'I've already started applying for jobs': Overworked worker denied a raise despite high performance and initative

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Oct 4, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Attaining proper compensation for your contributions is a tricky and delicate subject. On the one hand, you want to be paid properly for your contributions, and it's important to be sure that you are, as this will help you to progress in your field and remain properly motivated. On the other hand, you must be careful to maintain good internal politics and not give your employer any reason to put a target on your back.

This worker initially secured a substantial salary increase when starting their current job but then began to realize that it wasn't enough to maintain a comfortable living standard in their area. Seeking a promotion and advocating for better compensation, they expressed their intentions to their employer. Despite praise for their exceptional performance and continually taking on more tasks, the worker received a disappointing rating in their review, resulting in only a 3% raise amid high inflation. Frustrated by additional job duties and feeling undervalued, they began job hunting but struggled in the process, all while grappling with the limitations of expressing discontent in their workplace's social dynamics and the inability to afford independent living. They shared their current predicament with a popular online community for workplace discussion, getting readers' advice as to what they should do next.

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    Tableware
    via Andrew Neel
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    Font - Posted by u/snowwwwhite23 I made the mistake of establishing the reputation that I'm a hard worker who can always get it done & general vent. I asked for $15k more per year than I was making at my previous job, and got it when I started this job. I was excited at the time. Then in the last year+ I've realized I'm not even making the "comfortable livable wage" for where I live. I have some privileges most don't which enable me to live, for which I'm grateful.
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - I told the company I work for (in a meeting with the CFO and my supervisor) at my 3 months that I wanted to be promoted at/around my year mark. I basically told them, 'if you don't promote me, I'll go somewhere else.' They seemed like they took me seriously. Around my year mark (July), they tell me they'll start cross training me to get me ready for other positions. Translation: we'll give you more side projects so we can get this extra work out of you without additional payment under the
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - I've completely corrected major problems in my department and as they've stated, I've gone above and beyond. I had my review, and my manager ranted and raved about how amazing I was, how above and beyond I went, how much she and everyone else appreciated everything I've done. (Context: the reviews are, of course, set up to keep everyone from getting meaningful raises using a 3.0 scale where getting a 3 in most categories is set up to be basically impossible). All this "you're so amazing".
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - I've already started applying for jobs and it's rough going. I just found out that they're adding another job duty to my responsibilities because finance just decided they don't want to do it anymore. I'm so tired of being the person stuff gets assigned to because people don't want to do it. But of course you can't argue back because of the social politics of working in an environment like this. All this BS and I couldn't afford to live on my own if I had to. I'm angry.
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - Trimere 5 hr. ago You have learned that hard work is only repaid with more work. 228 Reply Share
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - ghostsquad4 4 hr. ago Your normal should be 50% capacity. That way you can burst up to 100% for short periods. It's the only consistent way to under promise and over deliver and not burn out. 164 Reply Share nullpotato 3 hr. ago A wise coworker said never go above 70% of your actual speed because they will just keep raising the bar to match. Reply Share 81
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - Red-Engineer 3 hr. ago You don't want a promotion, you want a raise. The two are very different. 38 Reply Share snowwwwhite23 OP 1 hr. ago Yes, I absolutely want a raise. I do also want to continue growing in title so I can keep progressing in my career (and continue to make more money through progressive title growth). 16 Reply Share
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - VegasVator 4 hr. ago "I would like a x% raise to continue working here please." 28 34 Reply Share Tsobe_RK 4 hr. ago my company lets every good wo go when that discussion comes, its boggling Reply Share ●●● snowwwwhite23 OP 1 hr. ago . 2 Yep, and while I deserve and want to be paid more, I'm not trying to risk a generally kush job with reliable paychecks. Reply Share
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - OldBob10 4 hr. ago . The only way to get a significant raise is to change employers. You don't even need to take on increased responsibilities/headaches - just move. Best of luck. 20 Reply Share snowwwwhite23 OP 1 hr. ago Exactly. I've already been applying like crazy. Being more thoughtful than just blindly applying to everything, but still putting a lot of applications out there. 3 Reply Share
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - c11who 3 hr. ago Good job. Know your worth, have open discussions, make hard choices. I will second the 70% rule someone else noted. Sounds like you're going to do great. A note on the job hunt: people hire who they know, so you need to network not blindly apply. Reply Share snowwwwhite23 OP 1 hr. ago Yes! I've turned in a few applications with a company for which I have a great referral. Unfortunately it hasn't panned out well yet. I may have overshot with a couple of them, but there're
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - OregonIT 5 hr. ago Aww you have become the Brent of your team network 8 ↓ Reply Share uberDoward 4 hr. ago We are all Brent. 6 Reply Share
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - ArgyleGhoul 3 hr. ago If a company could save 5 dollars by hiring someone who doesn't know how to zip a zipper, they would do it without blinking. 45+ Reply Share snowwwwhite23 OP 1 hr. ago Just to ensure I'm understanding: you're commenting on how cheap companies are?
    via u/snowwwwhite23
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    Font - fallenlegend117. 44 min. ago Being a hard worker is very much a death sentence. The companies will work you to death and when you entire a hospital they will drop you like a hat like you never even existed. For every 8 hours I'm on the clock I only work 1 hour. Leave the hard work for management. 2 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/snowwwwhite23

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job work workplace employment in the workplace
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