Quick question.

In my small firm there are two trainees, we’re of similar age, both have 3 years experience doing the same job, he’s passed 10 exams and I’ve passed 11. His payrise for the latest exam pass (we both passed one) was 6 times what mine was and is now on £1k more than me. I was on 1k more than him for the past 8 months, but lets say we both fail exams for the next two years, I’ll be losing out much more in the long run. I’m not saying that I’m worth more but with one more exam pass surely I should be on the same salary, at the least.

Now, do I raise this with my boss? I obviously don’t want to them to lower his pay to match mine but I can’t see them raising mine to match his.

What do you think?

Is pay only related to how many exams you have passed in your firm?

I have passed way more exams than they guy I work with, as he has done none, as he has never studied, but hes on way more than me as he has more experience, is older and has more responsibility

I think you need to tread carefully when comparing salary to colleagues, there may be factors you are unaware of, or wouldn’t like to hear

Carl28 - August 27 2010 10:02 AM

Is pay only related to how many exams you have passed in your firm?

I have passed way more exams than they guy I work with, as he has done none, as he has never studied, but hes on way more than me as he has more experience, is older and has more responsibility

He’s two years younger than me (not that that should make ANY difference)
We do exactly the same job. Neither has more or less responsibility than the other.
We are both ‘trainee accountants’ whose pay should go up by inflation in January and £500 per exam pass.
We both started at the same time - me in another firm (better firm) but have done/do exactly the same job. If anything, I’ve got more audit experience (although I don’t really do audit here). I’m not saying I’m worth more but feel that £500 more should be appropriate given the 1 extra exam pass.
We are both studying ACCA - as I said, him 10/14, me 11/14.
We get exactly the same study leave/course allowance.

I see no other reason for this to be the case.

Carl28 - August 27 2010 10:02 AM

I think you need to tread carefully when comparing salary to colleagues, there may be factors you are unaware of, or wouldn’t like to hear

If there are things that I ‘wouldn’t like to hear’ then I want to hear them by virtue of that fact.

what your discovering is what the education system doesn’t teach you and that

these things are all down to negotiation, exams etc aren’t relevant your very lucky you get anything for completing an exam !

if this guy can hassle and work the system better than you then he deserves to earn more than you

just beacuse you can do the same work etc isn’t a reason for you to be on the same/more/less pay

oh and i doubt they can lower his pay if he has it in contract, and also don’t worry about him

if they said to you here is 1k but only one of you id going to get it, woudl you feel bad if you got it

dont worry about him worry about yourself, wether he gets paid at teh end of the month is his problem etc not yours

topcat - August 27 2010 12:03 PM

what your discovering is what the education system doesn’t teach you and that

these things are all down to negotiation, exams etc aren’t relevant your very lucky you get anything for completing an exam !

Not really. Practices pay a pittance because the trainee is on a ‘training contract’ so it’s fair that as you advance through your ‘training’ you get pay rises. If it wasn’t for the ‘training’ aspect, the base salary should be higher.

topcat - August 27 2010 12:03 PM

if this guy can hassle and work the system better than you then he deserves to earn more than you

just beacuse you can do the same work etc isn’t a reason for you to be on the same/more/less pay

Guess so. I’ll be bringing it when I get the chance.

topcat - August 27 2010 12:04 PM

oh and i doubt they can lower his pay if he has it in contract, and also don’t worry about him

if they said to you here is 1k but only one of you id going to get it, woudl you feel bad if you got it
dont worry about him worry about yourself, wether he gets paid at teh end of the month is his problem etc not yours

No, I wouldn’t. To be fair, I don’t care about anyone but myself so I see your point.

They’ll be getting less effort out of me to compensate.

Mdam - August 27 2010 12:32 PM

topcat - August 27 2010 12:04 PM

oh and i doubt they can lower his pay if he has it in contract, and also don’t worry about him

if they said to you here is 1k but only one of you id going to get it, woudl you feel bad if you got it
dont worry about him worry about yourself, wether he gets paid at teh end of the month is his problem etc not yours

No, I wouldn’t. To be fair, I don’t care about anyone but myself so I see your point.

They’ll be getting less effort out of me to compensate.

dont worry about the less effort just make sure you play the game, eg highlight his mistakes or dont stick up for him if he does make mistakes,

make sure that you pester bosses and senior partners in teh right way etc so that they have a good impression of you,

if you are offered a payrise always reject the initial offer and give reasons why it should be higher eg work hard, progressed well in company etc

the original offer will still always be there but thats the only time and chance you have of getting more money out of them, that once a year etc

and just for though, my current firm dont pay any of our exam fees or give us a parise when we complete it,