Never thought I'd have to post here, so let this be a warning to demand everything in writing, even if you think you'll be fine. I work in a large nonprofit in the USA. Two months ago, I interviewed and applied for an internal posting that would promote me a couple pay ranges, but keep me doing the same basic work I'd already been doing. I aced the interview, my resume balled hard, and I do my job really well, so I was *verbally* promoted and *verbally* promised a salary increase. I feel very stupid not demanding something in writing.
I was immediately given new responsibilities, meetings, team members, etc. Had to go through an entire process to hire my replacement/underling. Still no pay raise. My replacement would be making more than me. Introduced to the team as the New Position. Still no pay raise. Emails to my HR rep. Still no pay raise. Emails to the HR rep's boss. STILL no raise, still no paperwork, still nothing.
Met with my boss, who I also interviewed with, and who is a total homie. His hands are tied and he's being strongarmed out of the pay/promotion conversation by incompetent leadership and HR. He is fighting hard to try and get me compensation/backpay, but didn't seem confident. Oh also, HR is closed at the nonprofit for six weeks (starting a week ago) so I won't be hearing anything until 2024, despite the fact that I'm still doing the new job AND my old job. I need to stop doing the new stuff, but it's tricky to navigate since the new position and my old one overlap so frequently.
This is illegal right? Is this worth getting a lawyer? (What kind? Are there buzzwords/field words I should use to find one?) I can't afford a lawyer on my own, and the backpay would “only” be around 6k. What the fuck is wrong with this country?