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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/30/2008 9:37:59 PM
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| I couldn't find a place on Group's website to contact the editor's for questions or respond to the salary survey, so I thought I would post here for discussion purposes.
I am a part time children's ministry worker and I participated in the salary survey when Group sent it out. I saw the email today and clicked through to the calculator. I was surprised to find that in order to calculate what your average salary base should be, you are asked to input your gender. Now, I realize that in most situations women ARE paid less than men, and I see why Group might want to gather this data in the survey. I do not, however, see why when Group is trying to help arm me for a salary conversation, helping me to ask for fair compensation, gender should be an issue.
In curiosity, I performed several different calculations leaving all input the same except gender. In all results, the calculator told me that if I was a man, I should expect to be paid more.
Yes, I understand that this may be the way it is, but should we be furthering it? Any thoughts? |
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 7/3/2008 9:29:57 AM
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| | Gender should NEVER be an issue. But, most churches don't make equal pay a priority. If you are a single woman, you can expect to be paid less than your male counterpart. If you are a married woman, you can expect to be paid less than your male counterpart. I think that the key is to think through the arguments you may need to make to ask for equal pay. When I was single, I knew that I was paid less than the guy my age (with similar qualifications, experience, and time at that particular church) who worked youth ministry. The reasoning was I didn't have a family to support. My argument to the committee was that I was the only one taking care of me. I was the only one paying my bills and providing for my retirement. They agreed to that. I also pointed out that it was immoral and unethical to have such a disparity in pay that could only be contributed to gender. They agreed. And I got a raise.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. |
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/3/2008 9:29:57 AM
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 6:51:29 PM
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| I agree that gender should never be an issue, but it is. If the salary survey ignored that sad truth, the research results would not be accurate.
Bottom line. The online calculator appears to be a very general measure. I'm guessing it was provided to give very general salary ranges and was only intended to reflect what is.... not what should be.
Lisa B from NC |
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