I am Engineer manager and all my direct reports hired during pandemic earning more than me with an IC that has 80K TC higher than mine! My Director refused to make salary adjustment citing HR policy, rentention bonus is not approved by HR and they blame this on "macro economic" condition. At performance review I got a 2% increment and all my direct reports demand raise as well which I gave them the max allowed by company (3%). Feel terrible that the wage gap increased even higher! What can I do now, market is terrible now and interviewing for new jobs may even lower my TC. Companies are so stupid to have this kind of bias against long term employees! TC: 385K YOE: 7
What company do you work for?
Should have left when the market was good
yup I was so stupid to fight with HR instead of looking for new job when market was good
It’s not the end of the world. Learn from the experience and let it go. When the dust settles now you know.
Hi - I know it must suck but this is common across the world. I have met a few CEOs who have employed sales leaders who make more than them. And they’re actually happy about it. In sport, it isn’t necessary that the captain or manager makes more than the best or newest players. In fact, it’s almost always like this. If you think you’re making less than what you deserve and there’s no way out, find something else. Don’t crib about macroeconomic conditions. If someone is making more than they deserve, lay them off in the next cycle if you want to exercise your power.
we had a layoff earlier but decision is based on higher up and I have no say on who to lay off
You might be able to provide feedback to your manager re. people so they’ll keep in mind who to layoff. Please use this judiciously and not out of pride. If you execute the wrong way, this can become a lawsuit and/or might cost you your job.
I know it sucks to know, but does it really matter at 400k TC. Anyone earning more has a higher probability of being laid off.
I’m sorry but 385K is a really good TC. If you think you are worth more. Prove it by interviewing at another company and get a higher paying job. If that’s not possible, admit that this is the best you can get right now and wait till economy is better and move on. There are people who live on 50k a year working 40hr jobs. It’s sad but it’s life. Feel grateful that you have a job vs the other thousands of people trying to find employment right now.
Always be looking!! Never stop looking.
Ya my L7 makes more than me (an L7) At least I out earn my L6s lol 😭
I feel like you should be happy for your reports
I don’t want to be the smartest person in the room. I want to hire the smartest person in the room and make sure they can succeed. This means a report of mine will almost assuredly earn more than I do. If I hire and retain that person, it looks good on me and my team. Now, if I am underpaid for the role itself, I have a separate concern, but it has nothing to do with if a report of mine makes less, more, or wildly more money that I do.
yes I am happy for them but it sucks to see your pay gap growing between you and your direct reports
Instead, you should be happy to have a great TC and even happier for your reports to have a greater TC. You seem to be a good manager to not have limited them because of your TC. Of course there’s the macro/economy/timing factors, so it’s really hard to compare yourself with others. I would suggest that in first place you just be thankful for having a great TC, and, second, keep it, changing jobs now is so risky. Finally, you have a leverage to ask for better increases, use it! Best.
Be toxic: pip all of them and hire new reports to reset their TC so you can feel better about yourself.
my moral compass does not allow me to do this
If you thought this was a real suggestion: Whoosh.