I’ve been at my job as an administrator in an office for about ten years. I work for the state I live in. I’ve made below 40,000 the entire time I’ve been here. I have a four year degree, hardly ever miss time, have had “model” reviews every year (the highest you can get) but yet I’m still under 40,000. I have a co worker who hasn’t come to the office in a few years and no one will make them come back. They got an exemption somehow to not have to come to the office. I asked to telework some because my job is easily accessible to do from home if I’m not dealing with customers as only certain times of year do we have a influx of people coming in to do business. I was told no. So with the other co
worker being gone and no one bothering to check to see what they do, I’ve been slowly given their tasks the last few years and it keeps growing. This other co worker makes over 80,000 a year.
I’ve gotten to the point I’m burnt out. I’m tired and I honestly cry every morning when I get up. I just don’t want to keep doing what I do for low pay. So I approached my supervisor about a raise. They said they liked the idea and would give me additional tasks to do to justify it because HR won’t approve it unless I do something extra. This was a month ago and I’ve heard nothing since. I did follow up last week but I was told it was still being worked on.
The main reason I’ve stayed here is because of PSLF so I can have my student loans forgiven in about two more years. The last couple of months I updated my resume and applied to other state positions, non profits and just about anything that would fall under PSLF. I’ve heard nothing from anyone, not even rejection letters. I don’t understand the problem.
I guess I’m just looking for advice, what else can I do? Should I just wait for the raise, be miserable everyday until then or should I follow up again? What more can I do to get other positions to call me back? I really want a work from home or something hybrid to break up the daily routine.
I don’t have the option not to work due to mortgage and life in general.
I have a spouse who works and we do okay, but I feel like as a professional I’m not getting what I want and I don’t know what else to do. Any advice is appreciated.