Equal WORK for equal pay...

I often hear how the United States is fundamentally
an unfair system where some people are not rewarded
with the same pay as some others, all things being equal.
I support the often used phrase equal work for equal pay
but the emphasis must be placed on the words equal
work instead of equal pay. Equal work to me means
equal effort and results. I firmly believe if one gives
equal effort and gets equal results, they will be paid the
same as another person who does the same in most
cases. There are and will always be exceptions. If
America becomes a place where rewards on pay do not
directly relate to effort and results, the American society
and system will falter. How can we have a discussion
regarding fairness of pay for equal work without
bringing up the issue that all people do not give equal
effort and do not get equal results?
Two people who show up for the same job are likely
to do the job slightly different or even drastically
different. One will eventually be rewarded more if the
way they do the job is in line with how their boss
believes it should be done. That person is more likely to
get a raise or promotion in a well run organization, while
the person not doing things according to instruction from
management will not. Unless we are our own boss and
even then, our boss is our customer, we will always have
someone we do work for. Our job is simply to do what it
takes to make the boss or customer happy with our daily
work and we will be rewarded. Sometimes we are
rewarded in the time frame and how we expect,
sometimes not. Either way we are free to seek other
options. If you are constantly working at an organization
where you know absolutely you are doing your best but
still can not compete with others around you, you must
do something about it.

The something you need to do is find out why you
have a short fall or why others do better than you. You
only have the ability to change yourself and what you
do. It is unlikely an attempt to change others to see
things your way will work, especially if they are more
successful than you. A good place to start is to simply
ask them for advice. People like to help others and some
people will help you. Some may not but you should be
okay with that as well. If at the end of this discovery
process you find you still cannot perform at the needed
level or level you desire, perhaps it is now time to seek
other options as freedom allows you to do. Chances are
this will get you closer to discovering your real talents at
another job or after re-tooling your mind or skill set.

You will be treated more fairly because you will have
learned new abilities and earned your rewards. Either
way, you are then more likely to be able to give the
effort and results needed at the job and will enjoy your
pursuit of happiness more as well.


This U.S. Citizen