Small rant about pay
My Father is a Mechanical Engineer with just under 30 years experience. Seems most the employers he has worked for do the very same thing. This has required him to change employers, but keep the same basic job duties, every 2-5 years just to receive a raise. He even left one position and a few years later he applied for the very same position again, but the pay range had increased 20k a year now that they needed to hire a new person. Had they given him raises comparable to that increase he would have never left that company to begin with.
Busto said you answered your own question.
"Employers like to think employees do not keep track of what going wage/salary rates are because uninformed employees are cheap employees, as far as expenses on the books anyway," says Busto.
Busto continues:
"Many places pay managers a bonus if they can keep department expenses low, so naturally these managers are not going to be eager to hand out raises, since it cuts into their bonus check, so it is up to the employee to do their own research and find out what their services are worth in the marketplace," said Busto.
Busto wishes you good luck.
Busto
BTG:lbj
It is no wonder why there is no more American loyalty to their employers? You ask most workers about their companies and I can guarantee you it will be negative.
Yesterday I was reading a memo from a CEO of a major drug store chain to his employees in the retail stores. He gloats about customer service and putting smiles on your faces when you greet a customer. BUT here he is making $3 million a year PLUS major stock options and the lowly retail clerk is making $8.00 per hour and barely making ends meet. That retail worker is working in the trenches while that CEO is sitting in his nice office messing around writing stupid memos or motivation letters to his employees.
I won't mention the drug store's name BUT they made something like $35 BILLION last year. So where is this profit going to? Not the retail worker for sure!
Tell me this, how can an employee feel good when they are being paid $500 every two weeks and bills are piling up faster than pay increases? That is corporate America folks!!
I've done the same thing your dad did as far as leaving jobs for better paying positions. One position I documented tasks, special projects, lack of overtime (extra work completed in 40 hours), broke out my time by department and managers. Requested a 10% raise at review time and backed it up with all the documentation plus outside classes and certifications directly pertaining to my position. I was told the standard raise was 2.5%! They gave me 3.5% and told me someone else's raise had to lose 1% for me to get the extra. When I left the VP came to me and said I could come back any time there would always be a position at company x. Well of course I busted my fanny and in two years time inceased my pay by less than 5%. The next position I went increased my salary by 15% with better benefits.
And I'm sorry I don't buy the bull that the person coming in may have a degree or more experience - if I can document all of the above, plus know the ins and outs of the company, willing to work for any department on any assignment, be the go to person for questions etc. pay up.
Companies only care about the bottom line, they want the best quality they can get for the lowest price employee - not the best employee for a quality price.