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Cardooney
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Default Jul 01, 2019 at 10:03 PM
  #1
I work in a small, established company. Before getting a job at my company, I was a stay home mom. I worked in an office for a few years before that.

I completed a two year degree directly related to my job, and an internship, and my company hired me when I had no experience in the industry, but I came recommended by the person I did my internship with. Also I earned straight As and had no trouble grasping the material in school.

I was hired at 15 an hour, and obtained 16 an hour at my one year review.

Around my year review, my bosses were unhappy with the performance of another staff member who had a superior position to mine (only two total staff). They tried to replace her for months and couldn’t find a fit, or someone who could do a better job (than me Or her). At her year mark, they found a replacement for her and she was let go. However, instead of using the new hire as a replacement, they put the new hire in my spot and promoted me, and told me they would pay me 18 an hour. They told me they wanted to promote me because they are happy with my work, and think I have a particular skill they think is important.

Good thing they promoted me, because the new hire was hopeless and they had to let her go after a couple months. They found a replacement, and paid her 17 an hour with apparent promise to revisit pay at 3 months. She had decades in the industry and she made less than me. She ended up being let go within 6 months for a few reasons. When they started to interview for a replacement. I felt concerned that they would pay someone more to do my old job then they were paying me in my new position when I saw an ad online. I figured they were going to pay the low end, but still there was potential I would be paid less than whoever might take my old position. I believe they were thinking they had to offer more money to get quality people in for an interview.

I heard what they were willing to pay a temp—$20-25 (to the temp, not counting fees), and I made a comment to one boss that if they are paying more for my old job, then I’ll take my old job back. I believe I was damn good at it and could juggle more than most. But I was completely joking and said so, and said I was enjoying my new position.

I feel like I have been doing a fine job in my new role, and I often end up doing my job and my old job at the same time due to the unreliability of others. I am backlogged due to turnover. I haven’t had time to focus on learning and growing as much as I want to be, due to turnover and to covering when the other staff is continually sick and out.

I’ve also been experiencing an extremely difficult home situation. I feed my family from the food bank and can only afford the mortgage and utilities (almost). I worked diligently through so many set backs and have been dependable and responsible, and have tried not to let my home life affect my work product. I have made some mistakes, not sure how serious necessarily, but any mistake I’ve made is small and remedied. Just lack of experience some times, and lack of focus other times, which I regret, but i can understand and accept that I have my limits and am not perfect.

New girl started today. I understand she has more years in field-5 years. I very accidentally saw her employment contract sitting on the front desk. She left it sitting there. Pay is like 20 or 21, can’t remember because I was in shock. So paid more to do my old job.

Maybe they r restructuring.
Or Maybe that’s what they had to pay to get someone they think they can count on? I don’t think the new person has done more advanced things than I have after talking to her, but I don’t know much about her at all.

So, if anyone made it through all that, please give me some feedback based on the very basic facts I’ve listed above. I have my two year mark, and I plan to ask for a review if they haven’t scheduled one already. I plan to write something up about where I’m at and where I want to go in my role, but I am not sure what rate to ask for. What makes sense? Thank you for any advice...
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Smile Jul 02, 2019 at 07:59 PM
  #2
I don't know if this will be of any help. But here's a link to an article, from PC's archives, that discusses talking about money:

How to Get Over Your Fear of Talking about Money (And Get the Pay Raise You Deserve)


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Default Jul 03, 2019 at 08:58 PM
  #3
Thank you very much, skeezyks. The article is helpful.
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Default Jul 06, 2019 at 07:34 AM
  #4
Have you documented all that you do and made note of your achievements? I ask because when you do enquire about a pay raise you need to accompany that request with relevant proof of why you are owed it. If you haven't started already, make a list of all the tasks you perform in addition to the Terms of Reference that are already in place (you ought to have signed one before starting the jobs). If you don't have one, get one. Request they formalize and put one together for you. That list you are making then should include those tasks and performance objectives that go beyond the scope of the Terms of Reference. Make note of your achievements. It is really important now to provide examples for each point you are making by which you believe you are owed increased remuneration. Basically back up, back up, back up every point you make.

Great luck to you!
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Default Jul 09, 2019 at 12:00 AM
  #5
A self review like what wishful mentions is essential. How far out are you from your next review?

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Default Jul 09, 2019 at 05:27 PM
  #6
Yes. Unfortunately, the onus is on you to prove what you are worth. That is why I say you need to have an example ready at hand for every reason you are deserving of a pay raise. You need to demonstrate why you are valuable to the team and firm. What do you bring to the table persay.

Do you get formal reviews? These are a good starting point as you can pinpoint where you have improved (provide examples). If they don't give you reviews, which seems odd, this is also a good starting point as you can ask for one. Take opportunity then to address each point you feel you are owed a higher score in, again offering up examples to demonstrate why.

Research what the pay expectations are for your position elsewhere. When you are asked what you feel you are worth point this out and again offer up examples.

