I'm angry...

melishka716 · October 2009

That this is for real!I was going through everyone's paystubs (many have direct deposit and don't pick up the stubs) and was sorting them out. Well, I found one of mine and it said i got $x amount for hours/wage. Then, I came across a male co-workers, who makes the same wage and worked the same hours. He actually did make $2 more, overall. And we even had the same w-4 status.WTF? I thought that was a joke when people say men make more for the same hours/wages, than women.

bbyckes · October 2009

Is it your job to sort paycheck stubs? Do you have to open them? I don't necessarily think it's any of your business what other people make or to look at other's paycheck stubs. I find this offensive. If you have exactly the same wage and work exactly the same hours, he cannot mathematically make more than you. There must be some other subtle difference between your situation and his to account for the $2 differential. There could be other reasons such as deductions, or some other tax status that may account for this. I think this would be a completely different situation if he was making substantially more than you, which he's not. In order to save yourself future anxiety, stop being so nosey.

betrothed123 · October 2009

Why are you looking in the first place? I have access to the wages every person in my company makes. That does not give me the right to snoop into their private lives and look at what they make. It's none of your busienss just like it's none of mine.And really? You're pissed over $2? That's just asanine. I can almost guarantee you that there is some small difference in his withholdings or something to account for the difference.

Stackeye210 · October 2009

You shouldn't be looking........However, did you think that maybe he was just better at negotiating his salary when he started? I read a study that said women normally take what is offered when accepting a job and men usually negotiate a better wage. I would suggest NOT saying a word about your frustratins to anyone at your workplace, or associated with it.

goheels05 · October 2009

$2? Overall? As in, not an hour? I wouldn't worry about it.If it's $2 an hour, is it because he's worked there longer than you? If not, I'd ask for a raise. I wouldn't mention the fact that you were looking at other people's paystubs, though.

melishka716 · October 2009

It is my job. I do the payroll here. And the way our stubs are set up has the persons name on the left, address and other info on the right.Below their names is their info on what they make. So, it's hard to not see peoples earnings, although I mainly ignore them, since I go through so many.And yes, only $2, but if that's happening every paycheck, it's not fair. I highly doubt that our status' were different.

melishka716 · October 2009

heels- I've been here longer so that doesn't have anything to do with it. We make the same wage, though, and like I said, he and I had the exact amount of hours worked that paycheck. My boss knew I was sorting them because it's my job.

bbyckes · October 2009

I highly doubt that our status' were different. So you're "angry" without even knowing if there is a subtlety that would account for the difference in salary? Maybe you should ask him. See how well that goes over.

betrothed123 · October 2009

Again, it is none of your business.

lyndausvi · October 2009

you are worried about $2.... please. Are you looking at gross or net? If the gross is the same who the fuuck cares if the net is different. It's not your business why he is taking home $2 more than you do if the gross is the same.Even if his gross is $2 more, I'm not sure I would even care.

melishka716 · October 2009

Maybe you should ask him. See how well that goes over. OMG! Why didn't I think of that sooner! You're amazing! Seriously...I noticed a similar situation with my husband's paystub a year ago, but I shrugged it off. We were at the same position, making the same wage, and had the same status. That, I know for a fact. He pointed it out, and that one was $4 more, overall.I was ignorant in high school because I didn't think women would really make less, but now that this is the second time, I'm starting to wonder.

melishka716 · October 2009

$2 overall, does add up over time, so anyone should be concerned.

bbyckes · October 2009

This still makes no sense mathematically. Assuming that your wages and hours and deductions are EXACTLY the same, his Y chromosome would not magically make his paycheck $2 more than yours. It doesn't happen like that.You're right. I am amazing.

lyndausvi · October 2009

This still makes no sense mathematically. Assuming that your wages and hours and deductions are EXACTLY the same, his Y chromosome would not magically make his paycheck $2 more than yours. It doesn't happen like that.Ditto.. that is why I'm wondering if it's net she is looking at and not gross.All the crew on the boat makes the same wage. Our gross is all the same. Our net is TOTALLY different. Some have medical dependants, other don't. Some put more into 401k, bought extra insurance, have united way taken out or even adjust their W4 throught out the year. There are a ton of ways to end up with a different net that someone else even if you have the same wage.

Stackeye210 · October 2009

Maybe this guy lives in a different school district, or city limits and has a little less deduction then you. Or maybe you have a different version of health insurance then he does.

goheels05 · October 2009

If that's the case, Melishka, it will be a wash when tax season comes around. He'll pay more, you'll pay less, or your refund will be higher. I work in tax. if you need me to explain it better, you can email me. gotarheels05 at gmail.

lyndausvi · October 2009

brownhenry - Did you actually read the post? Her male co-worker and her make the same wage and work the same hours. Which means the make the same. His paycheck is $2 more. Which mostly likely means there is some deduction that is causing the paychecks to be $2 off. It does not mean the co-worker is actually making 'more money'.

brownhenry · October 2009

my bad...

melishka716 · October 2009

Well, I guess to clarify why I feel I should be concerned, we're both at student status, which exempts us from purchasing insurance. We also are PERA exempt and no 401K. Basically, we work our hours, then get paid.The only thing is the UW fund, but I didn't do it this year, because I forgot to turn my form in, but that wouldn't explain why he get's more, if nothing is being taken out.Heels- I would like to email you because I am concerned and since I am young, I would like to understand this whole situation better. I can't email you from work, though. My email is on a blockpage. I'll email you later.

goheels05 · October 2009

No problem. Hopefully together we can figure it out.

sarahwilliams4 · October 2009

Here is an example that might help you: Person A & Person B Both make $1/hour and work 10 hours. GROSS wages for both of these people would be $10. But, suppose that Person A lives in Philadelphia where there is a 5% wage tax. Person B lives in the suburbs and is not subject to this tax. Suppose that they both have $1 taken out for benefits & federal taxes. This would mean that person A's NET wages would be $8.50 and person B's NET wages would be $9.50.

sarahwilliams4 · October 2009

Oh, also, are you *sure* he worked EXACTLY the same hours? Even though you're there for the same hours, based on clock in/clock out times it could vary. Maybe he showed up 15 minutes earlier one day, took a shorter lunch, or left later. Even if it's a small amount like 15 minutes, it could impact the total earnings by $2.

[Deleted User] · October 2009

This is none of your business. If you are in a position where you are trusted to work with other employee's salaries, you should not be comparing yours to his. If you can't handle knowing what other people in your company make, perhaps you are in the wrong career.

ffmaid · October 2009

I woudl bet your witholdings were different or you live in different counties which charge different tax rates or one of you used flex spensing differently or insurance differently or the minute are different in you worked 40 hours 0 minutes and he worked 40 hour 5 minute or somethng like that

betrothed123 · October 2009

Cew,I love you. Those are my thoughts exactly. I wouldn't be working in the position I'm in if I couldn't handle the fact that some of the onther people here who do less work than me make more money than me.