Life Am I getting screwed at my job? - Page 4

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?

durtyrute · 02-17-2012, 03:43 PM

**Rain Man** · 02-17-2012, 03:44 PM

You've averaged a 5.2% per year raise, so they're not screwing you. You're just in a low-wage job. Maybe you could make more money at another company with the same job, which would be great, but even a big boost would put you at maybe $20. If you want to make significantly more you probably should consider switching careers.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 02-17-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

You've averaged a 5.2% per year raise, so they're not screwing you. You're just in a low-wage job. Maybe you could make more money at another company with the same job, which would be great, but even a big boost would put you at maybe $20. If you want to make significantly more you probably should consider switching careers.

yeah, to be fair, it's not like he's in a real high stakes industry. He does a job and make steady profit I'm sure, but in professions like mine where I can post a net profit of $160k+ on a project in 6 months or less that's where you see compensation accordingly.

lcarus · 02-17-2012, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

You've averaged a 5.2% per year raise, so they're not screwing you. You're just in a low-wage job. Maybe you could make more money at another company with the same job, which would be great, but even a big boost would put you at maybe $20. If you want to make significantly more you probably should consider switching careers.

You are right, but I feel like I'm entitled to at least a couple dollars per hour more. I do a lot for the company. I often work on weekends, work late, deliver product to customers, fix our laser engravers. The problem is, the company is run so poorly and inefficiently, we aren't making a ton of profit. For instance, we pay a woman 30k a year almost to sit around and play Farmville.

That said, there are some perks to this job. If I'm engraving a big order, I can watch Netflix or play an NES emulator at my desk. I would get a lot of flexibility as far as hours and days off, IF I wasn't needed. So it isn't an entirely grim picture, but as a whole, I really am tired of the way things are going here, plus I'm having a tough time as I'm single and living on my own with a car payment and all that stuff.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 02-17-2012, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcarus

You are right, but I feel like I'm entitled to at least a couple dollars per hour more. I do a lot for the company. I often work on weekends, work late, deliver product to customers, fix our laser engravers. The problem is, the company is run so poorly and inefficiently, we aren't making a ton of profit. For instance, we pay a woman 30k a year almost to sit around and play Farmville.

That said, there are some perks to this job. If I'm engraving a big order, I can watch Netflix or play an NES emulator at my desk. I would get a lot of flexibility as far as hours and days off, IF I wasn't needed. So it isn't an entirely grim picture, but as a whole, I really am tired of the way things are going here, plus I'm having a tough time as I'm single and living on my own with a car payment and all that stuff.

are you paid hourly or salary?

lcarus · 02-17-2012, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

are you paid hourly or salary?

Hourly. I do get some OT, but a lot of times I come up there and do stuff off the clock, which I don't mind too much. I just feel like I should be appreciated a bit more. In the form of a raise, however minute it may be.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 02-17-2012, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcarus

Hourly. I do get some OT, but a lot of times I come up there and do stuff off the clock, which I don't mind too much. I just feel like I should be appreciated a bit more. In the form of a raise, however minute it may be.

oh, I get that....but you have to temper somewhat in today's economy. Just becuase you have'nt kept up year to year doesn't mean you can realistically expect to make it all up in one year. You need to make your concerns known, and if they value you, they will work on making it right.

I got a $10k raise and a $10k project bonus last year by letting the mgmt here know I was underpaid and needed to catch up. It didn't make it perfect, but it's a start.

evolve27 · 02-17-2012, 04:10 PM

Yes u are getting ****ed. Leave that job and work for yourself

DRU · 02-17-2012, 04:15 PM

I'd get on www.odesk.com and www.elance.com as a designer. There are all sorts of people on there looking for designers to create website layouts, advertising material, etc. for them. You can set your own rate and let people find you, or you can actively search for the jobs that people are posting for design work.

As others have said, you're selling yourself short. 10 years experience working on Photoshop means you know how to use it when most people don't. Simple as that. There will always be more to learn, but you can do that while working on new projects.

I can pretty much guarantee you that you'd be making a heck of a lot more working on your own as a sub-contractor than you are based on what you've said here. I wouldn't just quit the job and start it immediately, but get yourself on those platforms, get a couple of side jobs, and I'd bet you'll quickly feel a lot more comfortable telling them to screw off.

Then, who knows, they'll probably realize how much they need you at that point and fight to keep you.

Reerun_KC · 02-17-2012, 04:17 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.

When did 50-60K become a comfortable living?

**BigMeatballDave** · 02-17-2012, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

When did 50-60K become a comfortable living?

Depends on how many kids you have. I have one. If I made 60k I would be living very comfortably.

**Bearcat** · 02-17-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

When did 50-60K become a comfortable living?

It is for KC (per person, anyway), and I assume it would be for Tulsa, too.

Stewie · 02-17-2012, 04:27 PM

And I posted about rip-off oil changes. Sheesh! It's worse than I thought.

R8RFAN · 02-17-2012, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

When did 50-60K become a comfortable living?

Plenty of money

oldman · 02-17-2012, 04:36 PM

I don't know what the cost of living is in Tulsa, but $13.50 isn't much. I'd tell you to take your talents elsewhere, but consider that a lot of employers want to see a piece of paper to go along with your experience. Better have something else lined up before you tell them to take this job and shove it.

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: 17,819

02-17-2012, 03:43 PM	#46
durtyrute MVP Join Date: Mar 2011 Casino cash: $5656085	yes
Posts: 5,831

02-17-2012, 03:44 PM	#47
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-462449 VARSITY	You've averaged a 5.2% per year raise, so they're not screwing you. You're just in a low-wage job. Maybe you could make more money at another company with the same job, which would be great, but even a big boost would put you at maybe $20. If you want to make significantly more you probably should consider switching careers. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,259

02-17-2012, 04:10 PM	#53
evolve27 Keep It on Wax Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: BUMP MASTER, USA Casino cash: $10004900	Yes u are getting ****ed. Leave that job and work for yourself __________________ Best QB Available
Posts: 2,588

02-17-2012, 04:15 PM	#54
DRU To the Game Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $6793516	I'd get on www.odesk.com and www.elance.com as a designer. There are all sorts of people on there looking for designers to create website layouts, advertising material, etc. for them. You can set your own rate and let people find you, or you can actively search for the jobs that people are posting for design work. As others have said, you're selling yourself short. 10 years experience working on Photoshop means you know how to use it when most people don't. Simple as that. There will always be more to learn, but you can do that while working on new projects. I can pretty much guarantee you that you'd be making a heck of a lot more working on your own as a sub-contractor than you are based on what you've said here. I wouldn't just quit the job and start it immediately, but get yourself on those platforms, get a couple of side jobs, and I'd bet you'll quickly feel a lot more comfortable telling them to screw off. Then, who knows, they'll probably realize how much they need you at that point and fight to keep you.
Posts: 2,124

02-17-2012, 04:27 PM	#58
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $-1600099	And I posted about rip-off oil changes. Sheesh! It's worse than I thought.
Posts: 13,830

02-17-2012, 04:36 PM	#60
oldman Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North by Northwest Casino cash: $5836784	I don't know what the cost of living is in Tulsa, but $13.50 isn't much. I'd tell you to take your talents elsewhere, but consider that a lot of employers want to see a piece of paper to go along with your experience. Better have something else lined up before you tell them to take this job and shove it.
Posts: 5,319