I read this yesterday and have been mulling it over. I'm not exactly sure what advice I would have given this lady, but it wouldn't have been what she recevied. For one, I don't recall the mention of the new hire having a degree/higher degree in the question. Also to tell her that she missed the boat on a pay raise because they hired a second person makes no sense at all. Just because the workload dictated a second admin, doesn't mean her work wasn't adequate. She is performing other duties and basically acting as an assistant supervisor on occasion. That tells me she may not have had enough hours in the day to keep up because she was handling items of a higher priority, not that she wasn't doing her job.
She needs to detail the additional responsiblities, her accomplishments, etc. and then make a case for an increase or bargain for additional benefits without mentioning the other admin's pay. To tell her to buck it up, you missed the boat now go get a degree before you ask for a raise is insulting.
And this columnist is in marketing - to me that is basically sales and means she can make anything sound good even when she doesn't know what she's talking about. So the advice should definately be taken with a half shaker of salt.
JMHO
Michelle
