For background, I work at a large mens suit company. I was there a year before the pandemic hit as an assistant manager and they got rid of my position when they opened back up. From then I was just a normal employee. I left middle of last year and came back middle of this year.
When I came back I got $15/hour, which was more than what I got paid last time, and the same as the job I had recently left so I was fine with that.
Since coming back, I’ve been doing about half of the tailoring that comes in because I’m the only one with training, on top of being a floor employee.
I’m helping train these new kids and answer their questions. I’m the one to point out that they have hired a potentially dangerous man who then threatened a teenager. Keep in mind, I’m only part time.
About two weeks ago I start hearing that the kids are getting $17 an hour and obviously I wasn’t happy. I finally got the chance to ask my manager about it and she told me “none of the kids get paid more than $15”. I already knew this wasn’t true but wanted to double check.
Then I ask all of the kids “you don’t have to tell me. But do you get paid more than $15?” They all scoff and say “Yeah way more.”
So now I know my boss that I thought would never lie to me has lied to me.
To top it off, I’m not the only woman getting paid less. My friend is also at $15 and she used to be an assistant manager before she came back. There’s a third woman that makes $15 who got hired at that rate. This seems like a pretty obvious gender equality issue now too.
Any advice for me? I’m talking to my district manager on Monday and I want to have some good bombs to drop.