Nov 15, 2006

Getting salary parity

How will you react, if you came to know that your colleague is getting a much larger salary for doing a similar job?


Do you just barge into your boss’s office and demand that your salary be made equal to that of your colleagues?


Don't. That’s not the way you approach the issue.


Forbes.com says that you should approach it like any other salary negotiation. This is what they suggest.



  1. Compile a detailed list of accomplishments you've made throughout the past year and include how they positively affected the company.

  2. Understand what your colleagues have accomplished during the same period.

  3. Find out why they are being paid more.( Were they better negotiators or did they come from another high paying job or from another high paying department)


Armed with these details, ask for and get an appointment with your boss and discuss your concern about the salary disparity in a professional manner.


When you are discussing this with your boss two things are bound to happen.


Your boss may point out what you need to qualify for the increase. Check the list of accomplishments you have made. If you are already doing what your boss says you need to do, politely point out the same to him. Another way of making your boss realize that you deserve the same pay as your colleague is to point that your colleague too hasn't done the things your boss said was critical. (This is where your awareness of what your colleagues have accomplished comes handy.)


The second thing that’s bound to happen is that your boss may try to find out how you got this information. Don’t get sidetracked into this sort of discussion. Keep to the agenda, that’s is discussing and getting your salary on par with your colleagues.


Keep another point in mind, “Don’t think that only cash is on the negotiating table. Companies are much more flexible when it comes to fringe and lifestyle benefits than they are on cash.”


All the best and as they say, it’s better late than never.


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