My subordinate earns more than I do- suggestions?

[feh]

Value to the company does not necessarily correlate with your title, or whether you supervise others.

If you feel you're underpaid, ask for a raise. But if I was in charge, the "I'm the team leader and he's not, so he can't earn more than me" argument wouldn't carry any weight.

[cschin4]

Unfortunately, people feel the need to keep their salary hidden in the first place. And, what happens, instead of seeing that someone else makes a larger salary and viewing that as opportunity to enhance one's own position, employees view it as something to be angry about and become angry at the coworker or the employer. Perhaps he cut himself a better deal. Perhaps he sold his skills better to the employer than you did. You should take this as a lesson for the future and not be afraid to ask for more. You definately should NOT take the "you make more than me therefore I don't care" approach to your job unless you want to harm your own prospects.
And, you definitely should not tell your employer that you know so and so makes more than you. That isn't your business and telling them makes you look like a snoop and a whiner.
So, what now? Depending on how long you have worked there, you can at some point negotiate a bit more money. But, you cannot go in over and over and do this. You can probably get away with doing this once but after that, repeated requests for more money will fall on deaf ears.
Also, there is more to your income than your salary. You may have better benefits, more sick or vacation time, perks, etc. And, if you do try to renogiate, you could negotiate more time off in lieu of a raise, etc. Benefits are every bit as valuable as salary so don't over look negotiating that as well.

[cschin4]

And, being unhappy because someone else makes a bit more isn't worth the unhappiness it may cause you. Decide what to do, do it, then forget about it.

[GREENBACK]

An interesting comparison to employees earning more than supervisors is professional sports. In that arena contracts are negotiated in terms of the individuals value to the organization. Most of the stellar athletes in the major sports make far more than those that are technically their bosses( the coaching staff). When you look at things this way it makes this kind of thing easy to understand. This may not apply to the OP's original question but is a perspective to consider.

[wincrasher]

In my line of work, it is often the case that subordinates can make more. Especially if they have more experience, a specialty or are an independant contractor.

If you are truly the manager of people, then what they make should not be a secret to you. You also should have the power to hire and fire. If you don't have these authorities, then you really shouldn't be commanding a great deal more money that your subordinates, because in reality, they are more co-workers to you than subordinates.

[FrugalFish]

I, too, would like to know if you saw his base wage, or just his net pay. There can be a world of difference.

My DH was in a computer support managerial position a few years ago where all his employees made much more than he did- despite most of them having substancially less experience and certification. It was a very long story, but we came to find out eventually that DH (who had been kept after the subcontractor he worked for was hostilely removed from the contract) had only been put into a managerial position so he could fail miserably and on a large scale, and they could ultimately fire him. Problem was he excelled in his managerial position, but they still refused him a raise. It was a happy day when he found another job and left.

I don't know what to tell you, but it stinks. I'd ask myself if this person brings more of anything to the table than you do- some kind of experience that may warrant the difference. If not, tactfully talk to your boss without bringing up your coworkers pay as the reason, and perhaps it's time to starting casting out the hook for another job.

[gekkoplus]

When I started working for my current employer 20 months ago, I was told by HR during salary negotiations that they can not go over a certain limit because it becomes really close to my manager's salary. I really wanted the job and I stopped negotiating further after this point.

Now even after 20 months, I always have a feeling that my growth and salary is dependent on my manager's growth and salary. That's because my salary increased by mere 3% during this period. While I do not want to change my employer just for the salary, I do feel frustrated sometimes that I am underpaid for what I bring to the table.

[maat55]

If you Google "What co workers earn", one of the first websites is entitled "8 Ways to Find Out What Coworkers Earn".

From a website that I cannot link to because I am just a preschooler, but it looks like
treasure.1x1y.com.cn/useracticles/20090317/20090317161759765.html


*sigh* Did I really need to explain that?

