Some back story, I worked at an organization for 5 years that only gave me a $2-3 in raise during those 5 years. I work in data and knew I was severely underpaid but when I would bring it up to my manager she would say “I know and I don’t have control over what they pay you”. My performance was always great, I took on responsibilities outside of my scope of work and was always an effective employee.
In March I found out we were moving offices and I currently live .5 miles from my job. The reason I took a lower salary was so I didn’t have to commute much so I went on a job hunt. Everyone found out about me looking for work and they started thinking…I came back to my director and laid out my offers on the table for other jobs with 35-40k above what I was currently making. She was shocked because she made the excuse that non profits don’t pay market value which was why I waited until I got a non profit offer at market value muahahaha.
Immediately the “we can pay you more if you stay” conversation started. I told them match me or I would take the other offers. A few weeks passed and I went to have the cfo sign my part time role with the organization because they wouldn’t match me and was told I could be part time if I wanted to while I “feel out” the new job. He said “i want you back to work for us full time” and I said “that would be great but I want to develop a career and not have to wait another 5 years from you guys to give me a raise. What’s to say my pay will continue to be stagnant after I accept the offer?”
I took the new remote job, was offered to be part time at my old job and it included a hefty raise. Fast forward to last Friday I noticed I got paid my new rate for my part time but for more hours than I had documented in my timesheet and I mentioned it to my manager yesterday morning and the response was “did you contact ‘X’ about your check?”. I said “Aren’t you on vacation?” And her response was “I’m going to call him”. I had a busy day at work and didn’t get around to talking to payroll, but was annoyed with how now it was a big deal about my check but after 5 years she couldn’t advocate for a higher salary/check. I feel like the company was robbing me all those years and my manager and director didn’t bat an eye then. I responded with “how are you quick to call ”X” about my check but not about my raise?” And it took her sometime to respond but she said “I spoke to him about your raise too”
TLDR: I have two jobs, one pays me 80 hours a pay period and the other pays me 40 hours a pay period. Got paid for a full 80 hours on the part time job and manager made drama over “stealing from the company if I don’t tell payroll/CFO” but didn’t make drama for 5 years on getting us not getting a raise and I had to take the initiative to get paid what I deserved.