This Person Gets A Well-Paying Job, But Their Paycheck Was Only Half, and Their Boss Said It Was a Typo

When you start working, or even if you are used to working, getting everything sorted out can be very confusing. There are so many forms you need to sign, contracts you have to read through, people you need to meet, and details you have to provide—and all of this is on top of rigorous interview processes.

Anyone would think that they intentionally make it difficult—and honestly, sometimes it seems like they are purposely trying to trick, mislead, and exploit us. Of course, this is not always the case; there are circumstances and jobs that do not have a confusing process, and it does seem like the bosses are decent people who are trying to do the best for their employees.

This is, unfortunately, not one of those stories. This person took to the AntiWork thread on Reddit to ask for advice on a tough situation; basically, the pay was advertised to be one amount but turned out to be only half of that.

When something like this happens, it can be confusing because you are never quite sure whether or not something was intentional. Either way, what can be done about it? Check out this dilemma below; it is hard to know what to do when you are desperate for a job.

The question was posted to Reddit:

u/eirfair on Reddit Hi everyone. Please let me know if I should post this anywhere else.I have a master’s degree in Library Science that I obtained in May. I’ve been looking for a librarian position since then. I still haven’t found anything, though I’ve applied to many. I thought I would take a library associate job in the meantime (it’s a paraprofessional role and doesn’t require any degree). Initially, the manager told me it would pay $10/hr, which is obviously horrific. I still went through with the interview and was offered the job verbally. I accepted, though I wasn’t certain if I would go through with it. However, once I received my offer letter, it stated I would be paid $20/hr. It’s still low for a librarian, but I thought it was a huge step up, and I signed the document accepting this rate and taking the job. I figured they took my degree into account and decided to pay me more appropriately. Yesterday, I received my first paycheck. It was half of what it was supposed to be. I asked the woman who hired me what was going on, and she stated that no, I was supposed to be paid that amount. I’m working for $10/hr. I asked her how that was possible when I signed a document from HR stating I would be paid $20/hr. Since then, I have spoken with her and HR, who both firmly deny that I will be paid that amount and insist it was a typo/error on their part.I don’t really know what to do at this point. They really messed up, and I know they’re aware of the fact—the HR woman said we can take this a step higher and get her boss involved. I have no idea what to expect, except probably a lot of empty apologies and “corrective action will be taken.”

Which is where the advice comes in! Quit or fight?

The easiest course would be to simply quit. I don’t have a backup job, though, and as garbage as the pay is, it’s better than nothing. I need the experience in a library, and I get full-time hours here.What would you all do? I welcome advice or comments. (There is not a union, by the way.)Thank you.

This person had the same thing happen to them, and the employer decided to find someone else to screw over

Reddit

Corporate ghosting is real

Reddit

Technically, there's a contract involved

Reddit

There's some discrepancy about whether it counts as a contract or not?

Reddit

This is great advice

Reddit

It's also a good idea to email this information so that there is a paper trail

Reddit

All the advice boils down to: get a lawyer!

Reddit

So, unfortunately, it seems to be a super common problem; there is, sadly, a massive trend of people being severely underpaid by their jobs and then getting completely ghosted by the company when they try to stand up for themselves. As Farnoosh Torabi, a financial expert, states, "Knowing your worth is crucial, and if you feel undervalued, it's important to advocate for yourself." If there is one thing that you should take away from this post, it is that you should know your worth and stand up for yourself when you notice a problem—especially since if it isn’t you that they are exploiting, it will just be someone else. What do you make of this, and do you have any different advice? Find the full thread here and don't forget to tell us your thoughts in the comments.