Comparing increases with peers · Draft for team review · 8 scenes
For feedback, reference the scene number and note whether your change concerns the script, visuals, or manager guidance. Frame timing is provisional; animation and narration have not been produced.
Can I ask how my increase compares with my peers?
Curious and composed. Treat the question as reasonable.
The question appears in the employee’s speech bubble. Highlight the peer-comparison phrase, then introduce the manager takeaway.
Focus on the individual. Keep the conversation centered on this employee’s own situation.
Of course. I understand why you want context, and I’m glad you asked. I can talk through your decision with you.
Warm and welcoming. Pause briefly after “Of course.”
The manager’s bubble changes with each thought, ending with “your decision.”
Discuss their own decision. Keep the explanation tied to the employee’s individual case.
I know everyone’s work is different, but I want to understand whether my contributions were recognized.
Thoughtful and sincere, without frustration or defensiveness.
Keep the employee’s concern visible. Emphasize contributions and recognition.
Connect to their contributions. Keep individual performance and contributions central to the discussion.
That’s fair. I can’t share or compare another employee’s individual pay or increase. We can keep the conversation focused on your situation.
Calm and matter-of-fact. Acknowledge the concern, state the boundary, then redirect.
Show the boundary, then replace it with the constructive redirect to “your situation.”
Do not compare another employee’s pay. Do not discuss or compare another employee’s compensation or increase.
I considered your performance, your contributions, how your pay is positioned, the merit guidelines, and other compensation considerations that apply.
Measured and clear. Give each decision factor room to land.
Reveal Performance and Contributions, then Pay positioning and Merit guidelines, then Other compensation considerations.
Explain how the process applied. Connect each factor to this employee’s individual case.
So we can discuss the reasoning behind my decision without comparing it with someone else’s?
Engaged and inquisitive. Understanding does not imply agreement with the increase.
Keep the confirmation question on screen and highlight the reasoning behind the employee’s own decision.
Explain their own case. Discuss the reasoning behind this employee’s decision without a peer comparison.
Yes. Let’s review how those factors apply to your work. You can ask questions about your own pay and decision. If something needs more context, I’ll follow up with Human Resources. What would you like to discuss first?
Warm invitation. Hold briefly after the final question.
Return to both characters. Move from explaining the employee’s case to follow-up and the final invitation.
Apply the factors to their work. Explain how the process was applied in this employee’s case.
Silent closing recap. Reveal the three takeaways, then hold for reading.
Reveal the three closing reminders one at a time. No additional spoken dialogue.
Full spoken dialogue, in order. Scene 08 contains on-screen guidance only.
EMPLOYEE
Can I ask how my increase compares with my peers?
MANAGER
Of course. I understand why you want context, and I’m glad you asked. I can talk through your decision with you.
EMPLOYEE
I know everyone’s work is different, but I want to understand whether my contributions were recognized.
MANAGER
That’s fair. I can’t share or compare another employee’s individual pay or increase. We can keep the conversation focused on your situation.
MANAGER
I considered your performance, your contributions, how your pay is positioned, the merit guidelines, and other compensation considerations that apply.
EMPLOYEE
So we can discuss the reasoning behind my decision without comparing it with someone else’s?
MANAGER
Yes. Let’s review how those factors apply to your work. You can ask questions about your own pay and decision. If something needs more context, I’ll follow up with Human Resources. What would you like to discuss first?
ON SCREEN ONLY · NOT SPOKEN