On Obtaining Appropriate Compensation... 184
wpc4 asks: "I've been working at my current place of employment in California for going on 2.5 years. I work for a rather big HMO providing IT support for over 2000 users. In my time there I have had no negative feedback, I am the "go to" for the department, I have improved our service area's image to other IT departments in our organization, had one promotion, and so forth. I am currently making over $5k less than the minimum for my title, while some new employees just got hired with the same title and lesser skills as myself and were hired on at over 30% more than I make, yet I have 2.5 years of seniority. Since I'm not union I don't appear to have any way of trying to get myself compensated appropriately, is there anything in the California labor laws that I can pull into play? Any suggestions at all before I look for other employment?"
I have to ask... (Score:5, Interesting)
In my time there I have had no negative feedback...
Yeah, but have you received any positive feedback while you've been there? (I know you mention one promotion your got -- but anything else?) Maybe they think you're just an average employee.
GMD
How'd you get there? (Score:3, Interesting)
I ask because I'm in the same boat. I got promoted during a salary freeze. No raise for me, so I'm under the minimum for my title as well.
I haven't resolved the problem, mainly because my company really is under financial pressure. It's hard to demand a raise when all of management took a 20% paycut so that use peons wouldn't get burned. (I wonder how many of you are hearing a story like that for the first time!)
However, if my company were to get on its feet again and continue to underpay me, I'd probably start shopping around for a new job. I'd likely play the "I have another offer, raise me or lose me" card. Unfortunately, I wouldn't dare do this without somewhere to go.
Okay, not a great solution, but I'd like to know how you got into that pickle.
Working is a privilege... not a right! (Score:4, Interesting)
If your job stinks... look for a better one.
If your job doesn't pay well... look for a better one.
Your boss isn't required (nor should be) by law to provide you with cake and also let you eat it.
The ball is in your court.
~foooo
Re:Since you didn't mention it... (Score:5, Interesting)
I'd aim for a 10 second pitch.
Re:Ask, but have a backup plan (Score:4, Interesting)
If you're willing to take the risk, threating to walk is in fact the *most likely* way to get you what you want. I'm not talking about saying anything rude, just politely inform your boss that if you're not going to be paid what you're worth you'll have to consider leaving for a company. It gets the point across and doesn't burn any bridges at the same time. In fact there was a survey done recently that I heard about on BBC newshour where managers said that said this was most likely to result in succes of any method (but was also most likely to get you fired), but I can't seem to find it on their website.
Don't do this if you absolutly can't live with loosing your job, but if asking nicely doesn't work and you can handle the risk, go for it.
NEVER say never.
Besides, looking for a job is one of the worst things you can do if are at all interested in keeping your current job. Once you start looking you'll find you mentally "check out" and leaving becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. You shouldn't have to shop around if you are certain that entry level people are being hired into equivalent positions to yours at a higher salary then you have.
Re:Ask, but have a backup plan (Score:3, Interesting)
In my company, it's been directly stated that if anyone has an offer from another company, let your manager know, and "they'll try to match it".
So..., ask nicely for a raise now, and if you don't get it, or it's not enough, start searching & applying & interviewing (in your spare time, or use some vacation or sick time :P), and if you get an offer you like, ask for a raise again, telling them you have an offer, and then decide what to do.
I'm currently at step 1 (asking for a raise), and I filled out an app for a very nice-sounding position with the county in case I need leverage.
Was in a similar situation and got a raise. (Score:4, Interesting)
I had been working for about 2 years and found out the new position equivelent to my own would be payed more. So I came in to my bosses office with my resume told him i quit and applied for the position.
We both knew I wasn't really quitting but it made my point and I got a small promotion and new salery a bit above the incomming position.
I don't recommend the quitting part but applying for the new position might not be a bad idea.
Re:Ask, but have a backup plan (Score:4, Interesting)
Last year my friend had given up on getting an adequate raise at his current employer (asked many times, received little). He looked around and got a firm job offer from another outfit, went to his boss and asked whether the boss wanted to make a counter offer, and the boss gave a raise on the spot more than twice the raise my friend had imagined he could get. He turned down the other offer, stayed with his old outfit, and is much more happily (and gainfully) employed, and has a better relationship with his boss.
The key to this is that he would have been very happy to take the other job too, so this was not a bluff, nor a negotiation in bad faith.
Another friend received the following advice from his boss:
Re:What's wrong with our country? (Score:2, Interesting)
Can you show me an example of a union that isn't corrupt??
I haven't seen one. And in the definition of corrupt I am using I include promoting seniority over competance and protecting deadwood.