4%??? Bro if you’re doing the same job as someone and they are getting paid more, you are quitting or getting a raise. This number should be significantly higher.
I'm on a team of six people, all classified as "senior engineers". None of us do the same job, even if we all work on the same stuff. Some deliver tons of new features and code. Others think and design, and come up with resilient, well-engineered things. Some are great with stakeholder relationships.
Unless I find out there's some huge disparity in pay (as in, everyone else out-earning me 2:1), I have absolutely no problem with some getting paid more, some less.
If I were to find out I'm getting paid the least, I would:
1. Start by asking for a raise to correct that.
2. If denied, inquire as to why my manager thinks I'm worth less.
3. If he makes a good point that I can agree with, I will focus on improving in that area and then discuss again in 6 months.
4. If I disagree and think they are under-valuing my skillset, I walk.
For context, I've done #3 at least 3 times, where I've asked a manager "what do I need to improve to warrant a pay raise or promotion?", and they give me an actual list of things to improve. Once I'm satisfied I've improved those areas, and have a few months of work history to prove it, they have absolutely no valid reason to deny me a pay rise, and I've received a pay rise 3/3 of those times. This obviously doesn't work if your manager is an asshole, or if there's suddenly a budget cut, etc - you need to evaluate the chances of that happening, and consider option #4.
I'm on a team of six people, all classified as "senior engineers". None of us do the same job, even if we all work on the same stuff. Some deliver tons of new features and code. Others think and design, and come up with resilient, well-engineered things. Some are great with stakeholder relationships.
Unless I find out there's some huge disparity in pay (as in, everyone else out-earning me 2:1), I have absolutely no problem with some getting paid more, some less.
If I were to find out I'm getting paid the least, I would:
1. Start by asking for a raise to correct that.
2. If denied, inquire as to why my manager thinks I'm worth less.
3. If he makes a good point that I can agree with, I will focus on improving in that area and then discuss again in 6 months.
4. If I disagree and think they are under-valuing my skillset, I walk.
For context, I've done #3 at least 3 times, where I've asked a manager "what do I need to improve to warrant a pay raise or promotion?", and they give me an actual list of things to improve. Once I'm satisfied I've improved those areas, and have a few months of work history to prove it, they have absolutely no valid reason to deny me a pay rise, and I've received a pay rise 3/3 of those times. This obviously doesn't work if your manager is an asshole, or if there's suddenly a budget cut, etc - you need to evaluate the chances of that happening, and consider option #4.