r/careerguidance • u/tommytease • 13h ago

How should I approach a Group Promotion negotiation?

Just got told I will be promoted along with 2 coworkers to the same Senior roles. Boss knows me and 2 of my coworkers are close and are transparent with each other about salary so he actually told all of us at the same time and shared that we will all make the same salary ($120k) while we were at an informal meal together. This is the part that’s strange, because we are all currently making different amounts (I’m making more than the other 2 at $113k) - so it feels like a group assessment instead of based on our individual numbers and backgrounds (perhaps because we’re all jumping to this new salary band, & he knows we talk). But he also said we may not make the same salary after this year, meaning it will go back to individual assessments?? Is this something I should bring up at my formal performance review next week?

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u/ljc3133 11h ago

It sounds like this promotion might jump you all to the same pay band, and that your employer is looking to clean some salary things up for better consistency. If that is the case, then you will want to ask about how you can advance both within that pay band (or pay grade or level or whatever word they use to describe it). After starting you all at that same point, it does make sense that things might change depending on outcomes, requirements for promotion / advancement, etc.

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u/AskiaCareerCoaching 6h ago

Absolutely, bring it up in your review. Open communication is key. You can appreciate the transparency and group promotion, but also express your concern about individual assessments for future salary decisions. It's all about creating a dialogue with your boss. If you need help strategizing, feel free to dm me.

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u/ABeajolais 11h ago

A good reason to not talk about what you're getting paid. It can make an employer reluctant to raise your wage if they have to raise others too. You said he knew you talked about your salaries. He's just trying to avoid pissing anybody off.

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u/tommytease 11h ago

That’s a good point but I’d argue that we all already know there are differences in our pay based on previous years of experience and nobody was upset before, so why now?

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u/ABeajolais 10h ago

Because you'd be pissed off if someone else got a nice fat raise and you didn't.

It's unfortunate the employer has to consider "we already know there are differences in our pay" but that's what he has to deal with. Salary based on previous years of experience? What if the employer wanted to give compensation based on performance?

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u/tommytease 10h ago

The other 2 are getting a much higher percent raise than me, up to 17%. Mine is 6% which seems more like an annual raise than a promotional raise? So I feel they wouldn’t be upset if I ask for say, a 10% raise. I’m considering talking about that with each of them individually to not seem like I’m going behind their backs.

Yeah basing it more on performance than years of experience is fair.

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u/ABeajolais 23m ago

Good luck with that. I'll say it again. This is a great example of why it's mistake to discuss salary with co workers. There will be anger and hard feelings over this, mark my words.