Busted ass 50+ hrs like a champion, sacrificing much of myself at a new job for 8 months or so, saving the company measurable hours of labor via my own methods and ideas, having been well-skilled with years of experience in the wider arena of work we accomplish.
Simply put, the established methods could be improved upon and I carried out the work to the best of my abilities.
Around the holidays I was approached about changing to a salaried pay structure which yearly was about even with my projected income at the current hourly rate + the overtime I’d been working due to their needs. The yearly salary offered would equate to about a $6/hr+ raise in hourly pay if calculated working 40 hours a week.
So naturally I instead asked for a raise of $2 in hourly pay, as a (fair?) compromise thinking it to be wholly agreeable given the improvements I’d made and commitment shown to putting in hours and getting it done.
The reality is, I don’t work overtime because I want money or have debts/goals, but because not doing so could result in discipline or termination. (My own stupid morals or work ethic indoctrination I guess)
My preference of a $2 hourly increase was verbally agreed upon in late December by the general manager, and will yet to have happened by the end of this story.
Tuned up the ol’ res (all factual) and went out looking to improve my situation by finding something else at the $2 or more increase for leverage to make it happen at the current job.
Well damn if I didn’t land a job at $6+ increase and payed hourly + overtime, doing less physical work with 1/3 of the commute, also not a startup so a bit more stable.
I gave notice this past Monday and was immediately taken to lunch and begged to stay. That evening I received an offer at $8+ and paid hourly with a gas stipend.
I try to live modestly and can certainly afford a comfortable lifestyle at the current rate.
Out of principle and healthy skepticism regarding the counter-offer, I am moving forward with the new opportunity, and I hope Reddit will support me in this.
TL;DR Don’t stay unhappy because you think a long tenure with one company is the only path to increasing prosperity. That next life-changing opportunity could be just a few conversations away.