When did you last get a pay raise? Is there a pay structure in place? Are there other benefits you would be willing to take in lieu of money? For instance, would an additional week's vacation be a suitable compromise?
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Default Jul 12, 2019 at 12:35 AM
  #7
Thank you so much everyone for your advice. It went down today. They told me I am getting a one dollar raise. I felt good about it, but also dissatisfied because as I have got to know the new hire, I am more sure that I “deserve” to be paid equally to her, especially since she would not be doing more advanced tasks than me (at least I don’t see how that would be possible). P.s., i like her a lot and think she is smart and will do a fine job. I really really like her.

Part of me wanted to let it go and be happy with the one dollar raise. The other part of me is feeding my family from the food bank and cannot afford all our needs. I felt like it was the right time to ask for more, because I need it, and because honestly I do not think my morale could survive all these tasks that keep being put on me, while training someone “under me” who is getting paid more than me. I had to scrap hard to learn what I know and honestly... I would feel disheartened spoon feeding her everything I know while she gets paid more than me at the same time. ugh. Trying not to be petty, but I’m not sure anyone has low enough self worth to deal with that. I was starting to look for new jobs last night and started picturing myself in maybe a better place. I am loyal, but I have to be appreciated if I work this hard for a company. I care so much about my tasks that I work at home on my own time to research rules, etc. I dream about work, think about my job all the time when I am not even there. I try to keep track of everything. They have fired the last three people that worked there, and two before that quit, and a few before that quit or were let go. They can’t keep a team in place.

I pointed out to the bosses that I have been very reliable and dedicated and give my all, and I saw how much they are paying her, and asked that they pay me equally to do equal work.

The boss’s return email did not go well. He told me he was disappointed in my email, and he didn’t think I would do such a thing, and basically I exploited them by asking at this time. He said they pay her more because she will be a “star” once she is trained. He said that if I want to go work somewhere else that pays better, or somewhere I am happier, than they won’t hold me back.

I sobbed in the bathroom for ten minutes. No one could hear me, don’t worry.

I responded as professionally as possible, and did not let the smears gets to me. I set the record straight on a couple things, and stood by my request. I pointed out that I am a star employee.

It was a bitter battle, and I don’t feel like I won anything except a more damaged psyche at the moment, but, he ended up giving me $20, if “that works for me.” I took it. Still a bit less than my coworker but they wore me down. My boss said that basically he will overlook my impropriety because we are professionals and will move past it. Also, he said that my home life probably influenced my request (they know very very little about how difficult my home life is right now, and has been for near a year straight). He thought that was a mitigating factor to my brutal selfish exploitative insolence. Excuse my embellishment. He did end up saying that they appreciate me and don’t want to lose me. I believe that, somewhat. I apologized that I did not get what I requested/needed in a way that he respects, but said I will hold my head up and do a great job for the company. I expressed that hopefully there would be no resentment going forward. My other boss was much kinder along the way and did express her appreciation for the work I do there and acknowledged how hard I work. She said she has no resentment at all and thanked me. She relies on me in more substantive ways than him, although I do more busy work for him.

Anyway. I feel awful about how it went down, but it’s good too. Thank you for your help and attention.
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Default Jul 12, 2019 at 03:43 PM
  #8
I am proud of you
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Default Jul 12, 2019 at 05:15 PM
  #9
Thank you Wishfulthinker. I was afraid today I would be shunned, but they acted like nothing happened, and so did I. I know my bosses are very knowledgeable and I love hearing them rattle off their know-how. I feel very proud of them when I witness these moments, and I want to learn it all. I think I have some qualities they don’t though, evidenced through the email chain yesterday. I do feel proud of myself now that the battle is done.
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Default Jul 13, 2019 at 12:56 AM
  #10
I think you did a great job advocating for yourself. Did you ask for a raise, get the dollar raise and then ask for more? Or did the bosses think this way in reference to the dollar and hour raise they did give you? I do not think they are necessarily wrong by being taken aback by your request if it was the second request and they offered you the dollar raise. What I mean is, unless your original request was to be paid the same as the new person and they countered with the dollar raise, then telling them you needed more that's one thing. But if you just asked for a raise in general and had expectations about how much it should be without sharing it they may feel offended that you didnt see the merit in what they were offering. I do not think you were wrong by any means, I can just see how from their point of view, it could seem like you were not grateful for the raise they did offer.

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Default Jul 13, 2019 at 10:59 AM
  #11
Cardooney don't dwell on what happened. You advocated for yourself, got the amount you deserve like the temp, and you still have your job. Advocating with male bosses is always hard because they tend to try to one-up their employee by using shame and deflection, to thwart the employee's self confidence or request and force that person to back down. But you didn't back down, you are now paid nearly the same rate as the temp they hired which is a huge victory. It's scary to ask bosses for pay raises, especially when you know you have earned it.
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Default Jul 13, 2019 at 02:42 PM
  #12
thank you, both.

I had written out a giant dwelling post, and now I’ve erased it. Haha

Conclusion is I’ve got to look out for myself and my family, and I have to go out of my comfort zone and use my resources to take care of my family. There was static, and maybe there will be consequences ongoing, but after all, it’s an extra dollar an hour and still far below what I need right now. This was a very small battle in relation to the weight upon my shoulders, and I can’t let my boss influence me to believe that I have committed extortion. :-)
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