I’ve been working at this company for a few years now. I know the systems, the clients, the daily routine — and all the little things that keep the office running smoothly. When someone new gets hired, they usually get paired with me because management knows I’m patient, reliable, and I explain things clearly. I’ve trained more people than I can count, and I’ve never once complained about it.
But this time, something felt off.
Still, I kept my head down and did what I always do. I worked hard. I stayed late when needed. I picked up overtime. I helped coworkers who were drowning. I stepped in when things got chaotic. And whenever management asked me to train someone new, I did it without hesitation.
I genuinely believed loyalty would count for something eventually.
It didn’t.
A few weeks ago, management announced they hired someone new for our team. At first, I didn’t think much of it. We’ve been short-staffed for a while, and honestly, we needed the extra help.
But then, by accident, I found out his salary.
And my stomach dropped.
He was being paid around 40% more than me — for the same role. I stared at the number like it couldn’t possibly be real. I assumed it had to be an error, a typo, or some misunderstanding.
Because how do you justify paying someone brand new, who doesn’t even know the systems yet, that much more than the person training him?
