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Disclaimer - this is a VENT, please know that I am venting.

I took a new job last year. The salary bump was meager considering that I was moving to a pricier environment. I also took the job knowing that the current head boss is retiring this summer. I would not have taken it otherwise because she is a bully. She "rules" by belittling her workers and people often live in fear of her. She will swing from "You are amazing" to "You are worthless and pathetic" in the same conversation (yes she says that).

The salary they offered me was small, but I was assured that if I did a good job that we could look at salary on my contract renewal. So, end of year evaluations - my review is stellar. I mean, everyone who reviews me comments that my work is above and beyond, that they are thrilled with what I"m doing. Even she has said she could not be more pleased and that I really impressed her. I have made a name for myself in this industry. It's a small arena but people know who I am.

So, salary discussion? I get the standard raise. Even though I make in the bottom 15% of people in my position and less than others who have the same level of experience and education at my place of employment. Standard raise. I was told that maybe next year when my housing allowance expires. My supervisor told me that he would be willing to talk about my situation with the replacement head honcho coming in in July. However, my contract will be in place by then, so I doubt it will have any impact or result in change. He strongly advised against bringing up salary with current head honcho as she will simply run me down.

I am beyond deflated... beyond. I have done the best I could possibly do, beyond everyone's expectations and I am not getting any type of recognition. I make 10-15% less than my colleagues at this place with the same level of experience and education (and not the same level of achievement) and in the bottom 15% of people in my position at other institutions in urban environments. I also have a much larger workload - I have no subordinates (most have a team of subordinates, I do it all) and I'm working to rebuild a substantially broken system with little to no support. I don't even have a work space right now, I float because they didn't organize a place for me in advance.

I have been approached this year by head hunters and other institutions. I think I'm going to renew my contract this year (so that I can vest my retirement fund) and then quietly hunt next year. I'm debating about telling my supervisor that I will be keeping my options open next year due to my disappointment in this. He has always been very supportive of me and has sheltered me from head honcho's wrath and the politics of this environment. However, I don't want to come across as threatening.

I'm just hugely disappointed. What's the point of being good at my job and working hard and excelling if the response is substandard pay and immense workload? **sigh**

Disclaimer again - this is a vent.

[This message edited by hurtbs at 9:27 AM, April 26th (Saturday)]

Vent away my friend. This is your career which you have cultivated and planned carefully and made significant personal life changes for. While I would never advise someone to give up a good steady thing for the unknown (and is obviously not what you are saying), I do think you have to consider your best interests. Long term plan.. you continue to make an awesome name for yourself and head on out the door in a year when that name carries you somewhere else. At some point they recognize your worth and significant contributions, or you thank them, leave with your head held high and take it as a learning experience.
(((((((hurtbs)))))))

@meta - yep, that is what I am thinking. The nice thing about being single and having no children is that I am not tied here. I also hate that when you bring up money they suddenly respond with "Well, if all you care about is money then maybe this isn't the right environment for you." Ummm... excused me? I'm pretty sure that you come to work for a paycheck and not out of the goodness of your heart. Yes, I love what I do, but I also love paying my bills and saving for retirement! I didn't get into this industry to make it rich, but I do believe I am due fair remuneration!

Please think long and hard about fore-warning your boss about your future plans.

Since no one knows the future it could come back and bite you in the butt. Most bosses do not like to know that some one has one foot out the door. It makes them look at you differently. We own a biz and I know we begin to look at people differently once we know they are looking (just human nature I guess)

I would suggest you keep making your plans (it seems that they may not really appreciate you that much), but keep it close to the vest. To suggest that you wait until the new boss comes in to ask for a deserved raise seems like they may not actually want to come thru.

Just MHO.

[This message edited by still2suspicious at 11:06 AM, April 26th (Saturday)]

Hugs to you. It sure sounds as though they are leeching everything they can from a stellar, lower paid performer. I think your plan of staying till vested and then leaving for greener pastures is wise.
You deserve better!

I'm debating about telling my supervisor that I will be keeping my options open next year due to my disappointment in this

I would keep quiet until it gets closer to review time next year. And then hint that if this company does not value your contributions then you will find a company that does. Always frame salary in terms of the company valuing what you do.

It is always crappy when you work really hard and then do not get the recognition you feel you deserve.

Yeah, I think you're right about not showing my cards right now. I will buy time and continue to build my reputation. I just feel misled and undervalued. It's incredibly frustrating. The fact that they are using the housing allowance as justification is infuriating. This is supposed to be *on top of* salary not *in lieu of*. It's taxable income and I do not get benefits such as retirement plan matching. This is just infuriating.

From a manager's position I would suggest you not give management a heads up that you may start looking elsewhere. A former employee of mine once gave me a heads up that her spouse had taken a job in a new state and she would be leaving once she found something. Our company went through a reorg and because I knew her plans she was one that was affected.

i'm not sure if i'm allowed to post links, but here it goes..... definitely have a read at it!

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-1566202988

Do you not have time to look for another position before signing this next years contract?

[This message edited by Pentup at 2:59 PM, April 29th (Tuesday)]

No 2x4's here! I think venting is healthy and I think its good to get all the negative feelings and thoughts out! As my IC says...."Better out than in!" We are here for you and here to listen!

I agree that you should not mention looking for a job elsewhere. I have been quietly looking myself but would never let that on to my boss. I know how that would go over..... like a card house in a hurricane.....

Just keep your eyes open..... and if/when something better comes along OR when they wake up and realize your worth (whichever comes first) I would make my move....good luck and most of all....

((BIGHUGZ))

[This message edited by She11ybeanz at 2:57 PM, April 29th (Tuesday)]

@Pent - No, I have to sign my contract by Friday. I work in education so these positions go up and are taken in the spring. Also if I leave this year, I will not have vested my retirement, which means I would be walking away from a large chunk of money.

I guess the way to look at it is you have a year to make a great move and hopefully the new supervisor will do a salary review that will benefit you.

<I'm just bein' bad> Or you could think of this as the Year of Screwing Off! What're they gonna do? Fire you? LOL Your reputation is good, you can fish for a new one and land a good'un, secure the retirement, and have a great year.

Something tells me you'd be fabulous at your job even if you weren't agonizing over it trying to win everyone's high opinion. :-)