Would You Cut Your Pay?
By jillmalitz
@jillmalitz (5131)
United States
February 23, 2007 8:28am CST
Why would anyone cut their own pay? My husband works for a construction company as a plumber/ supervisor. They build motels and metal buildings and other commercial stuff. Some other employees were jealous that he made more money that they did. They thought he shouldnt get more money. He is the one who has to wait for inspectors (some employees thought he was doing nothing)and deal with idiots who want changes to the buildings at no added costs. He got tired of all the BS. So he decided to cut his pay to the same level as the other workers. Needless to say I was not happy about losing $150/week. I think he should get paid more than the others do. They are not required by the state to have a license and carry liability insurance. I sympathize with his problems with other employees and the problems with customers, but was cutting his pay the answer? Seems to me to be a case of "cutting off your nose to spite your face". He didn't discuss it with me before he did it. Now we have had to move to a smaller place and scrimp to make ends meet and I need to find some parttime work to replace that lost money. I am not happy. What do you think?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
23 Feb 07
I don't think what you're husband did was the right thing to solve this problem. And in fact, that wasn't his problem in the very first place. It was his co-employees' who seem to be very bitter getting not much as he does. Cases like this is not pretty rare, you can always encounter problems of this kind in almost any companies, especially the big ones. That's why for me, compensation should be confidential. Like in my case, we are around 6 new hires who joined the company at the same time, we do almost the same job but I got a little higher pay because of my qualifications. But when our manager talked to me about this, he asked me not to make this known to any other employee here as this could cause some trouble. So I followed his advise, and up to date none of my co-workers here knows this, not even my friends here.
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
23 Feb 07
That's what I have always been used to. A persons salary is private. Of course when someone goes to the office to pick up paychecks and looks at them it is not good. Plus, I've never figured out why the secretary doesn't seal the envelopes. Would you believe that she tapes them shut? That is just asking for someone to be nosey.
2 people like this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
28 Feb 07
thanks for the best response... it brightens my day! yeah, the secretary herself should be the first person to emphasize that salaries are confidential, and sealing the envelopes is but an SOP... she should of done that...
1 person likes this
@mikeyr6000le (2123)
• United States
28 Feb 07
I would not do that. He shouldn't have done it without talking to you about it first. I think it was silly for him to do it. If he was doing more stuff then he should have gotten more. It happens alot in the work place though. People get jelous that someone is making mor emoney and they seem to be doing all the work. It happens people, live with it.
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
28 Feb 07
Yes I know it happens, thanks for your response. I'm learning to deal with it. Can't afford to do anything else.
1 person likes this
@jillbeth (2705)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I would take a pay cut if I were changing jobs from one I was unhappy to one I liked, but to take a pay cut just to keep the peace with coworkers, no! If he has more responsibility, he deserves more pay. I think he should at least have discussed it with you before doing so.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
28 Feb 07
I am surprised that other employers knew what he was paid. That is private business and where I work that is not allowed to be discussed. If a person does what is harder even if they don't consider it harder he should get bigger wages. It is not easy to deal with customers that think changes that they want should cost no more than what they originally were quoted. Let his other co-workers try dealing with the customers. They can get pretty irate. I know I have dealt with customers and you have to south there ruffled feathers while still trying to explain to them the changes will make this cost more. I don't think he should pay attention to what they say. They don't know what kind of work that he does. I also think this should have been discussed with you first because it directly affected you. That was not fair to do. You have had to make changes due to the drop in pay. This was not a drop in pay that had to be either.
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Yeah, I'm still angry. This company is so sloppy. When I first learned that the secretary taped the check envelopes and let employees take checks to other employees, I fliped out! I really wish my husband would find another job but he is really tired of working. Too bad he can't retire yet. Right now I am hoping that maybe I can get a parttime job working at home so that I can make up some of the loss. So far I've had no luck.
