44F and have been working since I was 15. I have rarely taken sick days or much of any vacations in my life. I’ve learned jobs in different departments so I could help cover when needed, studied up on my own time to learn as much as I could to make me more knowledgeable and practiced being a team player.
I put up with crappy co-workers who don’t carry their load or communicate. I’ve put in unpaid hours to ensure work is done properly.
For all of this I get weak raises and more criticism than compliments. When I leave a job why is my boss surprised? Because yet again I was promised a raise after a certain time frame and it didn’t happen. It took until I was 43 (I only have two associates degrees, I was trying to get into nursing school but life fell apart), when I finally started making 45k a year.
Now it has been almost 16 months since I started this recent job and they decided to give everyone reviews at the end of the year, which was my one year mark anyway, but here I sit, April and no review or raise. And you know what? I don’t care anymore. That fantastic work ethic? Gone. I do the bare minimum and lately struggle to do that. I watch my husband who has less schooling than me in a less demanding field make more and more money with every new position. Don’t get me wrong, he’s smart and hard working and deserves every bit.
I think of going back to school but considering my track record would it even help? I don’t like the job I have now but it’s the most I’ve ever made and I can pay down my debts.
I’m tired and there’s still decades to go.