Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#1

Post by equal_pay_q » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 12:38 PM UTC

Hi HN,

I accidentally discovered the hourly wage that some of my newly hired female coworkers make (offer letter left in the open). The trouble is, they have been hired in at the exact same job and experience level (programmer, right out of college) that I was a couple years ago, but they are being paid less than I was at that time.

The pay difference is pretty small, about $1.00, but our company also claims that our salaries are pretty algorithmic based on experience level.

I don't believe that anyone at our company would consciously pay women less for the same work, but it looks like maybe its happening unconsciously.

I feel a little uncomfortable talking to either the relevant coworkers or my supervisor about it because I'm not sure it's my place to comment on what they are getting paid, but it also feels like I am contributing to the problem if I don't say something.

What should I do HN?

Re: Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#2

Post by ripb » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 12:55 PM UTC

It is absolutely not your problem to comment on this matter. It's actually none of your business.

Also, admitting that you were looking at offer letters when you should have known straight away from first glance that it was none of your business could bring some heat on you and your career that you certainly won't appreciate.

Mind your own business.

Re: Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#3

Post by sweettea » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 12:56 PM UTC

Parallel construction. Become friends with the relevant coworker, casually ask one day how much they make, and that's a great opportunity to point out that you were making more when you were that experienced so maybe they should ask for a raise.

I would personally be pretty offended if you read my offer letter even accidentally, despite being very happy to tell you how much I make.

Re: Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#4

Post by dominotw » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 12:58 PM UTC

>The pay difference is pretty small, about $1.00

Are you trolling?

Re: Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#5

Post by silverlight » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 12:58 PM UTC

Are there other male workers getting hired right now at the same rate you were? 2 years is a long time and it's entirely possible they changed their pay scale in that time. If there are other males being hired right now for higher pay with the same experience level then that is indeed a problem. But I wouldn't jump in without knowing as much information as possible.

Re: Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#6

Post by silverlight » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 12:59 PM UTC

dominotw wrote: post #4

>The pay difference is pretty small, about $1.00 Are you trolling?

I assume he means per hour.

Re: Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#7

Post by verroq » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 12:59 PM UTC

Just because you get paid one dollar more doesn't prove discrimination. Your need another sample from a male is newly hired as well.

Re: Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#8

Post by Cthulhu_ » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 12:59 PM UTC

It's a difficult matter, because there's often a taboo around comparing income - and whether that's a good or a bad thing is up for debate. Good because you get less jealousy (X earns Y but I don't believe s/he deserves it), bad because you can get inequality (same pay for same job / skill level, etc).

I'm inclined to believe it's none of your business and it's something between HR and the new hires (there may be reasons beyond what you can see - did you have much more experience or side-projects out of college for example?), but at the same time I'd like equality or at least to sate my curiosity if I were you.

Re: Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#9

Post by wlievens » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 1:02 PM UTC

dominotw wrote: post #4

>The pay difference is pretty small, about $1.00 Are you trolling?

$1.00 * 8 * 20 * 12 = $1920 per annum

Re: Ask HN: How to address female coworkers getting paid less

#10

Post by sirwolfgang » Fri, Oct 31, 2014, 1:04 PM UTC

This is fundamentally one of the biggest cultural changes we have to make. You have to be ok with talking about your personal earning. In a lot of places talking about earnings is more taboo then talking about sex, and sex is generally taboo.

Company culture of not talking about earnings only helps the company. It allows them to pay lowest market value for anyone, under the (often true) hopes that they don't know their value. In short talk about it, and get other people to talk about it.

I would talk with your co-workers get them to open up about what they make, or have the breach subject in the conversation group while the other person can hear. Talk about what you used to make and what you make now. The key if to give everyone more context. Its important to remember that someones value as a person is not their market price.

The more information a person has available, the better the choices they can make.

[$47/hr, 2 years out of college, east coast]