Legal Question in Employment Law in Maryland

status and salary

I joined this small biotech company in September 2002. I started as an Associate Scientist. My salary was very low compared to the industry standard, but I accepted because it was my first job after I graduated with my master degrees. This month (September 2003), I am attending a meeting in Japan, and my boss (the president of this company) ordered a set of name cards on which I am presented as a Scientist. I have not officially been promoted yet, and my salary stays the same when I started, and much lower than my coworker Scientist�s. Is this legal? If my status is Scientist, I am discriminated because my salary is lower than my coworker. If my status is Associate Scientist, my boss is lying to our (potential) customers in Japan.


Asked on 9/18/03, 2:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
G. Joseph Holthaus III Law Offices of G. Joseph Holthaus

Re: status and salary

Your status within the company and the company's asserted misrepresentation thereof does not impute liability upon you except where you are a sub-contractor. Where you are not an independent agent the company bears responsibility under its contract.

Now the matter of your compensation is an issue. Your compensation should be in line with others of similar skill and ability. This is a sensitive issue as "ability" is formed on a baseline of past performance. Since you have recently entered the arena, it may be to your advantage to form a baseline and then leverage within the company or industry. Cutting egde bio-tech industry is a fluid yet volitile enterprise. You need to protect your interest at each junction in your career.

Joe Holthaus

(410) 799-9002

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Answered on 9/21/03, 8:50 pm


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