How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

Sal the 1st — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 08:59:31 GMT

ouch! its an expensive exercise for the practice if she doesn't. We are just in the process of doing the same.

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

FINNIGAN — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 06:50:41 GMT

Thanks everyone, il try to not let it bother me,, ironically we don't think shel stay ,, she hasn't stopped moaning since she's joined us!!!!

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

William Collingsworth — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 11:28:28 GMT

I just joined this site and I have enjoyed reading some of the post. I hired in 9 months ago at the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine in Virginia, USA and I am facing the same situation. This is a new school and the hiring has been swift during the last year. In the USA Veterinary Nurses are called Veterinary Technicians ( VetTech). It takes 18 months to 2 years to get a degree and then you have to pass a national exam to be Certified. I am not a Vet Tech. I hired in to run a shop and build teaching models to teach clinical skills. I was not happy with my starting pay of $12.50 an hour ( 26K) but I took the job anyway. I knew the Vet Techs make 30-40 K a year. I took the job knowing I would be great at it and I am. I work harder and use more skills and resources than the Techs. It's not my job to tell Human Resources what to pay people but it is my responsibility to preform to the highest ability I can and if I exceed the expectations then I will ask for a raise after my first year. In the USA unions served workers with many benefits and wage equality was just one. Sadly there are fewer and fewer unions now. Thank you for letting me join your forum.

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 09:04:36 GMT

FINNIGAN I think the most important thing out of all this is to know, for sure, that whatever the other employee got, it was NO reflection on you, your abilities, or anything else about you!

It was simply what they (or in this case, the agency) managed to negotiate for her. I'll bet my bottom dollar that what they pay you didn't even enter the equation (beyond perhaps a very general sense of 'this is roughly what we generally pay for VNs').

Even if it did, the point is that businesses will always negotiate to pay the least they can, so you can be reassured that whatever they offered her was simply what they felt they needed to offer in order to get her (perhaps inflated by the agency). Nothing more than that.

And that's the way that I think you should play it too. Your pay negotiation should be about you and only you. What they are paying her is nothing more than a bit of 'intelligence' about what the employer is prepared to pay in a particular situation. A piece of intelligence that you might use to guide your own negotiations when your pay is next reviewed / you ask for a review.

Meantime, try not to let it get you down. In these sorts of situations, I usually find that once my initial irritation has died down, I tend to forget about it. That's really what I think you should do, and then remember it when you're next negotiating.

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

Sal the 1st — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 22:32:20 GMT

maybe, those extra years experience can be important (well unless the extra years lead to fossilisation I suppose?) The agency probably had a lot to do with it because their finders fee is worked out on a percentage of the salary so from that the higher the salary they can get then the better the finders fee they get if that makes sense?

But as the practice have probably just had to shell out somewhere in the region of 3-3.5k (at a guess?) to get her over and above her salary I am guessing they will be wanting a lot from her in return. Does that make you feel any better?

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

Maisy — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 21:53:41 GMT

Probably. Also its the years that someone has been qualified for that most employers look at when basing a salary on experience so this could be why her salary is more. Plus, going through an agency there may have been more scope for negotiation?

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

FINNIGAN — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 21:36:22 GMT

I found out by an email, sent by the recruitment firm that sent her to us, I happened to be on email sorting that day!! She is doing exactly the same hours/ duties as me,, she has been nursing 17 years I've done 11. Is that why?? Just feel a bit crap about it I guess,

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

Selena Carnell — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 16:46:28 GMT

happened to me in a couple of positions, a less experienced nurse got paid more than my self.

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

Robyn — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 16:05:24 GMT

[quote user="Sasha Kerriage"]

I have to agree...have you heard this from the new nurse or is it just 'hear-say' and grapevine news? This is the reason why rates of pay and wages SHOULD NOT be discussed between employees.

[/quote]

It's a good point to consider about where the info is coming from. As a side note I have to disagree about not discussing wages though! I absolutely agree with your point about the drama it can cause, but it would be so much easier to force employers to be transparent and close that wage gap if everyone was open about their salaries. I don't think we'd see the same problems with new hire wages increasing faster than old staff wages if employers knew we'd be chatting away quite openly about what we're on?

As far as the OP though, tbh I'd be pretty annoyed by it! If you can be certain this info's good and it's not just a rumour, I think it would be worth speaking to HR. If it were me and they justified it by telling me she had 'additional responsibilities' then tbh I think I'd be okay with that, but if they really can't justify it then it might well be worth trying to negotiate for the same if you feel comfortable doing that.

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

Sasha Irwin — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 10:24:00 GMT

I have to agree...have you heard this from the new nurse or is it just 'hear-say' and grapevine news? This is the reason why rates of pay and wages SHOULD NOT be discussed between employees.

If she was savvy enough to know what she wanted and brave enough to answer the question most interviewers ask (something along the lines of: what annual salary would you expect to start on?) then good on her. I was asked a question at my interview and I answered with what I was on previously and that taking into account I had had 5yr break from nursing, I would be happy to negotiate somewhere close to that (the position was offering quite a bit below what I wanted) and we met in the middle just shy of what I wanted, obviously without taking the mickey.

If you are happy with your terms and conditions before you knew then in reality, what does it matter? Are you miffed because you now know the new nurse is on a higher wage because up until this point it sounds like you were happy with what you were getting. On the otherhand, you are not privy to her terms and conditions so she may well be being lined up for extra duties or may have a qualification or experience that you are not aware of.

If you go and ask the practice manager for an explanation as to why she is getting more then you are opening a whole can of worms that could ultimately lead to friction between the nursing team and could also lead to a change in contracts for you all.

I guess what I'm trying to say is...if it didn't bother you before then it shouldn't bother you now. Don't let it interfere with your team dynamics. Its not the new nurse's fault.

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

Celine — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 04:36:25 GMT

In answer to your question I'd initially feel quite hurt and undermined, and I'm sorry this has happened to you BUT I agree with Sal to try not to let this get to you. In all honesty I think it doesn't reflect in any way on you . I'm trying to think of a way to say it's nothing to do with you but I don't mean it like keep your nose out I mean your employer was probably just doing whatever they had to do to get the candidate they wanted to sign a contract and you and your rate of pay wasn't really considered (sorry). We all know there's a dearth of RVNs perhaps the only prospective candidates were all really bolshy and asked for higher pay rates? Not really great for team harmony though.

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

Sal the 1st — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 21:46:03 GMT

I suppose it depends on what was offered at interview and what she negotiated - it has happened to me so many times I try not to bother about it anymore so long as I am getting what I am happy with. Maybe she will have extra duties coming her way as a result of the extra wage? the thing is the rate employers are having to pay to recruit staff is rising all the time but sadly not at the same rate as wage rises for those they already employ if that makes sense. Maybe come the wage review you will both be on the same rate? You could try discussing it with your HN or your boss if you think it would help?

I used to get wound up over this but at the end of the day it just isn't worth it, its a waste of energy. I am on the same rate as two ANA's I could get wound up over it but the way I see it I am happy with what I have -it pays the bills and keeps me out of mischief. Sure I could get more by working elsewhere but what I have suits me.

RE: How would u guys feel?? What would u do??

FINNIGAN — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 20:00:11 GMT

Neither of us are in a headnurse role here, just rvns