Hello, everyone! I could really use some guidance on this situation. To provide context, I work for a corporate restaurant chain with multiple locations. Earlier this year, a coworker who was a manager resigned. With one of our main locations undergoing renovations and business slowing down, I took on her responsibilities in addition to my regular tasks. (It's worth noting that she was earning nearly $20k more than me.) I discussed a raise and a title change with my boss, expressing my willingness to assume her responsibilities and my need for fair compensation. Initially, he rejected my request, citing the company's financial challenges due to employee turnover.
After some negotiation, I did secure a $10k raise and a title change (the new title better reflecting my expanded role, even though I didn't take on her specific position). However, the raise wasn't as substantial as I had hoped. As the under-construction location nears reopening, my boss mentioned a potential replacement for the departed manager but couldn't meet her salary demands, so he decided to wait until closer to the reopening. I suggested promoting one of our existing employees to the manager role, believing she deserved the opportunity, even though this would be her first managerial position. My boss agreed, and I'm genuinely happy for her success. However, I recently discovered that she's now earning $10k more than me. This revelation has left me shocked and frustrated, considering I managed her responsibilities alongside my own and had a broader range of tasks.
I also have some involvement in HR, which allows me to see everyone's salaries. I'm unsure about the best course of action since I don't want to appear unprofessional by directly comparing our salaries. Given that I received a $10k raise just in May, I'm at a loss regarding what to do next. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.