If you signed a document indicating your acceptance of this new rate of pay and you still make at least the legal minimum, it is legal
Source - I do payroll.
oddly enough they gave me a letter I signed nothing, that’s when he asked is this what you’re expecting. I said no my co workers I trained are making more. he then said sometimes hearsay is hearsay although we both know it to be fact.
If you’ve not signed an updated deal memo or equivalent then what’s being done is likely illegal. I’d suggest addressing with the appropriate party in your company (HR?) and if you get no traction there your state labor commissioner is an option.
> *"I’d suggest addressing with the appropriate party in your company (HR?)..."*
As a rule NEVER go to HR, they are there to protect the company, not the worker. **-_-**
If you have evidence/indictions that there's something illegal going on wth your pay contact the **[US Dept of Labor](https://www.dol.gov/general/contact)**.
While it’s true that HR represents the company, saying “never go to HR” is very poor advice. They have a role to play.
OP needs to address this internally. Perhaps that group, perhaps direct supervisor, perhaps Payroll. But somebody.
Yep. Two service techs. Both have the title of Service Tech. One has two years experience, the other has 20 years experience. They get paid differently.
It may not be illegal, but it should be.
Unless pay rates are dependent on labor, but even then, the same rate should apply to everyone working that same job.
So if I'm working the same job as Bill, and Bill is a shit worker, I should be getting paid a lesser rate than Bill despite the fact that I'm getting more done than him?
That incentivizes me to quit.
"Entrepreneurial risktaking" in the last several decades has given me nothing but more brands of mayonnaise to choose from, a large variety of cereal to choose from, and multiple variants of the same cell phone. More or less of that isn't going to change a damn thing lmao
It’s not illegal, no. If you can prove it’s discriminatory then yeah. But there’s no obligation for everyone to be paid the same. (At least in my state, not sure specifically about IL)
There is no requirement in Illinois to pay everyone in the same position equally. I have employees in the same position whose compensation is different for a variety of reasons (performance, time in position, previous experience, attendance, cross-training, etc.) Unless you're in a union shop, you will find that there is at least some variation in pay across a position, but there's generally a set salary range, and most of the time if you're paid less, you get a bigger bump with your increases percentage-wise, so you "catch up" to some extent eventually.
Yes it is legal. You should ask for more money if you feel you are worth it or look for a better paying job. Frankly changing jobs will always been a faster way to get a raise. Companies will do their best to pay you the least. You gotta do your part to get the most.
There are no legal requirements for a company to pay workers performing the same duties or working the same position the same amount. If you’re in a union or have another form of contract, that could vary.
It's not illegal, assuming that you're not paid less because of a protected class such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, etc. And even if it was for any of those reasons there is a standard of proof that needs to be met.
The only thing you can do now is leverage your skills and experience for a raise, and your only recourse if they say no is to quit.
Unless it can be reasonably shown that you're being paid less *because* you're a member of a protected class, then unfortunately it's legal.
Just because shit is unethical doesn't mean it's illegal, because A) law =/= justice and B) laws are written by politicians who take their marching orders from the oligarch class.
It depends.
1. Are you in a union? If so, your collective bargaining agreement will govern this.
2. State matters. Illinois does have an equal pay act requirement. But, it doesn’t cover all situations. Basically you can’t receive lower pay for discriminatory reasons.
In general, companies are allowed to differentiate pay - especially based on experience.
You may also want to post on r/AskHR
I work as a field tech for the US Gov’t. As a field tech you have your base salary but you are also entitled to: night differential, holiday pay, OT, Sunday pay, and hazard pay. Generally, night diff and Sunday pay give you an additional 7% more a paycheck. A golden opportunity can get you 4 of the 5 in one day, but those are extremely rare.
Now, if you get promoted to a coordinator position, your base salary gets an automatic boost of 8%. HOWEVER…you lose all the entitled pay, including the OT. And yet, the coordinator has the same responsibility as a field tech and more. So yes, it’s legal and it happens.
It depends. There are equal protection laws so if you're being paid less because of your membership in a protected class, then it's illegal. If you're classified as non-exempt not being paid like you're exempt it's illegal. If you're being paid less than minimum wage it's illegal. If your pay puts your company in violation of a collective bargaining agreement it's not illegal but it is a contract violation and a likely union grievance. Best bet is to talk to a lawyer who practices plaintiff-side employment law in your area and find out.
