Life Am I getting screwed at my job? - Page 2

lcarus · 02-17-2012, 02:28 PM

I have worked at an awards shop since 2002. My father is the GM who runs the place, but the owners are a couple of old investors that are hands-off. My job is to design every award that comes through the door, and we do everything from trophies, plaques, glass and acrylic awards, medals, ribbons, t-shirts, hats, custom engravings, you name it. I use two laser engravers and a sublimation printer. I use CorelDraw and Photoshop for everything. A lot of times I have to design artwork for lazy customers who can't get us something usable. I have a very very good record of not screwing things up, which is easy to do.

I started at 8.50 an hour and I now make 13.50. I haven't had a raise in 2 and a half years, and it was a dollar raise. We probably do between 3,000-6,000 dollars per day in business. We only have about 7 employees currently. I was told this past Christmas that the owners weren't giving Christmas bonuses. I usually have gotten like 150 bucks or so every Christmas. We had a pretty good year...

Every time I rarely, politely ask for a raise I'm told by the owners or my father that I should be happy with what I make, and if I want more money I should help the company make more money...should I get the hell outta here?

**gblowfish** · 02-17-2012, 02:41 PM

BTW: Corel Draw? Really? Really???

lcarus · 02-17-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Send this company a resume. Its in Independence. It's owned by a guy I used to work for. I left one of his other companies for more money at my current job:

http://www.rpawards.com/

Cool, thank you. I will. I was looking to move back up to the KC area eventually anyway. Still have a lot of family and friends up there.

Plus....the Chiefs......

MIAdragon · 02-17-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcarus

My dad has been wanting to buy the place, but he just has awful awful credit and he only makes about 50-60k himself.

I cant imagine the startup costs could be all that much, any idea what it would take?

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 02-17-2012, 02:43 PM

So your Dad makes a comfortable living, and you make around half or less than he does after 10 years. Word to the wise, 13.50 today is worth about what 8.50 was 10 years ago. They don't value you. Get the **** out.

NewChief · 02-17-2012, 02:43 PM

If you're doing much design work AT All, you're getting screwed.

Rasputin · 02-17-2012, 02:44 PM

No Christmas bonus...

**Buck** · 02-17-2012, 02:44 PM

Have you found out how much employees at other Trophy shops make that have your same position?

lcarus · 02-17-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

BTW: Corel Draw? Really? Really???

God...don't even get me started. Such a shit program. Each version has more and more bugs. We're using X5 now and it randomly crashes whenever the hell it feels like it and I can lose files in the blink of an eye. But...it works for a lot of the simple things we do.

**gblowfish** · 02-17-2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcarus

Cool, thank you. I will. I was looking to move back up to the KC area eventually anyway. Still have a lot of family and friends up there.

Plus....the Chiefs......

Yeah, well, don't mention the Christmas Bonus thing. Guy cut mine from $500 to $100 in 2005 and I left three months later.

ReynardMuldrake · 02-17-2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcarus

I basically manage the place as is. He's not around much, and when he is, he doesn't do anything very often. There is literally no room for growth as far as my position is concerned. I'm good at what I do and it would be hard for him to replace me considering I've been doing all of our customers shit for 10 years.

I really hate the place, and am bored with my job. Really grown complacent and burnt out. But ya know..I got rent, car payment, insurance, food. Stuff I gotta have. I just don't know what options to explore. I'm good with Corel and Photoshop with what we do HERE, but a lot of the stuff we do is pretty simple compared to a lot of "graphic artists".

Dude, you have 10 years of Photoshop & graphic design experience and a rock steady work history. Make a resume and get it out there. Start applying for anything you can find. I guarantee you will find a job you love sooner or later. Don't compromise and work somewhere you hate.

**BigMeatballDave** · 02-17-2012, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

So your Dad makes a comfortable living, and you make around half or less than he does after 10 years. Word to the wise, 13.50 today is worth about what 8.50 was 10 years ago. They don't value you. Get the **** out.

This.

