Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights.

I have worked in my current job as an ecologist within a planning consultancy for three years. At my recent annual review, I requested permission to work part-time (three days rather than five). This has been agreed. However, it was stated that my annual salary increase would be at a lower rate (pro rata) than the rest of the team because of my new status.

While I am delighted that I will be able to work part-time, it will be in a small team of four, where I will be the most experienced with the largest number of protected species licences, including a bat licence, which no other team member has.

I also have the highest level of membership of our chartered institute (all other team members are at graduate level), yet I will be the lowest-paid team member. I will not be working part-time until April and therefore until then I will be doing exactly the same job and hours for lower pay.

I am in a quandary as to whether to make a request for equal treatment regarding salary, when rocking the boat could make my bosses rescind their agreement on me working part-time.

Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.