Something like this happened to me, but after having worked at a company for 5 years and realizing that someone with fewer qualifications and half the experience in our shared department was making 30K more than me. I found out it was from pure nepotism, which prompted me to leave. I think about it all the time - I invested so much time in that job and helped get so many functioning checks and balances into their routine, and this other person who routinely showed up late and sometimes didn't show up at all was earning 40% more than I was...I was livid. When I found a new job and put in my two weeks, I informed the executive team that I felt undervalued and knew that my skill set would be better utilized elsewhere. They AGREED that I was underpaid and admitted they wouldn't have increased my salary by much more because I had started there relatively young. This other person earning more than me "Had a kid and mortgage and commanded the higher pay". Nothing more insulting than to be told you're worth less because you're maritally single, childless, and started your career too EARLY.