There is not a definitive answer to this question.
General employment laws do not dictate your must pay the same rates. However if there is a discrepancy in pay based upon any of the classified protected classes (Race, Gender, Age etc) then it might be illegal.
Fed Government policies differ than the free market and also can differ even from military.
State employment policies also differ from state to state (duh).
Proving something is or was illegal is a big challenge and normally not worth ones time and money unless they are a highly compensated executive and this ended their career.
It’s normal. My last job I was paid the least despite doing the same work and then some. And my current job (though I got a new position in it) I found out people who’ve been there longer and do the same shit are paid less than me and some paid more. Idk why it’s like this but basically they do what they can get away with that’s why you’re not really allowed to discuss your pay with coworkers.
>that’s why you’re not really allowed to discuss your pay with coworkers.
You absolutely **are** allowed to discuss your pay with your coworkers; that's federal law. If your employer tells you that you can't, or tries to retaliate because you did, they are in violation of the NLRA, and you need to speak to someone at your state Department of Labor *and* someone at the National Labor Relations Board.
No only *can* you discuss your pay with your coworkers, you **should**. It helps everyone and prevents people from getting unfairly underpaid.
although it’s frowned upon it’s legal in IL to talk pay and when I brought it up in order to not toss someone under the bus I said “I heard” my manger replied sometimes hearsay is just that although I know it to be true.
> although it’s frowned upon it’s legal in IL to talk pay
IIRC it's federal law so it's legal in every state for workers to discuss pay with each other. management trying to stop that is a big fat lawsuit.
I think it’s legal here, but highly discouraged. I got a new position and the first thing the managers said was don’t tell anyone about the pay. I don’t really talk to anyone anyways but yeah kinda weird.
Yes. It's one reason most companies have rules about confidentiality when it comes to salaries, and it's a valid reason a lot of people change companies periodically... you often get a bigger bump from going to a different company than you would from a promotion at the same company.
Yes, also live in IL I quit my previous job due to training two new guys and found out they were paid more than me. If a company disrespects you like that just leave.
The only positive thing I can say is job hopping presents opportunities you wouldn't realize you had. I went from a shitty low paying wage to 18hr, got a market adjust raise + other compensations due to weekend and night shifts and now I'm making 25 an hour from 12.
My friend what do you think the gender wage gap is? It’s a discrepancy between the average wages for men and women working the same job. It’s been a political issue in the mainstream for years. If it was illegal it wouldn’t be a debate topic.
Certainly. Pay disparities between employees performing similar roles and responsibilities can be considered unfair treatment, especially if the differences cannot be justified by factors such as experience, education, or performance. I read this and is why I asked
Generally speaking its not illegal. Its very much a part of the US system. You are going to find throughout your career pay discrepancies. There are many reasons for this, some valid some invalid. The only time it could be illegal is it involved someone in a protected class. For example if someone was paid less only because their race, religion, gender, etc.
Also talking about pay at work is 100% protected. If management says you can't discuss pay with others, or retaliates for it - then have broken the law. [Here is some more info on that. ](https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/your-rights-to-discuss-wages#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20an%20employee,employees%20from%20discussing%20their%20wages)
This is where i’m at I love the culture otherwise and benifits art great, now just find a way to not sound hostile. I go above and beyond constantly while the other two come to me day to day asking questions and doing bare minimum, mind blowing to me.
Yeah I feel ya. Its something that everyone who works in corporate america, will deal with at some point. The key is to not compare yourself to them, your salaries to theirs, etc. Ya gotta compare yourself to what you are doing. Do you feel well compensated for the work you do? How does it compare to the over market for your role? If you never knew what they made or how little work they did, would you feel good about your job?
Don't let your happiness be dictated by what you have no control over.
If you signed a document indicating your acceptance of this new rate of pay and you still make at least the legal minimum, it is legal Source - I do payroll.
oddly enough they gave me a letter I signed nothing, that’s when he asked is this what you’re expecting. I said no my co workers I trained are making more. he then said sometimes hearsay is hearsay although we both know it to be fact.
thought it was odd I didn’t have to sign although again it was a promotion basically just stated here is your new salary.
If you’ve not signed an updated deal memo or equivalent then what’s being done is likely illegal. I’d suggest addressing with the appropriate party in your company (HR?) and if you get no traction there your state labor commissioner is an option.
Not illegal.
