I finished undergrad with a chemistry degree two years ago now. This is my first job as a chemist in research. I moved quickly from a technician role to a research scientist position; I am endlessly grateful for upper management that took the risk with me and let me succeed.
When I switched from being a manufacturing technician to a research chemist, this was followed with a promotion. At my company, people usually go from technician to salaried Engineer I; the Engineer I role begins at $65k and is exempt FLSA. Given that I do not do engineering (at my work this involves different tasks and machinery) and am a chemist, I invented a new role known as “associate chemist”. I believed it was analogous to Engineer I and let HR and the President know about this. The two claimed to agree with me. This was the trap I built for myself.
When this promotion happened to “associate chemist”, I should have inquired from our HR director whether associate chemist would ever have prospects of making $65k and be salaried. Had she told me that associate chemist would never be salaried and paid at the engineer I rate, I would have insisted on the Engineer I route. I failed to do this, and my negligence has cost me an extra $400 per month (I make 59k currently). I have been promoted for 10 months now, so (400×10) is $4000 of missed salary. I was too engulfed in title wars than seeing the big picture which was higher compensation that I deserve. My performance reviews are stellar (thank god), HR has complimented my work ethic to my manager, and I have patents with my name on them at the company.
I remember seeing my technician coworkers get promoted to Engineer I, immediately become salaried, and paid at that $65k rate. I got confused and felt like HR had it out for me or something. I posted an overly dramatic tirade of HR on r/AskHR and got deservedly eviscerated by members of that sub (less name-calling me please lol). In reality, these coworkers simply negotiated their raise in a smarter way. When I was promoted (long before them), I should have been more prudent in my comp negotiations + cautious about being a chemist vs. an engineer.
It just burns and sucks. I played myself. Of course HR let me work for lower pay; it's in the Company's interest to give me ANY title I desire as long as I can work for less. I feel defeated, and more importantly embarrassed. I am not this shrewd, doormat negotiator. I respect myself and know that I'm worth the $65k and engineer title.
Luckily, I spoke with HR about this situation, bitched about it (regrettably), and now they are working on getting me to $65k, the engineer title, and salaried. This is nine months after the fact,
Has anyone ever shot themselves in the foot like this?