But, wouldn't it be just as awkward if you went to you boss and yo said your co-worker that makes 2.5k more than you per year and your boss goes, "yeah, (s)he i

But, wouldn't it be just as awkward if you went to you boss and yo said your co-worker that makes 2.5k more than you per year and your boss goes, "yeah, (s)he is smarter and more valuable than you". Seems to me that rejection is rejection either way (compared to another employee, another company or just in absolute terms).