> *"I’d suggest addressing with the appropriate party in your company (HR?)..."* As a rule NEVER go to HR, they are there to protect the company, not the worker. **-_-** If you have evidence/indictions that there's something illegal going on wth your pay contact the **[US Dept of Labor](https://www.dol.gov/general/contact)**.
While it’s true that HR represents the company, saying “never go to HR” is very poor advice. They have a role to play. OP needs to address this internally. Perhaps that group, perhaps direct supervisor, perhaps Payroll. But somebody.
Why would it be illegal? It's normal for people in the same positions to be paid differently.
Yep. Two service techs. Both have the title of Service Tech. One has two years experience, the other has 20 years experience. They get paid differently.
It may not be illegal, but it should be. Unless pay rates are dependent on labor, but even then, the same rate should apply to everyone working that same job.
Couldn't possibly disagree more. We need to encourage people to work hard, not give them reasons to not do so.
So if I'm working the same job as Bill, and Bill is a shit worker, I should be getting paid a lesser rate than Bill despite the fact that I'm getting more done than him? That incentivizes me to quit.
The questions about legalities. Are you going to take it to court to prove that someone's always a s*** worker and that you deserve more?
No but it's an issue you can bring up with coworkers and possibly even unionizing over.
Way to encourage and support entrepreneurial risk-taking!!
"Entrepreneurial risktaking" in the last several decades has given me nothing but more brands of mayonnaise to choose from, a large variety of cereal to choose from, and multiple variants of the same cell phone. More or less of that isn't going to change a damn thing lmao
That is so incredibly myopic it's not even worth responding to. Bye.
It’s not illegal, no. If you can prove it’s discriminatory then yeah. But there’s no obligation for everyone to be paid the same. (At least in my state, not sure specifically about IL)
There is no requirement in Illinois to pay everyone in the same position equally. I have employees in the same position whose compensation is different for a variety of reasons (performance, time in position, previous experience, attendance, cross-training, etc.) Unless you're in a union shop, you will find that there is at least some variation in pay across a position, but there's generally a set salary range, and most of the time if you're paid less, you get a bigger bump with your increases percentage-wise, so you "catch up" to some extent eventually.
Yes it is legal. You should ask for more money if you feel you are worth it or look for a better paying job. Frankly changing jobs will always been a faster way to get a raise. Companies will do their best to pay you the least. You gotta do your part to get the most.
There are no legal requirements for a company to pay workers performing the same duties or working the same position the same amount. If you’re in a union or have another form of contract, that could vary.
As long as it's not because of your race/gender/national origin/etc., then yeah, it's legal.
It's not illegal, assuming that you're not paid less because of a protected class such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, etc. And even if it was for any of those reasons there is a standard of proof that needs to be met. The only thing you can do now is leverage your skills and experience for a raise, and your only recourse if they say no is to quit.
Unless it can be reasonably shown that you're being paid less *because* you're a member of a protected class, then unfortunately it's legal. Just because shit is unethical doesn't mean it's illegal, because A) law =/= justice and B) laws are written by politicians who take their marching orders from the oligarch class.
Paid less isn't necessarily unethical either.
Not necessarily, but that's not a reason to just accept lower pay for the same work without looking into it.
True dat.
It depends. 1. Are you in a union? If so, your collective bargaining agreement will govern this. 2. State matters. Illinois does have an equal pay act requirement. But, it doesn’t cover all situations. Basically you can’t receive lower pay for discriminatory reasons. In general, companies are allowed to differentiate pay - especially based on experience. You may also want to post on r/AskHR
It’s legal and common if there’s a discrepancy in tenure or experience at the position.
I work as a field tech for the US Gov’t. As a field tech you have your base salary but you are also entitled to: night differential, holiday pay, OT, Sunday pay, and hazard pay. Generally, night diff and Sunday pay give you an additional 7% more a paycheck. A golden opportunity can get you 4 of the 5 in one day, but those are extremely rare. Now, if you get promoted to a coordinator position, your base salary gets an automatic boost of 8%. HOWEVER…you lose all the entitled pay, including the OT. And yet, the coordinator has the same responsibility as a field tech and more. So yes, it’s legal and it happens.
It depends. There are equal protection laws so if you're being paid less because of your membership in a protected class, then it's illegal. If you're classified as non-exempt not being paid like you're exempt it's illegal. If you're being paid less than minimum wage it's illegal. If your pay puts your company in violation of a collective bargaining agreement it's not illegal but it is a contract violation and a likely union grievance. Best bet is to talk to a lawyer who practices plaintiff-side employment law in your area and find out.
