I had trouble paying rent on my CFPB salary and was almost evicted: one union member’s pay inequity story
The Bureau has been aware of race-based pay disparities for at least 6 years.
A 2014 study showed whites were twice as likely in 2013 to receive the agency’s top performance pay than were African-American or Hispanic employees. Data at that time also showed a high number of complaints - hundreds - were filed by employees related to unequal pay.
Despite this data, the Bureau never took any steps to fix the problem. Employees who encounter disparity at the point of hire see it only compounded later by locality pay, merit increases and annual lump sum payments. In 2020, our union analyzed CFPB salary data and found evidence of major pay gaps for Black, Hispanic, and Native employees.
Pay inequity depletes morale and hurts productivity office-wide. It also takes a personal toll on the individuals who are subject to the disparity. Here is one CFPB worker’s story.
I moved to DC with my young child, as a single mom with a disability, in order to work at CFPB. I was initially hired into a low pay grade, even though I have several years of banking and administrative experience, and a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
When I accepted the low-grade position, I was worried about the low salary, but I was told that there would be promotion opportunities and I would have the chance to move up. Then the hiring freeze happened. I was supplementing my income with disability assistance but when that ended, I was no longer able to keep up. As a result, I had trouble paying rent because I could not make it on my CFPB salary alone, and I faced eviction at least 2 or 3 times. Where I live is an expensive area. I live there because I want to make sure my son has access to the best education possible.
During that time, to get higher pay, I applied and was chosen for a detail at the next grade level. Unfortunately, I was informed I would not be paid the higher salary that came with the detail because of the hiring freeze. Yet, CFPB reassured me that I would receive credit for the experience if I applied for a promotion in the future. Later, I found out I was not the only CFPB worker on a detail who was denied the proper salary increase and decided to join the union’s higher-grade detail mass grievance. To this day this matter is still outstanding as CFPB has denied every opportunity to resolve this grievance.
Finally, after a few years at CFPB and sharing my story with anyone that would listen, I was hired into a position with a career ladder that started at the same grade as my detail. Since I had already worked in the same exact position as the detail for a year, I was hopeful that I would be hired at the next level up on the career ladder. However, when the Office of Human Capital set my pay, they told me that I would have to start from the bottom of the ladder again, and that I am still required to be in the lowest grade position for at least a year before I can be promoted to the next level. So, I am still stuck in my current grade until next year. And even though I have a year experience of doing the exact same work in the same grade level from when I did my detail, OHC still set my pay at the bottom of the pay band.
During all of this, I still struggled to pay my bills, until earlier this year- when by the grace of God, I was able to get a place in an affordable housing development, in the same area I’ve been living, so my child could stay in the same school. Which is a blessing. But it’s also very disappointing that I’m making so little at CFPB that I qualify for affordable housing.
I’m a Black, disabled, single mother that moved hundreds of miles away from home in order to provide a better life and opportunity for my family, and to work my dream job protecting consumers like me. It is heartbreaking to realize that I am not that far removed from those I am trying to help and inspire because although I have the qualifications, the experience, and necessary work ethic − I cannot get the pay that I deserve.
Tell CFPB to stop threatening employee raises during the holidays & to agree to a deal with the union now!
If you’re concerned about management threatening to withhold raises and bonuses in January and want to ask CFPB to agree to a deal before going to impasse, please click the link below to send an email to Director Kraninger and COO Donna Roy!