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Let’s throwback to 3 years ago – I interviewed in a flawless suit and shared my hopes and dreams with my soon-to-be employer. I was told about the perks and benefits for working for your company and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the mere 3 dollar an hour raise from my previous job during college. You told me there was room for personal growth and movement within your well-off organization. I believed you.
Being a go-getter, I gave you 120%; I worked my ass off and utilized all of the skills I ever could have imagined. I saw another dollar raise and a title change within 3 months, and thought about how you were right – that I wasn’t stuck in some shit-hole job that offered their employees unrealistic dreams and expectations with minimal pay…but that was it.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. A 49/50 review – near fucking perfect. Things like “you’ve really set the standard” and “I couldn’t say enough about your work” slew from your mouth and build my eager mind with hope. Maybe all this hard work has paid off. Maybe I’ll get to see that raise, move out of my parent’s house again (ended engagement, whatever, judge me less), maybe not live paycheck to paycheck or even – maybe another opportunity for a title change. That’s when our 2-hour meeting finished and you strike me with, “Congratulations, here’s your $.50 raise for the year!”
Before you ask, of course I negotiated. I even offered to work more than I already was for a beneficial raise. Apparently there was no room in our 3.5 million dollar advertising budget. I was left feeling defeated with a measly .50 raise. It’s bad enough you’re only offering me hourly wage – no overtime and practically no benefits – but you refuse to pay me what I’m worth. For someone who’s “setting the standard,” don’t you think the standard should be compensated for their accomplishments?
And as if to say “fuck you” even more – that next week, our department held a surprise celebration for single handedly adding 2 million dollars revenue to our business. But somehow you still can’t afford to offer your employees a little bit of incentive for kicking so much ass.
Now I’m here. It’s the end of the week and I’ve maybe accomplished two things this entire work-week, mainly updating my resume and adding shit to my portfolio. You popped my work-hard attitude, my eagerness to work until the job is done, and all hope in your company is now lost. I can’t wait for the day that I get to turn in my letter of resignation and your company doesn’t know what to do without me. I’ll be utilizing my skills elsewhere. .
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Respond
I respect you for not being rash and quitting on the spot. Keep banking those paychecks while you’re on the job hunt putting in minimal effort at your current spot, worked fine for me. Make sure you let your employer know exactly why you’re leaving too, feels good.
Eh… While it might be tempting to tell your employer off, try to leave under the best circumstances. The OP has a great reputation, don’t ruin it in two weeks. Another coworker may one day serve as a reference or remember your hard work and decide to recommend you to a hiring manager. Keep cool and stay professional.
I don’t mean go off on a Youtube worthy rant. Just tell them, I’m leaving because I don’t feel as though my skills and contributions aren’t recognized and appreciated. Simple.
Well, if it’s absolutely terrible this is a good reason, but if it’s bearable it also is. They could come back and say “well, let’s increase your salary and benefits then” or “how would you feel about working towards a promotion that will utilize your skills.” Gotta be prepared for the off chance they offer you a better schtick after they realize they’re not using you correctly.
If you’re planning on leaving, do it. Even if they offer you more, the reasons for why you were wanting to leave won’t change.
But at the same time, what makes you think that they’re gonna change their attitudes about their employess. A lot of the time they’ll make those promises cause they don’t want to hire a new person, but then they end up being full of crap.
Sure. Frankly I think you should tell them as little as possible and just go with the vague “I need to continue to grow,” response. But I see what you’re saying.
You get paid by the hour?
Lot of people do.
$30k a year hourly only works out to $14.42 an hour, in case you were wondering.
God dammit
You’re doing it right- easiest way to find a job is to already have one. Try not to let bitterness from their poor treatment taint other areas of your life/poison your work and sterling record you’ve worked so hard on.. Good luck–and don’t be afraid to go in big with your negotiations with your potential new employer.
CarolineGould on point and positive as always.
The world isn’t fair guy. Thought maybe someone taught you that.
Says the entitled asshole who graduated in ’89? Life not being fair doesn’t mean you bend over and take it like a chump.