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On jobs and wage gaps.
Oct. 2nd, 2011 04:17 pmAs you may or may not know, I'm presently employed by a state government by way of one of that state's universities. An effect of this is that many things about my job are legally public information, including annual pay. A local newspaper has decided they will query this each fiscal year (FY - runs 1-JUL through 30-JUN) and post it. For the past couple years I've used this to check on the personnel in my department and see where I stand.
This year, in general, the pay gap in the department was reduced. In fact, it shrank for all but one person...me. As it now stands, on average (arithmetic mean) my coworkers are paid nearly 40% more than I am, with the next lowest being 26% more than I am. Putting this into calendar terms, in order for me to have earned the average pay for my department in FY 2010-11 I must work until October 18 of FY 2011-12. Nice birthday present, that. (If you remove my salary from the calculation then the date is November 13.) It's enough that if I had the difference between my salary and my next lowest coworker I could pay for surgery within 3 years.
I've asked about it in the past and been told there is nothing that can be done. Thus, the approach I am taking is to apply for other jobs and try to get out of there. It's clear that, as long as I am in that department, I'll face different rules (i.e. if I go to lunch with coworkers and it takes over an hour I get a reprimand and they do not) and less pay than my coworkers.
One coworker asked me if I thought it was discrimination. I'm honestly not sure.
This year, in general, the pay gap in the department was reduced. In fact, it shrank for all but one person...me. As it now stands, on average (arithmetic mean) my coworkers are paid nearly 40% more than I am, with the next lowest being 26% more than I am. Putting this into calendar terms, in order for me to have earned the average pay for my department in FY 2010-11 I must work until October 18 of FY 2011-12. Nice birthday present, that. (If you remove my salary from the calculation then the date is November 13.) It's enough that if I had the difference between my salary and my next lowest coworker I could pay for surgery within 3 years.
I've asked about it in the past and been told there is nothing that can be done. Thus, the approach I am taking is to apply for other jobs and try to get out of there. It's clear that, as long as I am in that department, I'll face different rules (i.e. if I go to lunch with coworkers and it takes over an hour I get a reprimand and they do not) and less pay than my coworkers.
One coworker asked me if I thought it was discrimination. I'm honestly not sure.
