhere. They are showing you no respect.
    via u/brainfreez012
  • 11
    Ok_Maintenance7... • 3d ago Don't make an ultimatum unless you're prepared to follow through.
    via u/Ok_Maintenance7716
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10500446976
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 13
    MinervaDreaming • 4d ago I had this happen years ago. I was making $45k (2010 money), and helping my manager interview candidates for the same role - I was his right hand man and had been in the role for 2 years. During one interview, the candidate
    via u/MinervaDreaming
  • 14
    asked for the pay range, and after an awkward pause and quick side glance my manager said "the pay starts at $55k". I of course kept it professional, but after we finished up and walked the candidate out said, "we need to talk". I had a raise to 57k the next week, it felt damned good!
    via u/MinervaDreaming
  • 15
    Owww_My_Ovaries • 4d ago It happens. It s ks. I don't like it. But it happens. My former sales department hired people at 19 and hour. They were the test group in a new business development department. When the department was deemed a success Co id happened and they were desperate to bring on new people.
    via u/Owww_My_Ovaries
  • 16
    The starting wage was 25 an hour for new reps. The old reps found out right away and rightfully made a stink. And corporate shot them down "Different time. Different market conditions. Blah blah"
    via u/Owww_My_Ovaries
  • 17
    semiotics_rekt 4d ago this is called wage creep - existing employees get small 2-3% raises and market shifts and now they are brining in people off the street at higher rates of pay to attract them
    via u/semiotics_rekt
  • 18
    whe you discover these things it's best tk stay calm and pls. your approach with the manager as you want keep it to yourself first "hi manager i realize ive been doing a lot of training - thinking i deserve a $5 hour raise - i believes this is what my extra contribution is worth.
    via u/semiotics_rekt
  • 19
    Boss says hmm let me think about this and comes back and probably offers &1.50. - then you say really well; given i'm experienced and in training the newcomers that's got to be worth more than a new trainer by at least $2.50 right - by this point now you have the manager pinned
    via u/semiotics_rekt
  • 20
    anyways next time stay calm - you should still immediately ask for $2.50 per hour more than the trainee tho and
    via u/semiotics_rekt
  • 21
    freakshowhost 4d ago . Hopefully that person is not your replacement. Start looking for a new job. List your achievements and accomplishments update your resume. Calmly talk to your employer. Tell them you would like a pay increase because the market rate has increased for that position and back it up with every contribution and
    via u/freakshowhost
  • 22
    achievement you've made. To the company. You have to prove you have the demeanor of a serious person who is management material even if you arent planning to stay long term.
    via u/freakshowhost
  • 23
    Aggravating_Lie_... 4d ago You should have begun a job hunt and when you found one used it to negotiate an even bigger raise.
    via u/Aggravating_Lie_198
  • 24
    srwat • 4d ago Depending on your leverage within your company, and how much they rely on you, they may cave to your demands, meet you somewhere in the middle, or simply let you go.
    via u/srwat
  • 25
    It is common for new hires to come in at higher pay at many companies, but the difference is usually like anywhere between 50 cents to 2 dollars or so for entry level work.
    via u/srwat
  • 26
    However, previous experience, and if you were being paid more at a previous employer, could get the current employer to hire a new hire at a higher than usual amount while still doing their best to avoid their max cap for new hires (whatever it is they set, every company is different).
    via u/srwat
  • 27
    So really, if the company finds you really valuable, they'll cave to some degree. If not, look for new employment or just say some variation of that you were having a rough day, if you still want to keep that job.
    via u/srwat
  • 28
    turbomacncheese · 4d ago I used to work a deli in a grocery store where a guy got the manager's password and looked up everyone's pay rate. He decided to give me a bunch of crop because we had the same title, but I was earning a little over 50% more.
    via u/turbomacncheese
  • 29
    Bad news for him was that I KNEW why I was getting paid so much more. I was being trained and fast- tracked for the deli-manager position because of my strong management history, and he had none....literally his second job, and he started out there on the counter. Took him down a few pegs to hear it, but c'est la vie.
    via u/turbomacncheese
  • 30
    More goes into pay consideration than the immediate task at hand. Could be something in the resume that the company thinks is very valuable. Maybe find out if that's the case, and if so, try to work out how and what you can learn from the trainee.
    via u/turbomacncheese
  • 31
    Lots of work environments are cutthroat, but most are not and function better, with more respect, when everyone tries to learn from each other.
    via u/turbomacncheese

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