A secretary makes more than me. I am an accountant. How do I handle this?

I work as a payroll accountant. She(secretary) joined about 6 months before me. She was working in Accounts payable, but she couldnt do her job and was demoted to a secretary. She graduated with an english major. I graduated with a bachelors in Accounting and Marketing. We live in NY. We are tight on cash, and no one has gotten a raise since early 2006. This girl has got two raises in the past three months. She is now making $14 an hour, while I am making $11.71 for doing payroll. Her position is replaceable (as all she has to do is pick up phones), whereas if I am not here, people dont get paid. I know I shouldnt be jealous, but I am. It just feels as if her worth is more than mine, for just picking up phones and being pretty. How do I handle this ?
Additional Details
Road and phx..thanks for your insight. Thanks to everyone also. Your thoughts were welcome, and I do realise that my position is about confidentiality, and that I shouldnt let peoples pay get to me. I have started applying for other jobs elsewhere, and will not let this get to me.

Rose Garden

First and foremost - EVERYONE including you is replaceable. Trust me, the owners of any business are not going to close up shop because an individual leaves and goes elewhere. They are there to make money, not coddle disgruntled employees.

Second - I do payroll too. Part of your job is too keep your trap shut about who gets what raises and so on. You are nothing more than a different version of a data entry clerk. You put data in and data goes out. The only difference is that what you are doing is confidential. If you start complaining about what you see; you'll be the one looking for another job. I wouldn't suggest not being at work w/ the result of other employees not receiving their paycheck, just what exactly would that prove other than you didn't coordinate a turnover properly w/ managment to make sure that one of the most critical duties was covered during your absence?

You must learn how to ignore it and not let it eat you up. If you didn't actually process payroll - you wouldn't know about it. So what - perhaps she's banging the right person in management, perhaps salary steps were part of her pre-employment negotiations. You don't know and it's none of your business. One thing is for sure - if you squeak about it to anyone at work; the one that will look bad is you not anyone else.

Let it go and find another job that has nothing to do with payroll if it bothers you that much or stay put and keep your thoughts and comments to yourself and think of positive ways to make yourself noticed and as indispensible as possible.

Sorry if I am too hard - I had to learn the hard way!

gobonzzo

Put remote controlled video camera in the boss's office and you will probably both get your answer to the reasons for this and all the evidence you need to remedy the situation.

She's probably using her assets to boost her income.

Go to any large office building and you will see
The best looking and best paid girls are near the boss's office.
The plain girls and men that do all the work are farther away and paid less.
If the boss is gay then young men are closer and make more money.
Not right but a fact of life.

SmartA$$

I've learned that jealousy will get you nowhere in life. There is always someone with a better situation, someone who has an easier job and makes better money etc. All you can do is focus on your own life. If you're compensation is fair, then you have nothing to worry about. If your compensation is not competitive for your skill and experience level, then maybe its time to move on to a company that will pay you what you're really worth.

phxmilitarymom

A major part of your job is confidentiality. As you know how much everyone makes, how much is deducted and for what, you have to learn how to keep a lot of secrets at work about everyone. The only reason you have any idea of what she makes is due to the fact that you process payroll. This girl may have hired on to do a specific job with the understanding that she would be placed in a different position if she could not handle it and maybe was promised a raise to a different level if she was able to handle the new position. She might handle some other confidential materials for the boss which would put her in a position of secrecy too. She may have "something" over the boss, may know someone within the company to keep her pay going up, there are so many reasons why she would make more money than you do. If you are other wise happy with your position just give it a rest and go on. If you feel you deserve a raise, put it in writing and hand it in to your boss. When you speak to him/her about it explain why you deserve the raise and what you have done/learned that would explain the raise. Do not ever let on that you know what someone else in the company makes, no matter what position they have, or you will definitely be scrutinized for your inability to handle the confidential position you are in. If you know you will be there long after she is gone just keep that smug thought in your mind and don't worry about her. She is just as easily replaceable as anyone else is and if you were to quit your position I am sure the payroll would still get done. It was done before you got there and will continue if you decide to leave over this little piece of nothing at the front desk. Good luck to you and don't sweat the small stuff in life. It's way too short to worry about everyone else!

Hey there

Why don't you apply as a secretary? I know you think she isn't doing much, and you must look the same way to her. If you want her pay, then do her job.

You might want to look into a new job. I've never heard of an accountant making that amount, where I live, the starting pay is around 25 an hour.

The Prototype

Well some secretaries make more because they help the CEO.

Don't let it get to you. Just remember you get more experience than her and will make more in the future.

Once the web designer made more than me, a programmer. He moved up and made more $$$. However it didn't last for him since he didn't have the technical experience. Just don't get jealous and pray for everyone to be blessed.

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