I work in a low-level low pay position.
So low, that someone with a two year degree could easily handle the position. Essentially doing the basics, paid a low wage, and fighting through the day sometimes. I'm a one man department, handing practically everything vital to operations at my company.
I was working on my four year degree when I accepted this position. Now I have it, it basically proves that I have skills beyond my current position and my job description expects so little, but reality demands much more. Because I have experience and a degree, I am saving the company thousands of dollars per month in outsourcing. Not that I am entitled to anything and I understand experience trumps any degree, but it's notable in this case.
Let's just say that I do my job very well at my current company. The management team really likes working with me and I get things done better than those who held my position in the past (their words, not mine). After my 30 day review of being hired, I asked for a one dollar raise because my review was so good. It was immediately dismissed, with instead an offer to have a paid day off work. (okay, I'll take $150 instead of two thousand, do I have a choice here, no)
Fast forward to very recently. I am thrown into this massive project. When I say massive, I mean it is going to take at least 200-300 hours of dedicated time with no interruptions(ha ha). The project is progressively becoming more difficult with more and more very comprehensive tasks and requirements as time progresses, and I only have three months to do it. I am one half month in and I have so many side projects going on (for work) that it is interrupting my main project. I actually can't do it all and reach the deadline.
I must mention that if I do reach the deadline, then my boss gets a nice bonus. I get nothing. So essentially, he is riding me to get the project done, but yet, I have no incentives to do so.
This is a half year project, not 3 months. I'm going to talk to my boss this week, ask for a hefty raise ($5-$10 per hour) and give him time to think about it. IF he chooses not to, then I am literally going to find another job and resign as fast as I can.