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As a manager, I thought this initially too. But here's the kicker - the employees sit there and take it. Sure they may complain about being underpaid, but few w
by tobtoh 15y ago
As a manager, I thought this initially too. But here's the kicker - the employees sit there and take it. Sure they may complain about being underpaid, but few will move to another job.
I remember in my previous job, I had a senior sysadmin who had been with the company for 10 years and earning $70k ... we were hiring new sysadmins off the street for $100k. He complained about it and I tried everything I could to get him a payrise because he was a good performer - but company policy was that pay rises could not be more than 10% without exec approval. So the best I could offer him was $77k - in my justification for more, I compared market rates, how much it would cost the company if we had to replace him ($100k in salary alone let alone recruitment costs) etc - but the reply back from HR was 'we bet he won't leave'. And sure enough he didn't. It really saddened me - the fact is he could get a job elsewhere that paid way more, but he was too 'comfortable' in his position.
In my experience, people tell themselves all sort of stories why they don't leave - I'm still learning lots, I like the people I work with, I need a little more experience etc - all of this may be true to a degree, but going by the number that complain about being overworked/underpaid, a lot of them simply are excuses.
Companies know and understand this - and hence people often may get underpaid.
- Woost 15y agoThis is something I'm going to have to deal with soon. I'm not looking forward to it, but I know that I'm getting significantly underpaid compared to new hires. I'm also better than those new hires. I'll probably leave and find a new job if it comes down to it, but I'd really rather not. That said, if I do leave, there's nothing they can do to bring me back: Saying "oh, you're leaving? here's an extra 50k to make you stay" tells me that they think I was worth the new number in the first place. A place trying to get away with underpaying until their hand is forced is not a place I want to work.
- 3pt14159 15y agoThis is the best comment on this whole topic. Everyone needs to know this.
- Jem 15y agoYou just described me. I am underpaid by about £5k but I don't move because I like the people I work with. Are the people I work with worth £5,000 a year? I'm pregnant at the moment though. It don't think it would be wise to willingly enter the job market in my current 'condition'.
- tobtoh 15y agoThere are lots of very good reasons to stay in a job even if you are being underpaid - it very much depends on your individual circumstances - in your case, I would probably stay too. Just make sure you periodically evaluate your reasons and circumstances to make sure you over time that you aren't falling into a trap of 'comfort' for not leaving.
- berntb 15y agoThanks for the answer! >>the reply back from HR was 'we bet he won't leave'. So if I understand it correctly: HR makes educated guesses about who will quit if they are underpaid and seems to have a good batting average? This is studied at University, I assume. Any good course literature I could buy as Christmas presents for friends?
- tobtoh 15y agoNo not quite - they didn't make any bet or guesses on who will quit - the policy was a blanket policy across the entire organisation - it applied to everyone. I don't know if it's studied at uni - I assume they maintain this policy based on past experience that the vast majority of employees will accept whatever crumbs are tossed their way and stay put.