So, I found out that I was making 20% less than the men with the same job title as me at my company. I work at an online publication. I am the only woman in a senior role, and I am the only racial minority they've had since the last person ran screaming from the building after two months. Previously, no one could put up with my boss, because quite frankly he's a lot. I got a much milder version of the guy because he had kids by the time I joined, and I think he was just too exhausted to scream and yell at people like he used to.
I've worked at my job for several years. It's considered a good company. It's on the smaller side, and they take work life balance a lot more seriously than previous places I worked. Naively, I thought that maybe the low pay was a trade off for a better work environment. You know, one where you have a boss who might tell your co-worker to go kill himself (true story) but no one wants you to work weekends.
A few months ago, someone in HR accidentally emailed me a document with the salaries of several of my co-workers. It was shockingly more than mine, even though I had the same title as one of the people on the document. I asked the other guys in my department (with my title) what they were making, and everyone was making the same amount. I was making 20% less. I would understand if we were all making different amounts and maybe mine happened to be the lowest (not a great scenario, but still), however EVERYONE ELSE was making the same amount. I asked the guys in my department if they would help me get a pay bump so I was making the same amount as they were. They all agreed.
A lot happened after that. I don't want to go into too much detail, because this is still a pretty anonymous account for me and also I feel fucking guilty for how things played out. I was told that I wasn't worth more money. That I broke company policy by discussing pay. That whole thing.
Long story short, only one of the guys who helped me out works there now. The two were fired for speaking up for me, because they thought they were trying to start a union. With Vox, Vice, and others joining the WGA, I guess it's a fear of their's. One other guy left before he could get fired. I'm leaving the company, because I can't work at a place that disrespects like that. The only reason they didn't fire me was because they couldn't without it looking more awful than they already looked.
I don't know what to do. I feel awful that this whole thing cost three guys their jobs. They have kids and mortgages and car payments. I'll be fine. But I just feel fucking betrayed.