I've worked for the same construction company for 42 months. Highest attrition rate I've seen in my entire 20-year career as a Finish Carpenter/Cabinetmaker. 20% is high, but here, they are closer to 98% attrition! In 42 months, that's 28 employees. I'm still here, but I have a game plan. Read on.
No one likes to stay because of the boss/owner. I'm a perfectionist with realistic expectations. He's a perfectionist that micromanages every aspect of the project. Nitpicks every single thing large and small. Nothing you do is ever good enough. Calm and collected, but you can still tell when he's upset. Some days he gets upset about some work done by an employee and flies off the rails. Either people get tired of hkm and walk off, or he will get tired of them and either lay them off, fire them, or totally ghost them. I've been here the longest out of anyone and not without reason. My work is on that level. Unfortunately I've still seen a few very good workers get let go. Nothing ever changes.
36 months ago this job listing offered 25-35/hr. Since the pandemic + inflation the job listing now offers $30-45/hr. The type of work we do, I'm being underpaid. I know my worth, my work speaks for itself. I take pride in doing quality work every time. Which is why im still here. Understand all equipment in the shop, and how to maintain it, mentor new employees, and occasionally babysit subcontractors. So essentially doing more than my original scope of work.
I generally get a 6% cost of living increase per year. This year, the new California 401k mandate took effect July 1st. They quietly bumped my pay by $1/hr (to $35/hr) to offset the 401k. $1/hr is only a 3% raise when national inflation is 8.2%. I also commute 35 minutes in the AM and 55 minutes in the PM. Average salary reported for this position with employer is $28.43/hr
With the high end work I perform I've always been in the 90th percentile. This places me just below the 75th percentile.
10th: 23/hr
25th: 27/hr
75th: 36/hr
90th: 41/hr
I'm not afraid to fight for myself. I feel requesting a raise to 40/hr is in-line with the market at this time. My guess is he will counter at 38/hr. Either way, I have an exit plan. I'm just holding until all the pieces are in place. Going self-employed again, I have a 5400sq ft. custom home in the works that will keep me quite busy as well as other ventures for passive income. The reality is, I have never been without work. When I interviewed for this position I also interviewed with four others, they all offered me jobs, this was the one I accepted.
Just posting to hear general feedback, and also get insight. I know I have a leg up as being the only employee.