This is going to be a long post with a lot of background details, fair warning.
I have been dealing with a pay discrepancy for a year and a half. When I started there were two clerks that were, according to my boss, “the exact same position”. I am paid as a salary non exempt employee, the other is paid as an hourly employee. Hourly employee receives bonuses and cost of living adjustments that salary employees are not eligible for. I brought it up multiple times with my manager that this was pay inequality, to which he responded that this is what I agreed to do. Now, despite the discrepancy I’m still paid alright and where I live is rural so it’s hard to find anything that will pay me better. In fact, I couldn’t find anywhere to pay me better. Because of this, I stayed.
Cut to a couple months ago and the hourly clerk gets promoted. I’m thinking ok good they can fix the issue now. Only they don’t fix it, they hire another hourly person. Again, I’m upset that they received bonuses that I’m not eligible for plus this time they were also making almost $3 an hour more than me despite being the new one. I got really mad so this time I went over my manager and contacted HR directly. I had a back and fourth with HR about my concerns and they seemed legitimately concerned. They said ok, we are looking into this matter and we will get back to you in about a week.
Two weeks later I’m pulled into my managers office to have a meeting with HR. They state that the move to replace the hourly employee by my manager was too hasty and as it turns out it had not been reapproved and that they should have never filled it. Then they tell me that they are REMOVING the other clerk. HR continues to explain that the only reason the hourly position had been approved was because we had been without a supervisor and it was a temporary position while they hired another one. They continue with telling me that in the future if they do approve a second clerk for our plant they will be paid in the same manner that I am being paid.
Now this was all about 2 weeks ago. I’ve been super upset because I’m pretty sure I got someone fired. I’m super unhappy at my work and while they promised me it won’t happen again, they swept the last year and a half under the rug. The other clerk was paid thousands more than me over that time, I feel like this should have been addressed. On top of all this I’m stuck at this job, I can’t find a better one and even if I could I’m pregnant right now so I can’t just up and leave and loose my benefits. So I have been upset at work.
Cut to today when I’m pulled into my managers office for the second time in two weeks to discuss my attitude. I never talk back to people, I always do what I’m told, I’m good at my job and in general I’m super nice to everyone that I work with. My manager is telling me that I’ve been “visibly upset” and that it’s making other people “uncomfortable”. He also says people feel like I’m unapproachable when they need something. I countered with the fact that I have never told anyone off for asking me a question and that I always help my coworkers find the information they need. He then tells me, well it’s not their fault if I’m upset and they shouldn’t have to “walk on eggshells” to ask me a question. I have literally NEVER been rude to someone for asking me something. I countered with the fact that I have to constantly deal with other people and regardless of what I perceive their mood to be I simply ask them anyway. He just looks and me and says this isn’t their fault and you need to be more approachable.
I’m at a loss for words at this point. I just said ok I’ll try to be more bubbly. I went back to my desk and then started crying silently into my keyboard. Now I’m worried I’m going to get called back in again because me crying made someone “uncomfortable”. Like I have emotions ok? Am I not allowed to have emotions? I come in everyday and do a superb job, I always do what’s asked of me. Yet they’re telling me in “manager terms” that I need to smile more because others are uncomfortable?!? If they are too chicken shit to ask me a damn question because I look upset how is that my fault??? I really feel this is a bit sexist because I don’t think they would treat one of the male employees this way. I’m one of 5 female employees in the entire plant if about 100 people. Not to mention I have a reason to be upset and they know it! They should have told the other employee who complained something like “hey she’s having a hard time right now but don’t feel like you can’t ask her questions, she always will help you” instead I’m the bad guy because I have feelings…. I hate it. I’m stuck and I have no options for improvement.
Sorry for the rant but I needed to at least ask for others opinions of this crap.