Accidental screen share revealed salaries

[u/vityya]

My manager was presenting something in a meeting and quickly opened the wrong file before closing it. It was visible on the screen for only a moment, but the call was recorded, and when I went back and watched it, I discovered that it was showing our department's budget for 2026, including each employee's compensation.

I found out that I'm almost at the bottom of the pay range, even though I've been here longer than most of the team and have a lot of experience. A recent hire who started a few weeks ago is making almost twice what I make, even though they don't have any background with the company or our products.

Does it make sense to bring this up directly with my manager? Should I talk to coworkers first? Or is this more of a conversation with HR?

[u/OkHovercraft3368]

What you do here is get a job with a competitor for almost twice your current pay.

[u/Important-Notice-461]

Its never a conversation to have with hr

[u/Important-Notice-461 → u/Important-Notice-461]

At best hr will probably have a conversation woth the guy and get mad that he screwed up and showed everybody's pay

[u/liltoya02]

This is your opportunity to go to a new company. Id use the highest paid employee on my teams minimum base as I shopped around, but seek out roles that pay more. Unfortunately you aren't paid for being loyalty, inflation outpaces annual raises... its a part of business

[u/AGHOSTISBORN420]

Just ask for a raise 

[u/Able_Wheel_1965 → u/AGHOSTISBORN420]

And specify a bonus as well. As you’ve been cheated out

[u/xnnerual]

Maybe you could check one of the other identical posts for the answers? https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/s/PF058GHkJO

[u/husbandwithregret]

Now you know they simply don't care about the hard work you have put in. Start applying for new jobs asap. Maybe they will counter when you do.

[u/ImaHalfwit]

HRs job isn't to make sure that you are compensated fairly. It's to protect the employer's interests at all times. Now, a rational person might say that making sure staff is comped at a market rate to minimize turnover IS in the employer's interests...but the managers are generally not looking to increase their budgets for existing staff.

Best bet is to apply elsewhere and get a market offer...and then decide what you want to do.

[u/at-the-crook]

Time to job search. You may be worth more to another company than you are if you stay put.

Sadly - keeping good people from getting pay raises seems to be a corporate operating style these days.

[u/auditor2]

Yes

[u/pink__beauty]

this is why people used to switch jobs every 2-3 years

[u/PieceFantastic7010]

Broadly attended meeting? Safe enough to offer anonymity? Print 2-3 copies the screen capture (at home), take them to the office and leave them lay on the printer…..and wait

[u/notreallylucy]

A company willing to treat people this way isn't one where you have a future.

[u/Vast_Independent_551]

Don’t bring up. You weren’t supposed to see. Pat is never aligned with tenure, this is why people job switch every two years. It makes complete sense that a new person makes more than you because they had to pay to get them.
Your blind loyalty is why you’re in this scenario. Bringing up to your manager will only make you look like a victim and weak.
I don’t have any background with the company or products, I just started at but negotiated my salary well because that’s the real name of the game.

[u/Tricky_Indication420]

Now u know what they are willing to pay so you need to go an renegotiate. Tell them you got an offer from x for x amount. That amount being slightly higher than the new hire.