I've finally done it.
After reading this sub and feeling trapped for so long i got out. I have worked at a local business for 8 years i started young and just after the son bought the company and basically started over from scratch. I have been working 6 days a week for 8 years except the last few winters. My first few years they would split my pay between two of their companies so they didn't have to pay overtime, i have no benefits because they “cant afford them” and i didn't have a paid day off until year 7. With the company starting from scratch it was relatively unorganized and didn't have people for all of the roles. Trying to climb my way through the company so i can hope that one day the owner might sell the company to me. (His constant reminder anytime i come to him for help) i took on more and more responsibility without much in the way of compensation. Untill one of the owners passed away right before covid. I stepped up and lead our team through what would be our biggest years ever without any leadership. The owners were married and we were all close, my team and I stepped up and learned what the owner did (she was very secretive about her roles in financials and such) i took on a huge load now with financial responsibility, administrative, sales, management, customer service, product service, finding new manufacturers, hiring, all while understaffed and navigating the company through the many struggles of the pandemic. I am contacted roughly 60 times a day even while out sick or on vacation. We have about doubled production with the same number of people two times since then. The owner is barely around now because “this place runs itself.” No we run it. The owner did hire someone to help me with no experience in our industry at the same payscale as me but he gets all of the sales opportunity (which is where most of my income comes from) because i am tied up doing everything else. I have approached the owner 4 times about how I don't feel it is fair, i don't feel my experience and responsibilities are valued, and i would like either a raise or a bonus for growth and each time i was shot down because “cant afford it” the profits and volume has about tripled but pay not even close. My last meeting ended with me being told “I can't believe you work any harder than anyone else you aren't the multitool, i was the multitool for my dad you have no idea.” If you are so unhappy you should find another job.” Well i put out my resume into a booming niche market that is hard to find experienced staff. Within minutes i had calls coming in. I found a job where i will be working 40 hours instead of 55 full benefits, instead of none, generous paid time off, 401k, 5 days a week instead of 6, none of the other responsibilities and double the pay. My wife will also double her income with the move our lives are improving drastically because the owner wouldn't listen to my concerns because back in his day it was worse.