I need a raise/benefits
I am currently working for a small business as an administrative assistant, in which the only employee is me. This is a residential real estate appraisal co. that has about 4 independent contractors. My boss makes what he pays me on ONE appraisal. I have been here about 7 months at $12.50 /hour and have no benefits at all. The only way to move up here is to become an appraiser. I now help write and review the appraisal reports that come in, and have helped get this place organized. I have basically become the office manager, after my boss, the owner. I am the first admin to work here...I don't know whether to ask for a raise/benefits, or just look for something else. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I would put together a summary of the things you have helped change...organization, helping with paperwork, etc... Then I would approach him and ask if he has some time. Sit with him and explain that you feel it is time to discuss an increase in compensation. You feel that you have shown your worth to the organization by (state your accomplishments here) and that you feel the well has been far from tapped...you are prepared to take on more responsibilities, etc...
Good luck! You can't make this something it is not. It is a small business, you're the only employee. They're not going to set up benefits for just you. That would cost them half as much as they pay you right now (if not more). After you've been there a year, you can ask for a performance review. That's the time to sit down with your list of accomplishments and see if a raise will come your way. A typical raise these days is 3%, so at most maybe you could get .50 an hour more. If that doesn't happen, you can of course look for something somewhere else. It would be better however, to wait until you've got a whole year on your resume. A short hop is a big hit to your resume, especially if you don't have a bunch of other long steady employment to off set it. And by the way, what your boss makes has nothing to do with what your job is worth to him. He also has all the bills, the taxes, the risk and the headaches. He ensures that there is enough work coming in, etc. etc. Tess Start by making a list of all your job responsibilities and all your accomplishments thus far, then ask the boss for a performance and salary review. Make two copies of your list, give one to the boss so you're both looking at the same information and be prepared to ask for a reasonable increase in your hourly wage. I'd suggest proposing a range by saying you were anticipating an increase to the $14 to $16 per hour range. If that flies, then ask about making some provision for benefits and see what happens. If none of this works, I'd dust off my resume and quietly start looking for another job - keeping in mind that it's always easier to find a job when you have one - so don't quit until something better comes along. Paul W. Barada The Negotiation Expert | |
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