On mobile so sorry about formatting.
TLDR at bottom.
So, I’m “new” at an extremely disorganized moving company. New, as in, I just reached 90 days. I was originally hired to be an administrative assistant at $16. It wasn’t good money so I figured it would be a temporary job til I find better. But then the payroll person quit the day after. So they asked me to step into that role instead – makes sense, because my background is in finance and I have years of experience. $18.00 per hour.
So now I’ve reached my 90 day mark – and I felt that in most companies, that’s generally a time for review and depending, a raise to a more stable salary. In my 90 days, our accountant who handled all of our invoicing and A/P and A/R quit. And we hired multiple admin assistants that quit the very next day, or would last a week – because the owner wanted to pay them $15.00.
They asked me if I wanted the accounting position when she quit. I said no, because they always talked badly about her and put an insane amount of pressure on her – I didn’t want that to be me. For instance, the owner would transfer money from our branch’s accounts into the other company he owns… And then berate her for the money being missing.
We had hired multiple new movers and drivers because it’s peak season – and he asked me and ordered audits for why payroll expenses were higher. Then blamed my manager for “poor labor standards”.
So with no accountant and no admin assistant, I’ve picked up some responsibilities. I deposit and cut checks. I scan all of the paperwork into our network. Oh! And, I do all of the HR stuff for this location. Over 40 employees. New hire paperwork. Drug testing. Keeping drivers and mail employees up to date on their licensing and DOT regulations. Order office supplies.
So I asked for a raise – sort of. I told my manager that I wanted $21.00 per hour. I figured that’s reasonable considering what I do, my experience, and the fact that I have had to pick up slack. He told the co-owner, who is the HR director for all 3 companies/locations.
She decided to talk to me about it during a car ride to the airport – mentioning how they were figuring out a “bonus structure” depending on certain factors but that she would need me to take on additional responsibilities before bumping my hourly. But said, “It’s not a no. I’ll make a progression map and that way you can see where you need to go in order to achieve that.”
So I’m pissed. This is not an entry-level job. I am not 23 and breaking into the industry. I don’t need a progression map. The rate I want to start with is $21.00 per hour and to advance from there. I have an interview on Monday for another company. I really, really love my coworkers here and I also generally enjoy my job, but it’s so poorly run and I’m not being paid enough in my opinion.
I don’t know who to go to for advice – I figure what I’m asking for is reasonable, right? Or am I being cocky?
TLDR: Company very poorly managed. I get paid $18.00 per hour to take care of payroll, HR and some accounting. They declined my request for $21.00 per hour. I really like my coworkers, and I’m not micromanaged. Interview at another place on Monday. Do I stay and accept this rate of pay or go?