Curb_Your_Bro_Thusiasm
If Sales is a meritocracy and we all have the same expectation to produce, why is the so much talk about pay equity/inequality in sales? Shouldn't the meritocracy part be an equalizer?
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I actually don't hear much about pay inequity in sales roles.
At my company, everyone starts at the same salary and gets salary increases based on hitting certain thresholds, which are the same for everyone. The commission structure is the same for everyone as well. There's literally no argument someone could have about pay inequality in my organization. You put the work in, you make more than the person not putting the work in. Simple as that.
I believe doing anything different pay wise with any sales team is a recipe for disaster.
At my company, everyone starts at the same salary and gets salary increases based on hitting certain thresholds, which are the same for everyone. The commission structure is the same for everyone as well. There's literally no argument someone could have about pay inequality in my organization. You put the work in, you make more than the person not putting the work in. Simple as that.
I believe doing anything different pay wise with any sales team is a recipe for disaster.
This is good insight. The discussions I'm seeing point out what happens when everyone does not start out at the same salary, as women are less likely to negotiate an initial offer. It looks like what your company is doing is ahead of the curve. So is mine, and that's why I asked the question.
It's an interesting topic. You know, sometimes I wonder if the "women are less likely to negotiate" thing really has any standing in sales. If I was hiring a salesperson and they didn't attempt negotiate on salary, I'd seriously wonder whether they were cut out for sales...male or female.
Also: overall, if this is a true statement how come we don't see companies favouring hiring women? You'd think that if companies could get women to do the same job, at a cheaper rate that they'd end up hiring way more women than men but that isn't the case in most industries.
Also: overall, if this is a true statement how come we don't see companies favouring hiring women? You'd think that if companies could get women to do the same job, at a cheaper rate that they'd end up hiring way more women than men but that isn't the case in most industries.
Quite an interesting take. There is lot's of research to support the fact that women generally are less likely to negotiate, but as you point out, there needs to be a more specific study on what this looks like in sales.
Also, there are plenty of great reasons to hire women and I'm really glad that cheap labor isn't one of them. :)
Also, there are plenty of great reasons to hire women and I'm really glad that cheap labor isn't one of them. :)
@funcoupons how large is your company / sales team? My first role starting out was a 20,000 person company and my team was 60 people. There was no way anyone could negotiate. You came in at a certain level, the starting salary was set. I'm curious if smaller sales teams has more variability in between people of the same level.
Most of conversations I'm seeing are more about representation in leadership rather than pay inequality in sales.
Unfortunately, it is probably both in most other professions.
Unfortunately, it is probably both in most other professions.
Yes, and in those discussions around representation in leadership come conversations about salary negotiation and promotion. I guess when folks look at the big picture, what's driving any gap in total sales comp down for women statistically, has more to do with a lack of representation in high paying roles and less to do with inequitable compensation practices.
Base pay seems to be the only area this would really come in to play. I do agree that pay equity in sale specifically is probably more even than other roles since it is so performance based.
The biggest losers are frequently the biggest whiners.
Sounds like a fortune cookie 🤣
Fortune cookie wisdom is often quite accurate
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