I really like where I work…but I have not been getting paid my worth. I used to tell myself I’m just too inexperienced to be worth more right now, but you all have opened my eyes over the last few years.
I have been employee of the year for the last 2 years in a row at my company. I take time to learn new systems and implement better workflows in nearly everything I touch. I’ve worked hard to become basically irreplaceable mostly for my own peace of mind during the uncertainty of COVID… but this sub showed me my news skills have VALUE and other companies will pay well for them.
After taking on a lot of additional responsibility over COVID-19 (way outside my job description), I presented my boss with a chart that outlined my current daily tasks, the skills needed to preform them, and my current market value for those skills in my high cost of living city.
I was worried they would use the fact that I had received a 7% raise back in March to deny me a raise until next year. Despite them telling me it was the biggest raise possible they could get me, at the time…I wasn’t happy with that raise at all. I was upset it didn’t cover inflation costs, something this sub also opened my eyes to. Turns out inflation was just getting started…
But i had nothing to fear it turns out. My bosses are the best part about my job and they were fully supportive of my pitch. I let them know I would like an additional 16% raise NOW and left for a short vacation. I wasn’t hopeful after the whole “7% max” situation in March, but I just returned today and learned I will receive the full amount I asked for!
This money will drastically improve my life and I wouldn’t have had the courage to try if not for reading your stories. My next move was to follow the advise many of you have given and switch to a higher paying job in 2023, but I’m so relieved I get to continue to do good work at the job I love for a strong and competitive salary instead! I hope this inspires others like me to fight for what you’re worth.