Managers being paid less than their ICs, punitive raise structures, cryptic pay bands…this week’s submitters are really going through it. But how do you start the compensation conversation when information is hard to come by? And what do you do when you’re told that there’s no way you’ll get a raise—just accept being paid less than your peers forever? This week, Sara and Jen tackle questions of pay inequity, when it’s time to fight, and when it might be time to move on.   Links:Curious what other people in the field are making? Take a look at the Global UX Compensation Database!For Equal Pay Day, Survey Monkey polled users on their beliefs about pay equity. It found that “men and younger Americans are the most likely to incorrectly believe that genders are paid equally for similar jobs.”Join Rachel de Jong for Own Your Impact with StrengthsFinderGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com.

For many of us, our work identity and sense of self have become tied in a big knot. When your job has become your identity, it's easy to get stuck. How do you know when it’s time to stay and fight for change, or move onto something new? This week, Sara and Jen work through dilemmas from folks looking for a way forward—without losing themselves in the process.Links:If Books Could Kill: Men Are From Mars, Women Are From VenusJoin The Courageous Leadership ProgramGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com.

It shouldn’t be this hard to find a job that pays you well, fulfills you, and keeps your values intact. But when disillusionment and burnout strike, it can be hard to deal with workplace tradeoffs. Is the answer simply to strike out on your own?Navigating uncertainty, building your identity outside of work, and juggling passion projects: this week, Sara and Jen tackle dilemmas from folks looking for ways to align work with their values—without going broke.  Links:Schedule a strategy session with Sara or Jen Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com.

Ever dealt with someone demanding that you find them a new job? Or have a friend and colleague go cold and ghost you the moment you get laid off? What about getting berated and then iced out by the head of your org? Other people’s unkind, over-the-top, and just plain rude behavior can make you question everything—even yourself. So how do you find a path forward? That’s what Sara and Jen tackle in this week’s episode. Links:Post-pandemic incivility on the riseMeet your shadow selfNonviolent communication and the “Four Ds of Disconnection”Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com.

Dehumanizing hiring processes, swoop-and-poop bosses, and maybe the biggest question of all: does my design work even matter if I don’t care about propping up capitalism? This week, Sara and Jen answer dilemmas about pushing back against exploitative requests, working around a faux-inclusive boss, and managing disillusionment with design. And through it all, a theme emerges: How do you handle the tension between two conflicting truths? Links:The 2023 Content Design and UX writing survey results Sara worked on Ask a Manager: Should you do free work as part of a job interview?How to use “job crafting” to make your work more meaningfulGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com