I don't even know where to start or how much background to give, so I'll try my best to provide a good-enough picture…
My department within the company I work with is fairly small. From what I understand it's usually been only 2 people since my job role was created. Last year in July, my only direct coworker was fired after missing work for a few days while on a drinking binge — he had a long history of erratic behavior and he finally gave management legal grounds for termination.
Since I work my butt off, the company didn't see the need to hire someone else immediately, so I wound up doing 2 people's job for almost a year. I became pregnant with my second child and, since I was gonna be out for 6 weeks, they decided it was time to hire a second me. They waited so long that no one was hired until 2 weeks before I had my baby.
The person they hired negotiated to work remote full time (which I continue to be denied) from 2 time zones away. They have trips to our facility once every quarter and the company covers everything (flight, hotel, car rental, food). Also, they get a phone stipend large enough that it would cover my family plan. Bottom line is the company invests a lot on this person.
On top of the financial investment, because of the limitations of working from remote, they cannot take on the full responsibilities of the job.
Despite all that, this person was hired 2 pay grades above me because they have more experience, so I knew they made more money than me, I just didn't know how much.
Let me clarify that although they did get their degree 8 years before I did, we both transfered to industry in the same year, so we have roughly the same experience in our field.
The company recently adjusted everyone's titles so that they matched with salary bands. Therefore, we both now have the same title. However, the titles and salaries have not been evaluated to match responsibilities yet.
I looked into the average salary for my new title in my area and was surprised to see that my salary is 10% below average. I did go to HR and told them that the message that sends is that the quality of my work is below average. They said they are planning to level salaries in May. So I'm just expected to work for below-average compensation for months?
This situation is not unique to me and everyone I work with is pretty discontent right now.
Three weeks ago, we had a team meeting and I strapped on a pair and asked them how much they make. And they answered. It's a little over 40% more than my salary. With, realistically, ⅓ of the responsibilities.
I was fuming! Not at them, it's not their fault, but at the company, at my boss… How's this even acceptable?
Two weeks ago, my boss and I were discussing the quality of the work generated by my coworker, which is below what you'd expect after 6 months with the company. During that conversation, I asked my boss how much more money than me they were making, and he straight up lied to my face and said “Not that much”.