A few months ago I started a new part time job. Full time is too hard for me to manage between my kids and my cancer.
Anyways, I took the job at $14 an hour. They originally tried rescinding that and offering $12, but I got $14.
The job is fairly easy, and I enjoy getting to organize and consolidate everything in the building. I asked if I could learn more as this business is something I have seen myself growing in before. They seemed eager for me to train but were dumbfounded when I insisted that I also be paid appropriately for it. I told them I need a $2/hr raise to start and little more once I become full time, which they offered to me in the first place.
In this time, a full time employee quit and so I started to pick up his slack. My boss said that whether I stay pt or go ft that he wouldn't need to hire someone else as im doing a good job.
Our district manager is the one who needs to approve a raise, so we met and talked for 45 minutes. I discussed my research on the company. My main points were the company raking in record profits of over $6 billion, with our entire district breaking records, and the fact that the company lost (or terminated) 15% of its workforce at the same time.
My DM tried telling me that he has to consider the alloted funds for our area, so I politely reminded him of the full time employee that left and whose work I've been doing. He didn't budge on that.
He said he wants me to stay with the company as I'm a good worker and that he would get back to me in a few days with a proposal.
The time comes and he says he cannot in good faith give me a raise because when I was hired I seemed okay with $14. I told him I could go down the road and flip burgers for $18+ and his response was about how people don't grow with those businesses.
I stupidly said I would accept $.50 and a renegotiation after 2 months with training.
I'm actually doing even more work now for an extra $12 a week. That doesn't even cover half my gas.
My wife pointed out (not rudely) that she makes more on a Saturday than I make in a week. I pointed out that my position usually starts at $11, but our direct competitor starts the same position at $17.
I know I'm an idiot for agreeing to their terms, but I just don't have it in me anymore. Early hours of work that's not worth the pay and me coming home too crabby to play with my kids.
After all my bills and taxes, I would only make about $7,000 in a year….how can anyone think that's liveable?
I told them this is why they don't ever get anyone to apply. They told me that the experience is worth more than the paycheck…
Also, apparently me talking about how much the company makes with fewer employees and wanting a living wage is me grumbling and being an ass.