 Two posts in one day. Must be a record...
What do you do when you love your job but you can't SURVIVE in your job? A few months ago, before I was divorced (or about to be) I talked with my boss about a raise. I cited many different reasons why I thought that I deserved the merit. I gave him a list a mile long, not to mention the fact that we spoke about a "trial" period, after which I would receive a nice raise.
When I was being considered for the position, they were concerned that I would move from one state to another, decide I didn't like the position-- and then leave. I countered that I would come on at the company for less than what a normal person would make... prove myself, proved that this was the position I wanted and we would talk.
I mean... I was married and we had the income of two professionals coming into the household. After a while, the pay was starting to make a mark-- we noticed we were getting behind very easily. If emergencies came up, we were quickly behind. When that reality finally set in after months of struggling, I approached my boss with my review in hand and a laundry list of items that set me above and apart from each and every one of my co-workers.
In most companies, the strategy for what would get you a good pay raise is a hand that is held extremely close to the vest. It's a very intricate dance that can take days or even weeks to complete-- with no guarantee of getting anywhere. The normal approach for many that are asking for a raise is to come in with a list of reasons why you're worth more to them than what you are getting paid.... and usually, you come in with a condition of what may happen if your needs aren't met. Most "advice" online tells you that you should be prepared to walk.
I only had the list. The list of how I am a beneficial element to the company. I had no threats. I had no other job. I had nothing but facts and the word that the boss gave me when he hired me that the salary would be revisited. I quickly layed all my cards on the table and pushed the chips to the center with a hearty "all-in" like you see on TV. I told him that I had no demands, no other prospects, no threats. I just told him that we had talked about it when I was hired, and that I have a long list of ways in which I am much more valuable to the company.
This seemed to be a huge mistake. I was given a quick explanation of how the company was going to be reviewing all salaries in the next month and making adjustments to put everyone on an even playing field. That was 3 months ago. Nothing else has been mentioned to me. I KNOW that I'm not on a level playing field. I KNOW that I'm the lowest paid person in my department based on the fact that I took the position below the lowest salary in the pay grade of my department. There are other things that I know... but I won't get into them here.
Now... flash forward to me living alone. I'm in my own place now. I eat poorly (if at all) and generally rely on the kindness of others for food. I'm not making ends meet, the bills are piling up and I've taken a second full time job in order to try to work it out. I know I'm not the first person to take a second job. I won't be the last. But my day job is extremely mentally challenging and taxing. I love it. However, when I leave at night, I don't want to go to another job... it's just too tough. However, I have little choice but to do it.
My problem? My problem is, they want to keep me. They'd do anything but spend another dime to make it happen. They acknowledge that I'm technically superior to everyone in the department. They recognize that I go through twice as much work in half the time it takes one person to work a normal load. They recognize that I consistantly ask for more work to do and finish it. They recognize that I volunteer for ALL projects and complete them satisfactorily and on-time. However, they say that their hands are tied.
I let them know that I don't want to work anywhere else, and that I wouldn't leave if I didn't get a raise. Perhaps that was my mistake-- letting them know that I didn't want to dance or play any games, I just wanted to let them know simply that I was worth it, and that everything that they had ever told me proves it.
I just feel that because I put all of my cards on the table, they don't feel like they have to play at all. As much as I love my job, I'm not going to die because of it. I just don't know what to do.
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Submitted by
ben
at 11/1/2005 4:10:04 PM
holy crap. 2 posts. 1 day.