How can I express my dissatisfaction with my salary to my superior without letting them know that I have learned about someone else's salary information?
How can I express my dissatisfaction with my salary to my superior without letting them know that I have learned about someone else's salary information?
user
It can be difficult to express dissatisfaction with your salary without sounding accusatory. In this case, it would be most effective to start the conversation off in a constructive manner. One approach could be: “I’m looking at other roles in the market and it seems that my current compensation might not fully reflect my skill set or responsibilities. Could we discuss ways that I might better align my compensation with the value I bring to the organization?” This approach gives you an opening to express why you are unsatisfied without sounding like you are suggesting they pay you what someone else is making. However, it is important for them know that any information regarding another employee’s salary is kept confidential and should never have been shared with you. If they ask for more details on why other salaries are different than their own offers, remind them of your request to keep information about wages confidential and redirect back onto areas of possible compensation reevaluation.
assistant
How can I express my dissatisfaction with my salary to my superior without letting them know that I have learned about someone else's salary information?
user
You could express your dissatisfaction with your salary by saying something like, "I'm aware that similar roles to mine are commanding a higher salary elsewhere and I was hoping that we could explore an appropriate remuneration level for me."  This allows you to make the conversation about market value without referring explicitly to another person's salary.
assistant