Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm reaching out for advice regarding a challenging situation at work. I've been with the company for nearly two years (as of October 17th) in a fairly independent role overseeing marketing data for our global recruitment business. I am fairly gifted with numbers, so its been great!
Shortly after joining, my manager left, and I unofficially assumed departmental responsibilities. Over the past 18 months, three job opportunities within our department have arisen. Despite my interest and unofficial performance of these roles, I've been either ignored or told I couldn't apply. These positions offered salaries 10-25k higher than my current compensation.
Recently, a new 'Global Head' from a competitor joined our department. While I understand my experience is primarily EMEA-based, not APAC, a new position has since been advertised with a job description 95% similar to mine, offering 25k more than my current salary.
Prior to the new Global Head's arrival, I proposed several ideas and practices to improve efficiency and reduce costs. These suggestions, including one that saved the company over 600k last year, were largely ignored or dismissed. However, the new Global Head has implemented many of these same ideas, including bringing in a new supplier I had tried to for a long time..
Despite my contributions, I haven't received a pay rise in two years due to supposed budget constraints. Yet, the company continues to advertise roles similar to mine at significantly higher salaries.
Because of my autism, I find these conversations challenging. I'm passionate about my work and have dedicated myself to this role, but I feel my progress is stagnating while new hires are brought in around me.
Has anyone else experienced a similar situation? I'd greatly appreciate any advice or insights you could offer.
Thank you
maybe. It's more important to ask could you prove it? So these people they bring in for jobs you are turned down for (or are told you are ineligable for). Do they have anything on paper you don't? MBAs? Lots of managerial experence? (more experence than you aquired doing the job but with out the title?) Then it might be hard to make the case for discrimination in the promotion process.
Discrimination in pay is another matter. If they are bringing in new staff at higher salary on a very regular basis but not upping your salary maybe that's discrimination, if you can argue that it's because of some sort of perseption of you that's linked to your autism (eg issues with your people skills)
Here's a key question. are other people hired around the time you were getting raises? If they are that looks suspicious. If not it might just be an unfair buisness practice. ... Not every unfair buisness practie is ilegal but discrimination is.
This is not legal advice though and given the amounts of money involved you should probably talk to a lawer if only for a one off consultation.
Thanks- I honestly, don't know what I can do more to progress! I don't think its intentional but, honestly, I don;t know what to do anymore!
In answer to your question. Yes I believe you are. I know that there is always that self-question, am I being paranoid about what is happening? But we all know the statistics that this is how it is.
Soft-skills. Team work. Office politics. The neurotypicals just always seem to win at these.
I know I sound perhaps bitter and that I am paranoid about these things, but I do believe that this is how it is.
For me, I am in the lucky situation that I am more borderline with being unable to work, so i am in a slightly different position. And I am resigned to how 'it is what it is'.
I don't think I have any advice, but you might have read elsewhere that I have found the DWP Access to Work Scheme helpful and I am currently finding an audiobook interesting - called 'Just the Job'.