I asked three managers about this, two seemed confident the average would be fair for me, starting when I started.
The GM, however, struggled. He said he'll find out, implying he didn't actually know. But how could managers below him be so sure? Were they wrong and could he just not say it to my face? And he laughed and said “regardless it will be more than what you'd be making not working.” I misunderstood this and laughed with him. Now that I realize what he meant, I'm quite livid.
No. You've got people here who call off all of the time. They slack, and disappear telling nobody where they've gone even when we're busy as hell. You've had people literally steal from your registers. I've been very helpful and have never turned down you guys asking for extra help, which I know you're desperate for because we objectively don't have enough employees because the owner doesn't pay people enough. On top of that I told them no more than 4 days a week, and I've worked 5 per week most of the time so far because I've always accepted their requests.
It is not my fault that I got hired after January. That's not okay, nor is it fair. What do I say? I imagine I can point that out, but I'm also scared because I'm not good at standing up for myself. I'm pissed because I quit my last job due to wage injustices, which took all of my might, and now I might have to do that all over again.
Not to mention the meeting we had everyone was either asked to eat or willingly essentially ate the dirt the owner walks on because of how kind he is for this. His business isn't struggling. He is unfair to his employees. In my honest opinion, this should be standard for the kind of business he's running. It is not a mom and pop, family owned business. It was frustrating to see the adults who work there who do genuinely work their asses off, knowing they get paid shit, worshipping the man.
I need suggestions on how to stand up for myself without him getting upset/angry because I do actually like this job and want to keep it. Even though the chances of them firing me are slim, I just want to be treated fairly without putting a bad taste in their mouth. It would be awkward for me honestly.
(As an aside, I asked a manager who has been there 10 years about her wage – and I'm fairly certain I'm making almost as much as her, if not the same amount. I'd put money on the bet that I'm within a dollar.)