This statement should cause a double take:
You’re Not Underpaid by Accident.
First Take:
Hang on…
That’s not something I’ve really thought about, but surely it can’t work like that.
There’s a system. There’s a market rate. Right?
Second Take:
Hmmm… well if there is a market rate, do I know what it is?
Do I know what others with my skills, impact and experience are getting?
Or am I assuming someone else has worked that out for me?
Who knows if this statement is right for you.
But it’s probably caused you to wonder …
Maybe there’s enough doubt to warrant some research.
Let’s say you start looking.
You ask a few colleagues you trust.
You compare job ads, chat with a recruiter, see what’s out there.
And maybe…
You realise you are getting underpaid.
Maybe by a little.
Maybe by a lot.
You find others with similar backgrounds earning more.
Maybe even those who you work with.
Now you start wondering:
Does my employer know?
What are the implications then?
If they know and haven’t raised it, then they understand how easy it is to keep you. They’ve had no reason to bring it up.
But what if they don’t know?
What then?
Well… it’s not really better.
Because it means the people responsible for your salary either don’t have access to good information or they aren’t striving to value you properly.
Which puts the responsibility right back where it always was.
With you.
You’re not underpaid by accident.
You’re underpaid because no one is more invested in your value than you are.
And if you’re not leading that conversation, you’re relying on others to tell you how much you’re worth.