By all means, you should feel justified in requesting a raise based on your time there and your excellent evaluations. But in my opinion, I think it would be in poor taste to mention the new employee's rate. After all, you don't know that the next new employee will be paid at that same rate; there may have been something about this employee's experience that accounted for it. Maybe not, but this should be about you, not about her.

I would not mention her salary either, but you could note that you are aware that the pay scale has increased since you were hired. I would go far enough to ask for more than you know she is making, after all, you have already been there for a year.

Pickyshopper, I agree with Donna, it is tacky for you to ask for a raise because "so and so" makes more than you do. And, as Donna says, this is about you, not the other employee.

I also think it's a mistake to write a letter to your boss about the issue. You need to do this in a friendly, but professional, face to face discussion. By all means, collect your facts and thoughts on paper beforehand, though.

In order to achieve an increase, you need to demonstrate your value to the business. For starters, cite your two excellent reviews, and quote highlights from them, if possible. Mention those times you have gone above and beyond the call of duty (e.g. stayed late, came in early, skipped lunches), or volunteered for extra work/hours. Have a specific salary target in mind, $x.xx per hour, for example.

Keep the conversation formal and professional, but friendly. If she comes back with less money than you feel you are worth, ask her to be specific about what kind of job performance it would take from you to get to $x.xx per hour.See what your boss says, it may surprise you.

I agree with donna and jenn---you should be paid according to your qualifications and experience, not how you compare with someone else. You say there is no difference in your qualifications, but there could be something you don't know about. And if you do have equal qualifications, your employer shouldn't have any problem paying you the same rate or more.

And, just a side note, compensation is more than just hourly pay. She may make more money because she's not using the company's health benefits or getting paid vacations or something like that. (I had two jobs like that---I made several dollars more per hour than my peers, but I had no insurance or paid holidays or other benefits.)

You mention a "letter" to your boss. I caution you against putting this into writing in way way, shape, or form (email, etc.) It deserves a face-to-face conversation, by appointment, with no distractions. And yes, I'd prepare by taking notes, but not a letter to your boss.

Believe me, anything put into writing can come back to bite you and it usually will.

Request a private meeting for the discussion. If you need to make a formal written request, simply state your qualifications, your previous reviews and your time on the job. Period. That's enough. This will be in your personnel file forever.

I had a similar situation a few years ago and someone gave me this GOOD advice. Talking about her salary, "It has nothing to do with you". I've thought about that many times. It's good advice for other things as well. :)

Judy

I agree with the others about not putting it in writing. That said, my DH used to have a job at a smaller type company where if someone wanted a raise, that person needed to ask for it. One thing he learned, ask for more than you really want. For example, if he wanted a $1 raise, he would ask for $1.50 to $2. This would give him negotiating room. It took him awhile to get the hang of it but as time went on, he would get great raises. I will say that he worked for this company for 10 years. His negotiating skills became quite good.

Thank you for your responses to my query. I didn't make it very clear, but it wasn't my intention to specifically mention the new Assistant assigned to my particular Day Care. She was interviewed in a group situation (as was I, last year) along with several other women, and they were told the starting rate was X amount per hour, which is $1.00 more than what I started at, and am still making. So I was wondering whether I should throw in the part about receiving parity with all newly hired Assistants, since it is a standard increase from what was given last year.

I was told by my boss that my request must be put in writing and sent to Head Office, because that's the way they do it. So I did end up submitting a letter with a copy of the evalutations by my boss. I didn't mention receiving parity with the new starting salary, in case they might actually offer me more, with my year of experience. I'm now waiting to hear from them, so we'll see what happens.

Good luck pickyshopper! I hope you get it.