Your post is unhelpful; I've already seen the paycheck. I've been working for 26 years and this is the first paycheck (other than my own and my wife's) that I've seen. Hardly the track record of someone snooping around looking at paychecks. Perhaps you meant to say, "Never ever look at a single paycheck even if it's lying out in the open and you are staring at a spot inches away from it?" That would be more accurate, however, it's still just as unhelpful.

No, I mean don't look at another persons paycheck enough to know how much it is. It's a no win scenario. You will foam at the mouth now and even maybe say or do something that will leave you jobless.

If you feel you are under paid, go to HR and ask for more. But do not do it based on information that is none of your business. Sometimes, your employer does not follow the rules of fairness, thats why we say: life isn't fair.

I was in your shoes once, that's why I am my own boss now.

[cschin4]

This should not cause alot of angst toward your coworker. YOu should not e looking at your coworker as an adversary or being mad at him/her because he makes more whether or not the job entails more or not.
The person to be mad at is not the employer, not the coworker, but YOU. YOU are the one who accepted the offer. Now you know that perhaps you could have tweaked it a bit. Live and learn. SO what? Now you know better and next time down the road you can have the courage to ask for more.
In any event, that little bit of money difference should not be allowed to sour your relationships with your employer or employees. If it does, then you do demonstrate you are not worth more. Forget you ever saw it. A few bucks difference isn't going to change your life. "Yeah, but it is the principal". Uh, huh. The Principle point is that YOU failed to ask for more so therefore they didn't give it. Nobody is to blame but yourself in this situation. So, take it in stride and chalk up another life lesson and you will do better next time in negotiating or renegotiating.

[disneysteve]

If I was being hired today by my current employer, I would very likely be offered more than I actually make right now. Why? Because that's the going rate for new hires. That doesn't mean all the previous hires would get a raise to keep them earning more than the new guy. Market conditions dictate salaries. Family doctors are much more in demand today than they were when I took my job 9 years ago, so they command a higher salary. If I left my current position, I'm quite certain that I could find another where I would earn more, but that still doesn't mean I'll get more if I stay where I am. It may not be fair. It may not make sense. But that's the way it works.

To the OP, I'd also repeat what others have said. If you only saw the net pay, you weren't really seeing the whole story. Number of dependents, insurance premiums, retirement plan contributions and other factors could skew the numbers dramatically.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

This won't be helpful to the original poster, and I certainly do not mean it as an insult, but I'm kind of chuckling here because --- I'm sure a number of us here have been in the position of being "better than" our supervisor. Maybe we had more skills, maybe we were able to get much more done, maybe we added more to the bottom line, maybe we added more to the morale of the workplace, etc. We may literally have been worth more to the employer than our supervisor.

Really, though, it is probably time to ask for a raise. Perhaps you do need to do some research about average salaries for your type position to flesh out your persuasion.

[Seeker]

If the company you work for feels he is worth that amount of money, but places you in a managerial position over him, it would seem common sense that you are worth more to the company than him. Thus, you should be compensated better. Now, how you go about making that point to your superiors is a different story. I would ask for a raise, but I don't know how you go to HR and be like "I wan't a 10%+ raise", especially with the economy how it is. Then again, IT people are pretty secure.

IT people are no more secure than any other ; when the business is struggling, IT people can be outsourced or eliminated. Generally we are seen as spenders, not as the money makers of a business. It depends entirely on the industry and whether or not IT is primary to the business itself.

OP, if your industry is not struggling with this economy too much and hiring instead of firing, then I'd recommend that you arrange some time with your supervisor and point out the accomplishments you've managed to achieve since you've been there and since you've been promoted in duties, and that you'd like to be considered for a raise.

If your industry is reducing hours, not hiring, and there's been concerrn for expenses/profits, then it might be best to wait until things get better for the business.

Nobody can really know your business situation except you.

[feh]

If the company you work for feels he is worth that amount of money, but places you in a managerial position over him, it would seem common sense that you are worth more to the company than him.

This is a false assumption, which seems to be pervasive in America (and most other countries also, as far as I know).