₦airaland Forum

I am currently working in a school where I teach Chemistry. At the time I got the job, I was quite desperate, so I accepted a starting salary of ₦40,000 with the hope that it would increase soon.
Over the past two years, I have been very hardworking and have improved significantly in both practical and theoretical teaching. I also hold a B.Sc. (Ed), which adds to my qualifications. Despite this, my salary has only increased to ₦70,000.
A few days ago, an applicant came in for a Physics teaching position. After the assessment, even though his micro-teaching was not particularly impressive, he was still considered for the role. Later, my colleague and I casually asked him about the salary he was offered, and he said ₦100,000 as a starting salary.
I was honestly shocked that the school could offer such an amount to a new applicant while those of us who have been working longer and contributing more are earning significantly less.
Infact I've been unable to sleep, but I'll first confirm from principal or when he resumes

What if he is lying? Why should you ask people about their salaries sef? It's a sign of immaturity. So if he had told you he earns 50k, you would have felt fulfilled or what? This one na symptom of witchcraft.
Going to meet the principal would be another big mistake. Don't let people's happiness be the reason for your own unhappiness. If you feel cheated, resign and move on. You want to put the new employee into trouble.

Wealthyonos:
What if he is lying? Why should you ask people about their salaries sef? It's a sign of immaturity. So if he had told you he earns 50k, you would have felt fulfilled or what? This one na symptom of witchcraft.
Going to meet the principal would be another big mistake. Don't let people's happiness be the reason for your own unhappiness. If you feel cheated, resign and move on. You want to put the new employee into trouble.

Nobody is putting him into trouble. We just felt underpaid which is absolutely normal considering what we have given back to the school.

I was once employed in an organization in kaduna...


When I came in my salary was a bit higher than the others on my level. It made the staff very uncomfortable and I could tell as it was obvious from their body language.

They went to meet the boss to demand for salary increment. As they can't collect less than me the new staff.


Another experience I had my earnings was double the amount my superiors were getting (based on my qualifications back then though) my boss used to pay me separately and warned me not to disclose my salary to the other workers.


So when they would ask me I would say an amount within the range or slightly lower than what they were earning. I think they suspected though because of how hush hush I was being payed differently.


Some of them will later go on to resign.


My take... some employers can do that because of the qualification of the new person.


But from my personal experience as someone who pays workers I don't think it's advisable. It's best to create a salary scale and pay workers based on this scale.


Doing something like this can cause a whole lot of distraction, disruption and chaos in a working environment.


Final word is that you take up the issue with your boss. Just be mindful of how you present your case!

brain54:
I was once employed in an organization in kaduna...


When I came in my salary was a bit higher than the others on my level. It made the staff very uncomfortable and I could tell as it was obvious from their body language.

They went to meet the boss to demand for salary increment. As they can't collect less than me the new staff.


Another experience I had my earnings was double the amount my superiors were getting (based on my qualifications back then though) my boss used to pay me separately and warned me not to disclose my salary to the other workers.


So when they would ask me I would say an amount within the range or slightly lower than what they were earning. I think they suspected though because of how hush hush I was being payed differently.


Some of them will later go on to resign.


My take... some employers can do that because of the qualification of the new person.


But from my personal experience as someone who pays workers I don't think it's advisable. It's best to create a salary scale and pay workers based on this scale.


Doing something like this can cause a whole lot of distraction, disruption and chaos in a working environment.


Final word is that you take up the issue with your boss. Just be mindful of how you present your case!

Just be mindful of how you present your case!

Gbammm

brain54:
I was once employed in an organization in kaduna...


When I came in my salary was a bit higher than the others on my level. It made the staff very uncomfortable and I could tell as it was obvious from their body language.

They went to meet the boss to demand for salary increment. As they can't collect less than me the new staff.


Another experience I had my earnings was double the amount my superiors were getting (based on my qualifications back then though) my boss used to pay me separately and warned me not to disclose my salary to the other workers.


So when they would ask me I would say an amount within the range or slightly lower than what they were earning. I think they suspected though because of how hush hush I was being payed differently.


Some of them will later go on to resign.


My take... some employers can do that because of the qualification of the new person.


But from my personal experience as someone who pays workers I don't think it's advisable. It's best to create a salary scale and pay workers based on this scale.


Doing something like this can cause a whole lot of distraction, disruption and chaos in a working environment.


Final word is that you take up the issue with your boss. Just be mindful of how you present your case!

I understand.
In this setting, the difference is way too much and If it's qualifications, I'm way more qualified because it's my field and not is field. I just felt like, I'm underpaid because that really opened my eye.

dboY1123:
I understand.
In this setting, the difference is way too much and If it's qualifications, I'm way more qualified because it's my field and not is field. I just felt like, I'm underpaid because that really opened my eye.

Present your case to your boss...


The truth is some employers will never do anything about an employee's pay if he is comfortable and don't ask for a raise even when he is aware your pay has become low.


New employees are the ones who inadvertently set up a new salary scale. Because when they are coming in the know the current industry standard the old employees might not even be aware of.


Talk to your boss though!

My

dboY1123:
I am currently working in a school where I teach Chemistry. At the time I got the job, I was quite desperate, so I accepted a starting salary of ₦40,000 with the hope that it would increase soon.
Over the past two years, I have been very hardworking and have improved significantly in both practical and theoretical teaching. I also hold a B.Sc. (Ed), which adds to my qualifications. Despite this, my salary has only increased to ₦70,000.
A few days ago, an applicant came in for a Physics teaching position. After the assessment, even though his micro-teaching was not particularly impressive, he was still considered for the role. Later, my colleague and I casually asked him about the salary he was offered, and he said ₦100,000 as a starting salary.
I was honestly shocked that the school could offer such an amount to a new applicant while those of us who have been working longer and contributing more are earning significantly less.
Infact I've been unable to sleep, but I'll first confirm from principal or when he resumes

Approach with humility and renegotiate your salary. Don't say anything about the new staff salary. If the organisation value your services, they might consider your negotiation but if they said no way, start saving for your own business.

Word of advice:
Approach the management and state your case but never mention the new guy.
Start by "considering the spate of increased fuel price and high cost of living, you would appeal to the management to upwardly review your salary, that even if they decide to pay #100,000 (quote this exact figure) it will not be enough to mitigate your cost of living. That you need stay motivated and committed to your work. Enough said.

Of course, he would realise you have spoken with the new fellow and understand he hasn't been fair to you guys. He would surely do something or make clarifications.

Please 🙏 do come back with updates after your meeting with him. Remember to go alone and not with anyone.

Without that information, would you have been brave enough to ask for a salary increase?
What would have been your offer and argument for increase?

Go for it, not coz of the new info, but because you want it...and you're willing to quit or keep manage if it goes south.

Every employee in an organization bargained for different salaries at the point of joining the organization and this bargain is subject to review if you think you have acquired more skills and qualifications that will give you a ground for negotiation for new salary.

The new employee bargained for 100k and not that your employer is doing it on purpose to miff the existing employees, besides it is unethically wrong for the person to be disclosing his/her employment contract with other staff.

Focus on your job for now but you can have a conversation with your employer on the economic hardship in the country that is affect you. You will know if you are valuabale to the organization if your employer dismiss your submission or calls you for further discussion.

The long and short of the story, never stop developing yourself, your skills will make you to earn more income and your productivity will make you indispensable.

Thnk you