Comparing Pay...

[silva]

I've been working as a contractor for 10 months now, in which period 2 of the original team of 4 have left. These 2 have been replaced in the last 3 months by a team of 4, working for the same agency as myself and doing the same work.

Recently though, it was discovered that these new guys, who I am having to train up, are earning over double my hourly rate!! As you can imagine, I'm quite furious!!!

Just wondered if anyone could give me some advice on how best to go about finding out why, and possibly requesting a raise in my wage to, if not match, at least achieve a bit of parity with their rates?

[BlasterBates]

The reason why you earn less is because that is what you asked for. The fact that you've undersold yourself gives me the impression that you're not very experienced. Normally experienced contractors know exactly what rate they can get. There would be no justification for the agent to raise your rate mid-contract,a dn it certainly isn't his fault. At the end of your contract you can simply ask for a much higher rate.

[Peter Loew]

True, I learnt that the hard way as well. Used to think it would increase my chances if I asked for a lower rate than expected. Maybe it did, I am not sure, but you soon come to realise you should be on a higher rate and it get you in the end.

Not to say I am on a lowly rate now generally speaking, but for what I do I am. Next contract I am demanding a decent rate for sure.

[thunderlizard]

BlasterBates is right. It's like the Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard.

But on the other hand, everybody wants more cash. You can either take the businesslike approach ("after a recent market review it's come to my attention that I'm not charging market rates, therefore in future...") or the staff-y one ("I think Sinbad's getting paid twice as much as I am for easier work. Can't we make it fairer").

[someone has my name]

when does your contract run out?
are you likley to get an extension
if so... then demand more money or leave,While quoting market stats!

[MrRobin]

I sympathise with you, silva, this has happened to me a couple of times in the past now (although not to the extent that the other are earning double). Although the others here are right in saying that if you were happy with the rate when you accepted, why should it matter what the next guy is getting, it can induce some resentment in the role and make you think about what you’ve been missing, and for me I have temporarily lost interest and enthusiasm thinking along the lines of 'well if you're only going to pay me half, then I'm only going to put in half'. Clearly, this is pretty unproffessional and I'm not proud of it and I've had to pull myself together.

Half the frustration comes from underselling yourself, and the other half from thinking you probably didn’t get a fair deal offered in the first place, and the feeling you’ve been ripped off. However, 10 months ago the market conditions for your field could have been very different and if you had quoted the rates of your new colleagues back then you could have just been laughed at etc. On the bright side, now that you have found out (albeit the hard way) you are now armed with valuable information you can use at contract renewal or finding your next gig. You could approach the client or agent now with your concerns and threaten to walk but you should be prepared that you could very well get a flat no and have to carry out your threat.

Personally, I now make a conservative effort to avoid finding out anything about other contractors pay in the same dept as me, doing a similar job because it can be a bit soul destroying!

HTH

[chicane]

But on the other hand, everybody wants more cash. You can either take the businesslike approach ("after a recent market review it's come to my attention that I'm not charging market rates, therefore in future...") or the staff-y one ("I think Sinbad's getting paid twice as much as I am for easier work. Can't we make it fairer").

Why feel the need to justify your request for more money? Tell 'em your expectations, leave it at that, and let them make the decision. Giving out a justification leaves you more vulnerable to counter-justification.

[XLMonkey]

This is a common problem. I think that lots of people with good technical/professional skills find it difficult to get what they're worth (or at least, what the market will pay).

If you haven't done so already, I suggest that you take the time to read up on negotiation tactics and strategy - once you understand how the process works it becomes a lot lot easier to get what you want.

I'm a big fan of Getting to Yes

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Getting-Yes-...9169177&sr=8-1

...'cos it works

[pfeds]

Market rates change all the time. I work with other contractors who may or may not earn more than I do, but I consider it irrelevant and I would rather not know what they earn. Saying that, by knowing what they earn then you have more awareness of how much you can negotiate when your contract is renewed or when you look for another one. When I was a permie I was managing people who I know were earning more than me (which was one of the reasons I left), but then again they had been at the company longer and were older than me so by default they were just earning more.

[Bagpuss]

It's a bummer, and it's happened to every contractor to some degree at some point. It's worth researching the market before you start negotiating. But asking for an increase part way through is a no no. Imagine if you went to get your car fixed and the mechanic rings you up to say the job price has doubled because he found out that's what another garage is charging for the same job, you'd be well p1ssed, and rightly so.