Thanks for the job, so about my pay grade
January 8, 2016 5:02 PM Subscribe
I'm an archivist at a large university in the USA. I've been at my current job for a few months now and it's my first archives job since I finished my master's degree.
I am the first degree-holding archivist they ever hired. Before very recently, all the archivists at my department had been part-time students in the master's degree program here. One other archivist stayed on for a few months after she graduated last year. Whenever she finished her degree, she was given some kind of promotion or reclassification because of it. She was still a part-time hourly worker, but was being paid twice as much as the rest of us. What could that mean for me?
From what I understand, the promotion that the last archivist got upon her graduation was arranged for her by the previous director of our unit. Before the archivist left, she told us informally that it was possible for one of us to be promoted like she had been if the unit directors thought we "deserved it." When I started, I was the only other archivist with a master's degree. Since then, one of the other three team members has graduated and not quit, but left indefinitely to look for a full time position with the potential to come back until something else turns up. However the nominal team leader is still a student, graduating later this year. If only one of us can have whatever kind of promotion the last archivist was given, she deserves to get it when she graduates. But if the higher pay rate is primarily a matter of being qualified with a degree, well, my bank account is ready.
It's very frustrating to be paid the same as the hourly undergraduate student workers. I am also afraid to give a bad impression or shake things up too much. I've asked around a little about my job and how job description and classification has worked in our department, but my coworkers don't know much more than I do. Our unit director is a new hire, and can't give me any advice.
What if campus HR gets wind that the archivists are being underpaid for their qualifications and job duties and forces the department to reclassify us? The job has changed a lot over the years and we are taking on much more responsibility in the department than when it was originally created. What if the department then decides we are too expensive and lays off some or all of us? I have no experience with this kind of thing and no clue as to what might happen. I'd like to talk to someone neutral about what HR policies affect my job and how to navigate the system, but I don't know who to go to. I have asked my coworkers about who to talk to and they all say our HR contact is one of the department directors, and that they would not recommend anyone talking to her about something like this.
From what I understand, the promotion that the last archivist got upon her graduation was arranged for her by the previous director of our unit. Before the archivist left, she told us informally that it was possible for one of us to be promoted like she had been if the unit directors thought we "deserved it." When I started, I was the only other archivist with a master's degree. Since then, one of the other three team members has graduated and not quit, but left indefinitely to look for a full time position with the potential to come back until something else turns up. However the nominal team leader is still a student, graduating later this year. If only one of us can have whatever kind of promotion the last archivist was given, she deserves to get it when she graduates. But if the higher pay rate is primarily a matter of being qualified with a degree, well, my bank account is ready.
It's very frustrating to be paid the same as the hourly undergraduate student workers. I am also afraid to give a bad impression or shake things up too much. I've asked around a little about my job and how job description and classification has worked in our department, but my coworkers don't know much more than I do. Our unit director is a new hire, and can't give me any advice.
What if campus HR gets wind that the archivists are being underpaid for their qualifications and job duties and forces the department to reclassify us? The job has changed a lot over the years and we are taking on much more responsibility in the department than when it was originally created. What if the department then decides we are too expensive and lays off some or all of us? I have no experience with this kind of thing and no clue as to what might happen. I'd like to talk to someone neutral about what HR policies affect my job and how to navigate the system, but I don't know who to go to. I have asked my coworkers about who to talk to and they all say our HR contact is one of the department directors, and that they would not recommend anyone talking to her about something like this.
Since it's a large university, there are probably formal descriptions with pay ranges of all the job titles. Look up yours, see what it says.
You don't automatically get more money when you're doing the same job as other people who don't have the same credential, if that's your question.
posted by metasarah at 5:23 PM on January 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
You don't automatically get more money when you're doing the same job as other people who don't have the same credential, if that's your question.
posted by metasarah at 5:23 PM on January 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
I can't imagine HR suddenly telling your dept. to raise all of your pay, if this is a long standing situation. assume they know what you're paid and aren't interested in whether you think you're underpaid if your bosses don't think so. if there were to be a promotion available, it sounds like you would need someone above you to advocate for you to get it. if you have asked your direct supervisor about it, and they weren't encouraging, i would keep doing a great job and ask again in a few months and also keep looking elsewhere.
posted by katieanne at 6:06 PM on January 8, 2016
posted by katieanne at 6:06 PM on January 8, 2016
Is there a union or some other bargaining unit?
Are all three of you in the same job series?
From my experience, at most universities there professional and para-professional positions are different job classifications and series. This means usually if you're in the para-professional track, to become a professional you need to apply for a job in the professional series - it's a different position. Graduating with a masters is great and means you are qualified for the professional series, but you still need to apply for a professional position.
I agree that asking HR for a raise based on already graduating isn't a great strategy. If you were to do that, you would need to demonstrate the added value you bring as opposed to the others who haven't yet finished their degrees.
Is there a union or some other professional group on campus for librarians and archivists? There is a chance that your position maybe should be re-classed and/or the work could violate the contract, which could get the position re-classed and get a raise. I would go to them if possible before HR, if for nothing more than advice and guidance.
posted by kendrak at 6:12 PM on January 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Are all three of you in the same job series?
From my experience, at most universities there professional and para-professional positions are different job classifications and series. This means usually if you're in the para-professional track, to become a professional you need to apply for a job in the professional series - it's a different position. Graduating with a masters is great and means you are qualified for the professional series, but you still need to apply for a professional position.
I agree that asking HR for a raise based on already graduating isn't a great strategy. If you were to do that, you would need to demonstrate the added value you bring as opposed to the others who haven't yet finished their degrees.
Is there a union or some other professional group on campus for librarians and archivists? There is a chance that your position maybe should be re-classed and/or the work could violate the contract, which could get the position re-classed and get a raise. I would go to them if possible before HR, if for nothing more than advice and guidance.
posted by kendrak at 6:12 PM on January 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: To answer the question, it's a public university, no unions as far as I know of.
posted by wrabbit at 11:55 AM on January 9, 2016
posted by wrabbit at 11:55 AM on January 9, 2016
« Older Tool or software for comparing weekly schedules of... | Los Angeles Parking violations, tips to avoid... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by SMPA at 5:12 PM on January 8, 2016