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Can I be fired because my salary is too high?

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LegalInquery

Junior Member
I live and work in NYC. I am having a fear of being fired for unjust reason.

For almost a year I have been working (full time) for the start-up financial firm (about 80 people strong), which seems to be very successful in the market. I was originally hired for a pretty senior management role, but exact duties and responsibilities were not well defined by my superiors at the time of hire since the company was pretty new. From the first day I would be given various assignments which I would perform with outstandingly. I had been recognized by my superior many times for being dedicated, loyal, hard working, great asset to the team and great performer etc.

I think that as time went by, the superiors realized that the role that I was originally brought in, is not as much needed.

I have been constantly offering myself for all kinds of assignments, which I can do by definition, given that I have a pretty extensive background in the field. Sometimes, my offers were being taken, but rarely.

Another point to make is that I was honored with an anual bonus (same formula, as everyone else - percentage of my salary), which means that my good performance was recognized. However, my salary raise was very minimal!!, and the reason for that was that it is (my salary), one of the highest in the department and the management needs to bring certain other employees up to the same level, since they work at the company for longer and some of their responsibilities are the same as mine.

My other observation is that there were some people who got hired recently, who were assigned responsibilities that could simply be a sub-set of my responsibilities (I could easily take them on on the top of existing ones). It was not made into a secret that their compensation is lower then mine.


I was delicately hinted by my superior a couple of weeks back that there is a possibility that the top management will try to do a major reorganization/lay offs in our department and it may affect some people. I specifically asked if I am on the list of those who might get affected first, but I was not given a clear answer.

Again, based on all tell-tell signs the company is definitely is not in financial hardship, shortage of funds etc. (expansion, hiring, spending money on interior decorations, etc). Based on my observations and analysis, I might be in danger of being laid off because the top management thinks that they can continue their business without their my role OR reorganize in such a way that lower paid individuals will be hired for the role.

I have a family, 10 month-old child and ending up without a job worries me a great deal.

Is there anything you can suggest that I need to know/do to prevent/mitigate this situation? Would it be legal for a company to fire a person based on the details that I described above.

Many thanks,
G.
 
Last edited:


Banned_Princess

Senior Member
** auto reply **


Your Employer can fire you / lay you off for any and no reason. (with exception of the protected reasons, race, disability, ect.)



Apply for unemployment.
 

pattytx

Senior Member
Yes, it would be legal under any one (or all) of those circumstances. The only thing you can do if make yourself as valuable as possible by continuing for volunteer for other tasks and hope to heck they see your committment. You may have to take a salary decrease, though.

Good luck.
 

Isis1

Senior Member
Yes, it would be legal under any one (or all) of those circumstances. The only thing you can do if make yourself as valuable as possible by continuing for volunteer for other tasks and hope to heck they see your committment. You may have to take a salary decrease, though.

Good luck.
what? no green socks??? :eek:
 

xylene

Senior Member
Facts:

You got a bonus

You got a raise (in an economic climate where many are suffering cuts...)

The number of employees you supervise has increased.

The company is profitable and a success.

You are not at any worse risk of being fired than anyone.

Don't make waves, polish the resume and dust off some contacts to be safe.

I think you are being paranoid owing to the tight job situation in NYC.
 

justalayman

Senior Member
but he got a bonus!

he got pats on the back!

OP himself even commends himself on his quality of work.

all evidenced by him being paid more than anybody else in his department


doesn't that mean if he gets fired it is illegal?????





I know, I shouldn't make fun of him.:eek:

legalinquery: google "employment at will"

but I will say for him being so well qualified, he might learn to spell; inquiry, unless of course he intended to misspell it.
Is there anything you can suggest that I need to know/do to prevent/mitigate this situation?
yes, you might try the typical methods generally accepted in the business world for subordinates to keep their job:

kissing butt, kow towing, speaking false praise, and general sucking up
 

Hot Topic

Senior Member
Keep copies of every letter of commendation, every email of praise that you receive.

Open your eyes. The economy is the worst it has been since the Great Depression. Outstanding managers and employees are being let go every day. People who work their backsides off are having their hours cut. You have a child. So? People with three or four lost their jobs today.

The company I worked for had the sufficient millions to buy two more companies recently. But I was let go because there wasn't enough in the department budget to keep me.

Sorry. You just don't get a whole lot of fresh sympathy.
 

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