I sent this email to my new boss (new job I just started),

[UndertheOcean]

Hi *****,

I discovered something yesterday that made me very upset , and I am afraid made me lose a lot of confidence in (company name). I was promised before I started a pay rate of 35$/hour by *******. But I discovered only yesterday that my actual pay was $30/hour .... skimping of the compensation of development Engineers at such a critical stage is not a hallmark of farsightedness.

I inquired from different people , and all of them thought this pay is unfair , including ******. I am giving ***** all my effort , and even working overtime without pay , only to discover that they are not interested in giving me fair compensation.

....blah ...blah ...blah

I was just too angry ..do you think they will fire me ?

[yorgatron]

1. just tell them you're a friend of mine.

then explain that i will plant a size 13 EE Red Wing boot in someones ass if they don't pony up.

[IdaBriggs]

2. No, they won't fire you.

They were trying to see if they could pay you less money. Did you get an offer letter with the pay rate, or was everything verbal?

Assume it is a mix-up, and take it from there. If that doesn't work and they really are trying to pay you $10K less than agreed, you will need to leave/find another job ASAP. Your personal financial situation will have to determine how quickly that happens.

Good luck!

[buzzycrumbhunger]

3. Actually. . .

The salary would need to be in writing to hold up as a dispute, and many companies will fire you for discussing pay with other employees. That particular line would be my biggest concern. One thing to do it, but admitting to it? That would go straight into the HR file, if not for ammo now, then to hold against you later. Unfortunately, that's the kind of thing crooked arseholes work to their advantage all the time and regular people never even consider until they've been taken to the cleaners.

Hopefully, they'll simply feel you're too valuable to screw around with and will simply make good on the original offer.

[MajorChode]

6. Few companies actually fire employees for discussing pay

Some my threaten that action, but the bottom line is EVERYONE discusses their pay with their fellow employees. Employers try to discourage it, but are rarely successful. No employer that has any sense whatsoever is going to terminate an employee for actually discussing their pay with others. There would be too much liability involved if someone filed an EEO complaint. Singling out and firing an employee for something everyone does is a really bad idea.

The best approach is simply effectively communicating your expectations with your employer. The problem with email is people often write things they would probably not say in person, and these types of disputes are almost always handled better in person.

[ogneopasno]

4. Do you have a job acceptance letter you both signed, saying what you would be paid and what your

vacation and benefits would be? If not, you're pretty much SOL. And dude, don't be working overtime without pay -- unless, of course, you're an exempt employee, in which case complaining about it isn't going to do anything. And talking about pay with other people and then telling management about it is going to be seen as an organizing tactic. Which may be a bad thing, at your employer.

A face-to-face talk would have been much better.

[undeterred]

5. When the economy sucks and there are lots of people

looking for work, people get paid less. I've had my rate knocked down $5 an hour after accepting a job. They told me "don't even try to negotiate or argue about it, because we'll just move on to the next person".

[MajorChode]

7. Unfortunately they are right

If you don't have a union and/or a contract, you are an 'at will' employee and they can fire you for any reason that doesn't involve illegal discrimination.

[undeterred]

8. In my experience, when I've been offered a good rate

theres no contract to sign. You only sign paper to accept a lousy rate. Computer people don't have unions, we are always 'at will'.

[MajorChode]

11. Lots of "computer people" are represented by unions

Whether you are an employee covered by a union and a contract is solely up to the employees. Everyone has a right to form and join unions.

[undeterred]

12. I've been in the field for 11 years and I've never

had the opportunity to join a union or met a single person in my field who was in a union. Many of us work as contractors, who do not have the right or ability to unionize. So I have no idea who you are talking about. Can you name a single union that IT professionals belong to?

[MajorChode]

13. Yes, several

Most of the entire telecommunications industry is unionized. The largest employer in the US, the federal government, is mostly unionized. Much of the defense industry is unionized. All have employees in your field that are represented by unions.

If you are a "contractor" then you already have a contract. If you work for a contractor, you have a right to form and join a union. If you don't, that's the fault of you and your fellow employees.

[undeterred]

16. Telecommunications is not computer IT.

Its a different field which requires a different training and background. It has nothing to do with the field I am discussing. The IT people in State Government in my state do not belong to a union.

You're speaking in gross generalizations which shed no light on the subject at hand because you don't know anything about it. And you make the ridiculous suggestion that one can just snap one's fingers and form a union. If that were true, there would be a lot more of them around.

There are no unions in Information Technology.

