Job ad and my recruiter said hourly rate for job but then paycheck displays lower amount. Can I retaliate in any way?

[adamcdavis]

I applied for and recently started a new job. Don't remember the ad but it said hourly rate something like 20-25 hourly and then when I interviewed with recruiter they specifically said my pay rate would be 25 an hour. There has been no other mention of this since and I notice now my job confirmation email contained no information on my pay rate after just getting my first paycheck and to my surprise it says my pay rate is only 18 dollars an hour. Is there anything that can be done on my part to argue this?

[N192K001]

Discuss with your recruiter and/or manager in a polite but firm manner. Especially if you have evidence of the promise, things should be on your side. (Mistakes are inevitable in anything run by humans. Now, comes the crucial part: How they react to the mistake pointed-out? For best results, make the correction easy & face-saving, as to incentivize compliance.)

Otherwise (especially if they make it known that they know and still refuse a polite reminder to do their part as promised), why support a company that starts the relationship with deception. If the start is already dishonest, what more the rest?

If you can find another employer as soon as possible. Who knows? You might get a better deal elsewhere? (Just make sure to give your employers their moneys' worth, so they don't regret hiring you and find a way of "fixing" their error.)

[adamcdavis]

If I threaten to stay but tell them I'll be looking for other work would they have grounds to be able to fire me? have not done this yet since it is weekend and they haven't responded yet but i need to show some level of displeasure but not take it too far.

[N192K001]

I've never been in this situation before, but I'd tend to keep my cards hidden and reveal them only as they become strategic. Also, I'd already start searching, so I have a back-up just in case. It could also give you more power. In negotiations, he who has the most options wins, he who has the most time & patience wins, and he who has the most knowledge on the matter wins.

Employers may have the info, but they are also are in need of long-term workers to keep-up with orders with deadlines. Good managers know their numbers. If they won't pay you the promised $25/hr, 3 things seem possible:
● they don't REALLY need people enough to pay $25/hr (but are willing to lie to get more people),
● they really do, but local management doesn't realize it, or
● they really do, but are too broke to do so.
In any case, I'm not sure I'd want to work there.

But if they do correct your rate, make sure to give them their money's worth, so they don't regret it and "correct" it.

[N192K001]

But then again, I tend to avoid direct, face-to-face confrontation with bosses and have been stepped-on a number of times.

But then again, my pay-rate has risen with every job I've had.

Whatever works, I guess.

[Redstang88]

Have a stern talk with your manager and recruiter about why you aren’t getting what was promised

[Smoke-n-Growls]

Should've gotten the hourly rate at $25/hr in writing.

Never sign an offer without written confirmation of everything you want on there.

[jennifer_bloom]

It could be docked because of taxes and EI and CPP payments etc…