Pay and Conditions Tool (2024)

FAQs

How do you answer pay expectations question? ›

If there's no policy, raise the problem as soon as possible with your manager, payroll team or someone in HR. It's usually best to first raise the problem informally by talking to your employer. This can help resolve it quickly if there's been a mistake. If you cannot resolve it informally, you can raise a grievance.

An employee who has experienced an Equal Pay Act violation can file a claim with the Labor Commissioner's Office or file an action in court.

I'm really excited about the company and the role. I want to be upfront with you that the salary is lower than I was expecting based on my skills and experience. I'd like to be at a number more like $X. I'm really interested in this opportunity and would love to make this work with you.”

If you're asked for your salary expectations, you could deflect by saying “What do you usually pay someone in this position?” or “I'd like to learn more about the role before I set my salary expectations. I would hope that my salary would line up with market rates for similar positions in this area.”

Your target number should always be more than the salary range you found in your research. Let's say the offer is $50,000. Based on your research, you know you should be making $60,000 to $65,000. So the target range you present in the negotiation process should be something like $68,000 to $72,000.

A salary expectation is the amount of money you would like to earn in a year. This number can be expressed as an hourly wage, annual salary, or monthly salary. The two primary reasons potential employers ask about salary expectations is to: Verify if the position's budget fits what you want in pay.

When you write your salary requirements, you should include a range and not a specific sum. For instance, if you would like to make $35,000, then you should state that your salary requirements are between $30,000 and $40,000, rather than $35,000. This way, there is an opportunity to negotiate.

It's important that you are fairly compensated for the work you're responsible for. If you've found that your amount of responsibilities at work has increased over time but your salary has remained stagnant, it's possible that you're being underpaid.

What if my employer is paying me less than agreed? ›

Legal Recourse If Your Employer is Underpaying You

You can also file a wage claim or complaint with the labor department, and the department may investigate. You should consult an employment attorney for legal guidance. It's critical that you approach an experienced attorney who is familiar with federal and state laws.

Unless any of the exceptions above apply, your employee should be paid his usual salary, even though he only worked one day during the week.

Pay discrimination occurs when an employee is paid differently from others because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (40 or older), or genetic information.

Every worker in California has the right to be paid the same as other workers of another sex or race performing the same job. If you're being paid less for the same work, your employer is breaking the law and you may have a right to damages.

The Golden State's progressive labor laws expressly prohibit employers from paying one employee less wages than another employee of the opposite sex, race, or ethnicity for “substantially similar work.” However, paying two employees differing wages for the same job is legal if the employer can show the disparity doesn' ...

Answer directly with specific details

If the interviewer is asking about your prior job expectations, identify a specific scenario that shows how you met or exceeded expectations. If the interviewer is asking what you expect from them, briefly explain why the factors you choose are important to you.

Your expected salary is the annual compensation you request employers pay you. A candidate typically requests this compensation prior to accepting a job. When setting your salary expectations, you may consider your past salaries and previous work experience.

“I'm really excited about this opportunity. If we decide to work together, I'm sure we'd find a salary that matches the value I'll bring to your organization. Can you give me an idea what you've already budgeted for this position?”