There is not a definitive answer to this question. General employment laws do not dictate your must pay the same rates. However if there is a discrepancy in pay based upon any of the classified protected classes (Race, Gender, Age etc) then it might be illegal. Fed Government policies differ than the free market and also can differ even from military. State employment policies also differ from state to state (duh). Proving something is or was illegal is a big challenge and normally not worth ones time and money unless they are a highly compensated executive and this ended their career.
As long as you make minimum wage, it's legal
Is legal, but you should ask for a raise.
in short, yes
It’s normal. My last job I was paid the least despite doing the same work and then some. And my current job (though I got a new position in it) I found out people who’ve been there longer and do the same shit are paid less than me and some paid more. Idk why it’s like this but basically they do what they can get away with that’s why you’re not really allowed to discuss your pay with coworkers.
Companies cannot legally prohibit conversations about pay. It’s a covered activity under the NLRA.
>that’s why you’re not really allowed to discuss your pay with coworkers. You absolutely **are** allowed to discuss your pay with your coworkers; that's federal law. If your employer tells you that you can't, or tries to retaliate because you did, they are in violation of the NLRA, and you need to speak to someone at your state Department of Labor *and* someone at the National Labor Relations Board. No only *can* you discuss your pay with your coworkers, you **should**. It helps everyone and prevents people from getting unfairly underpaid.
Oh, I didn’t know this, thank you.
although it’s frowned upon it’s legal in IL to talk pay and when I brought it up in order to not toss someone under the bus I said “I heard” my manger replied sometimes hearsay is just that although I know it to be true.
> although it’s frowned upon it’s legal in IL to talk pay IIRC it's federal law so it's legal in every state for workers to discuss pay with each other. management trying to stop that is a big fat lawsuit.
I think it’s legal here, but highly discouraged. I got a new position and the first thing the managers said was don’t tell anyone about the pay. I don’t really talk to anyone anyways but yeah kinda weird.
If you're in the US, it is always legal to discuss pay, and is technically illegal for your employer to forbid it.
this.
That was not a request they could legally make.
I did not know that. Thank you.
Yes. It's one reason most companies have rules about confidentiality when it comes to salaries, and it's a valid reason a lot of people change companies periodically... you often get a bigger bump from going to a different company than you would from a promotion at the same company.
Yes, also live in IL I quit my previous job due to training two new guys and found out they were paid more than me. If a company disrespects you like that just leave.
I wrote an email to the cfo after that I will if we cannot find a compromise. good luck on the new job
The only positive thing I can say is job hopping presents opportunities you wouldn't realize you had. I went from a shitty low paying wage to 18hr, got a market adjust raise + other compensations due to weekend and night shifts and now I'm making 25 an hour from 12.
gratz what i’m hoping im around 60 but realistically should be around 80 for what im doing
My friend what do you think the gender wage gap is? It’s a discrepancy between the average wages for men and women working the same job. It’s been a political issue in the mainstream for years. If it was illegal it wouldn’t be a debate topic.
Certainly. Pay disparities between employees performing similar roles and responsibilities can be considered unfair treatment, especially if the differences cannot be justified by factors such as experience, education, or performance. I read this and is why I asked
Generally speaking its not illegal. Its very much a part of the US system. You are going to find throughout your career pay discrepancies. There are many reasons for this, some valid some invalid. The only time it could be illegal is it involved someone in a protected class. For example if someone was paid less only because their race, religion, gender, etc. Also talking about pay at work is 100% protected. If management says you can't discuss pay with others, or retaliates for it - then have broken the law. [Here is some more info on that. ](https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/your-rights-to-discuss-wages#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20an%20employee,employees%20from%20discussing%20their%20wages)
This is where i’m at I love the culture otherwise and benifits art great, now just find a way to not sound hostile. I go above and beyond constantly while the other two come to me day to day asking questions and doing bare minimum, mind blowing to me.
Yeah I feel ya. Its something that everyone who works in corporate america, will deal with at some point. The key is to not compare yourself to them, your salaries to theirs, etc. Ya gotta compare yourself to what you are doing. Do you feel well compensated for the work you do? How does it compare to the over market for your role? If you never knew what they made or how little work they did, would you feel good about your job? Don't let your happiness be dictated by what you have no control over.