I (m34) work as an inspector for construction and been there almost 2 years. Old guy retired and now I’m the only one doing it. After about 2 to 3 months of his retirement, I went into the office to ask for a raise. I’ve been doing good and holding it down solo without the extra help. They said right now they can’t give out raises till the end of the year (slow due to Covid). I said ok fine and opened up my resume.
I got many inquiries about my resume and one company brought me in and offered me $5 an hour more than I was making. I said let me talk to my boss. Now this is about another 4 months after I initially asked for the first raise and was shut down. So I go to my boss and said “ I know what you said last time about raises but if I wait till the end of the year it will be 2 years with no raise for me”. Then I said that this company wants to hire me and pay me $5 more to work for them, I’ll stay for $3 raise. The boss talked it over with the owner and got back to me later in the week. Came back to me and said the whole shop needs a raise, not just you. We will be issuing raises company wide in 4-6 weeks. I then asked what my raise will be? If all I get is 1$ or 2$ then that’s not what I am asking for. He then let me know that the owner is fine with 3$ and I’m sure that’s what you will get. At this point I thought to myself that I need it in writing but opted against it because I didn’t want to be rude (this will bite me in the ass later).
Everyone only had to wait 2 weeks before getting the news that starting the first of the month everyone will be getting a 2$ raise with a bonus at the end of the year which will be $1 for every hour worked until the end of the year (an incentive to make sure everyone shows up to work). Now I’m thinking in my head that I’m supposed to get $3 but he only said $2 so I’ll just wait till I get my check to see what it says. We I got that check yesterday and sure enough it only went up $2. Immediately after work I went to my boss and said that I thought I was supposed to get 3 and he said I did. It’s $2 now and the $1 an hour for every hour you are here till the end of the year.
My thoughts are that I should have taken the other job but I wouldn’t be an inspector anymore. I should have got his words in writing because he states he never said I would be getting $3 an hour. Why is a bonus considered part of my raise if it’s not going to continue starting 2023?
Boss walked up to me this morning and asked what my plans are and if I’m ok with the raise they gave me and gona continue working for them? I said “I don’t know”. He asked if I was gona quit, I said “I don’t know”. He said it was vague and would need an answer and I said “I don’t know”.
If they come up to me asking me if I’m staying or quitting then do they really care about me? Do they want me to quit to make it easier for them? It will be hard for them to find a replacement but not impossible. They have tried for 6 months to bring in another inspector to help me since I’m the only one doing it right now. If I left they would have a little more stress but they can make it work. I don’t know but I’m still upset.