I Refuse to Smile While My Coworker Makes $20K More
Workplaces often use big words like teamwork, balance, and fairness, but those words start to feel empty when real-life situations hit close to home. Pay decisions can reveal truths people prefer to avoid. Many workers stay silent, afraid of rocking the boat or being labeled difficult. But sometimes one emotional moment pushes a person to finally speak up.
Tessa’s letter:My boss denied my raise. “Budget cuts.” Hours later, I found out my male coworker got $20K more. Same job. HR said, “He has children to feed.” I smiled: “I understand completely.”
But the next day, the entire office went silent when they opened my company-wide email. It said: “If my salary depends on my personal life, please let me know what other life choices qualify for additional pay so I can plan accordingly.”
Some people laughed. Some looked scared. My boss asked me to delete it, but I left it there. I’m proud of myself, but also shaken. I don’t want to burn bridges or look petty, but I also don’t want to stay quiet when something feels wrong.
I need advice on how to navigate this without feeling overwhelmed or second-guessing myself. I just want to make choices that feel fair and steady, and any guidance would really help me right now.
Yours,
Tessa