I make $16/hr. I've been there about a yr. At 6 months I received a favorable performance review, but no increase. If I don't get a raise at 1 yr, I'm looking elsewhere.

R8RFAN · 02-17-2012, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcarus

I have worked at an awards shop since 2002. My father is the GM who runs the place, but the owners are a couple of old investors that are hands-off. My job is to design every award that comes through the door, and we do everything from trophies, plaques, glass and acrylic awards, medals, ribbons, t-shirts, hats, custom engravings, you name it. I use two laser engravers and a sublimation printer. I use CorelDraw and Photoshop for everything. A lot of times I have to design artwork for lazy customers who can't get us something usable. I have a very very good record of not screwing things up, which is easy to do.

I started at 8.50 an hour and I now make 13.50. I haven't had a raise in 2 and a half years, and it was a dollar raise. We probably do between 3,000-6,000 dollars per day in business. We only have about 7 employees currently. I was told this past Christmas that the owners weren't giving Christmas bonuses. I usually have gotten like 150 bucks or so every Christmas. We had a pretty good year...

Every time I rarely, politely ask for a raise I'm told by the owners or my father that I should be happy with what I make, and if I want more money I should help the company make more money...should I get the hell outta here?

Hell yea you are getting screwed, tell him a dumb **** hillbilly truckdriver from NC that works for FEDEX makes over 30 bucks an hour driving... Take your talents elsewhere

listopencil · 02-17-2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReynardMuldrake

Dude, you have 10 years of Photoshop & graphic design experience and a rock steady work history. Make a resume and get it out there. Start applying for anything you can find. I guarantee you will find a job you love sooner or later. Don't compromise and work somewhere you hate.

^

BoneKrusher · 02-17-2012, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suds79

Sounds like you want to leave and you've already answered your question.

If you're unhappy, start looking around.

this^

LiveSteam · 02-17-2012, 02:53 PM

What a bunch of loyal employers you work for

02-17-2012, 02:28 PM
lcarus Everybody Lies. Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: 22 Acacia Avenue Casino cash: $-1729887	Am I getting screwed at my job? I have worked at an awards shop since 2002. My father is the GM who runs the place, but the owners are a couple of old investors that are hands-off. My job is to design every award that comes through the door, and we do everything from trophies, plaques, glass and acrylic awards, medals, ribbons, t-shirts, hats, custom engravings, you name it. I use two laser engravers and a sublimation printer. I use CorelDraw and Photoshop for everything. A lot of times I have to design artwork for lazy customers who can't get us something usable. I have a very very good record of not screwing things up, which is easy to do. I started at 8.50 an hour and I now make 13.50. I haven't had a raise in 2 and a half years, and it was a dollar raise. We probably do between 3,000-6,000 dollars per day in business. We only have about 7 employees currently. I was told this past Christmas that the owners weren't giving Christmas bonuses. I usually have gotten like 150 bucks or so every Christmas. We had a pretty good year... Every time I rarely, politely ask for a raise I'm told by the owners or my father that I should be happy with what I make, and if I want more money I should help the company make more money...should I get the hell outta here?
Posts: 17,820

02-17-2012, 02:41 PM	#16
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16896178 VARSITY	BTW: Corel Draw? Really? Really???
Posts: 41,011

02-17-2012, 02:43 PM	#20
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $7280204	If you're doing much design work AT All, you're getting screwed. __________________ In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken
Posts: 21,845

02-17-2012, 02:44 PM	#21
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $235421	No Christmas bonus... __________________ "Those who don't believe in magic will never find it"
Posts: 56,907

02-17-2012, 02:44 PM	#22
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $6190295	Have you found out how much employees at other Trophy shops make that have your same position?
Posts: 44,604

02-17-2012, 02:53 PM	#30
LiveSteam The Constitutional Choo choo Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: homeof43conferencetitles Casino cash: $-1464568	What a bunch of loyal employers you work for __________________ Progressivism.. The Politically Correct way of saying "I'm a Communist slash Nazi" depending on what the issue of the day is?
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