I’m struggling a lot. I have been at this job for 2 years making $15/hour. When I started, I had a small motel room of an apartment provided to me for working there, but my partner and I got an apartment together about a year ago. I’ve been holding on to this desire to ask for a raise because they’re no longer providing my housing, plus I’ve been taking on a lot more responsibilities lately. I feel like I could just talk to my boss about it, but she’s never here! She’s always “working” remotely while she’s traveling. I say “working” because I feel like my coworker and I have to go behind everything she does and fix things like we’re patrolling a toddler. Our office would be nowhere without me and my coworker, but my boss is flighty and does not hesitate to yell or hold grudges against us for silly reasons (most reasons being bad management on her part).
I only just realized that not only do I deserve a raise for not living on their dime anymore and have been taking on more responsibilities, but shouldn’t everyone be getting a yearly raise to combat inflation? I don’t know how to talk to her about it, especially when she’s out of town most of the time. Should I send an email saying I’d like to discuss wages with her? Should I draft up a letter declaring desired wages in relation to rent, inflation, and responsibility?