[MajorChode]

17. I have no idea what you are discussing

All of the industries I mentioned have thousands of IT employees. Do you actually think every one of those employees are exactly the same and don't specialize? Now you want to "define" your field using your own narrow parameters, based on your own very limited experience.

I was working in IT before it was called IT. I worked on computers back in the day when one of them filled an entire room and programs were assembled on IBM punch cards and I'm still involved heavily in it today. So you might want to temper your judgments on who you think doesn't "know anything about it."

I never suggested forming a union was easy. I am a charter member of my union and I know exactly what is involved. Once the union is formed it's no cake walk either. The bottom line is that practically everyone has the right to form and join one. If you aren't involved in one, or you aren't involved in the effort to form one, then you are really just part of the same problem you're complaining about whether you realize it or not.

[undeterred]

18. Your experience sounds as narrow as your attitude.

You are unable to name a union which is specific to IT employees. All you can do is make a broad sweeping gesture towards the government and yourself. Pretty silly.

When people talk about IT, they're talking about computers and computer networks. Its not something I defined, its a well recognized industry.

Clearly you have no idea what it is like to work these days in IT. All you can do is "point the finger".

[MajorChode]

19. Yet again you speak nonsense

I believe your assertion was, and I quote, "Computer people don't have unions". In fact, they do and I provided numerous examples.

Now you want to continuously redefine your assertion in your fruitless attempt at relevancy.

Very few unions only represent one specialty, even if that specialty is included in the name of the union. Do you think the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) only represents electricians? The Communications Workers of America(CWA) has represented IBM employees for decades. In fact, even flight attendants are represented by CWA. Smaller unions and locals almost always affiliate with larger unions that usually have little to do with their specialty. Your claim that no union specifically represents IT employees is both wrong and would be irrelevant even if it were correct. Not only are there numerous small unions that specifically represent technicians and engineers, they are almost always affiliated with larger unions. Furthermore just about any large union will assist groups of employees with forming their own unions and affiliating with them.

[MajorChode]

9. If nothing else, look at this as a learning experience

Venting your anger to your employer via email is rarely a good idea. It will almost always result in bad feelings on both sides and rarely does it actually accomplish anything.

As a developmental engineer, you probably aren't making the company any money. They are developing your skills in anticipation that you will eventually make them money. You are under no obligation to do so and can just as well swap employers once your skills are developed. As you alluded to, it is in the employer's best interest to treat you fairly at this stage, but keep in mind that they are essentially paying you to learn which greatly benefits you as well.

Put yourself in your employer's position. Perhaps they have a very good reason for there actions which may be intentional or unintentional. If you don't go and talk to them, you'll probably never find out. Most good employers will clearly state their expectations from employees. There is nothing wrong with clearly stating your expectations from them as well, and most good employers will appreciate the open dialog so long as it is done tactfully.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

10. Especially in this economy, $30/hr is a godsend.

Don't knock it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. If I were your boss, I wouldn't fire you - but I would bring you to my office for a strong tutorial

on how professionals communicate.

[Bunny]

15. Well, do you think it could have been an honest mistake?

Firing off a nasty-gram before determining if a mistake had been made seems pretty stupid, career-wise. You would have been better to assume it was a mistake and approach it that way, rather than go in with guns a-blazin'. How about this:

"Dear Boss,
There seems to be a mistake with my compensation. I was hired at $35/hour, yet it appears that I'm being paid $30/hour. I'm not sure where the mix-up occured, but I would appreciate if you could check with HR/Payroll and track down this error, so it can be rectified as soon as possible. I'm otherwise very happy with this company and look forward to continued employment at the rate we established when I was hired. Thanks, blah blah."

This approach assumes that your boss is on the same page as you, and that he/she would want to get the problem fixed right away. Appeal to their desire to do the right thing first. If he/she turns out to be a total bastard who is knowingly cheating you out of $5/hour, that will come out soon enough, and then you can decide what further action you want to take.

But at least give him/her the chance to fix it before you assume the absolute worst about them.

[NJmaverick]

20. This sort of situation is not one that should be addressed by email

you should meet with your new boss and discuss this issue. Honestly, I think your email was a mistake, both in tone and in means of communications.

[philosophie_en_rose]

21. Maybe it was a mistake.

You should have given them the opportunity to explain the discrepancy, but it might be a good idea to look into wage laws in your area. Not paying you for overtime is probably a violation.

[UndertheOcean]

22. Oops , I screwed up again.