Rocking the boat.

Posted 02-26-2009 at 06:21 PM by MoodsR4Cattle

It's been 3.5 years since I became a staff employee and my pay rate has never changed. Last November I asked for a raise and was told that it's not a good time, ask again in January. Now it's almost March and I can't bring myself to ask again. I'm afraid to ask. I need it and think I deserve it, but with the economy as it is I'm afraid to open that can of worms. They've cut many jobs, cut hours and closed clubs because of it.

It seems simple. I call my boss and mention the raise again. I know they like what I do, he said that when I asked in November. But ...
What if the answer is no. After all, I was one of the many people that got slapped with the 50% pay cut a while back and I had to fight like a cornered badger to keep my regular pay. So a flat out refusal is half expected anyway. Then what? They'll know they have a disgruntled employee and what do companies do in that situation? They find a replacement. A younger, cheaper replacement - and graphics / web people are a dime a dozen. Granted, I'm the Supervisor, Manager, and Grunt for the entire Internet and Graphics division of the company (yeah, it's just me) but nobody is irreplaceable.

In light of my fears, I've been scouring graphics & web jobs to see what's out there. You know, just in case. I've even tossed my hat into the ring on several openings and haven't even received a "thanks, but no thanks" response. just nothing. I've come to realize that I'm just not marketable. It doesn't matter that I've been using Photoshop since version 1.x or that I've got some impressive projects under my belt or that I can take criticism, work well with customers, or any of the stipulations they require. And hell, I'm not half bad either. But none of that matters. What matters is that I don't have the degree. A degree in digital arts didn't even exist in 1981 when I went to college.

Unless, I'm just kidding myself and I'm really only mediocre (or worse) and that's the whole tamale.

Seeing now that I couldn't even get another job, do I rock the boat on the one I have?

Posted in On the Job

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Well, I say you should ask again but... approach it with a bit of sympathy for the company maybe. Put it to them like "How's things going? Have our numbers gotten any better?" and if they have "Well, speaking of numbers, can we talk about that raise again?" and if numbers not so good, "Sorry to hear this. Is there any predictions for improvement soon? I hate to ask this when things aren't well but I would like to talk about the raise we spoke about previously." etc. Always make it sound like you are thinking about the company first.

However, if you are really worried about being replaced... then maybe its best to wait until you are sure that revenues are better for the company and then approach them.

We normally get 2-3% raise every year depending on our end of year evaluations but they cut ours this year. No one got raises. Sadly, we don't get any cost of living increases either and they cut out the monthly bonuses for artists, took away our 7 personal days we had with vacation days and there is not much I can do about it. The way things are for newspapers... am just lucky to still be employed so I don't push the issue there because they are letting people go for the silliest of reasons now and there's not much for artists of any type in this region.

This is why I have started my shameless promotions on the internet and have been trying to network more in effort to hopefully get some credit (for my work) built up so I can maybe start getting more freelance work that might lead my way out of the newspaper business one day. I hope my employers don't read this comment though... not sure if they would like my plan

Best of luck with your employers.

Posted 02-27-2009 at 11:58 PM by synthetic synthetic is offline

Sometimes when we perform self evaluations we tend to be a little too harsh on ourselves. I don't have a collage degree either and at times I feel intimidated by those who do. But I'm still standing, and when I return to the mainland my job is there waiting for me. I think it is because I am marketable,not just my skills(anybody can do what I do) but me as an employee. I have shown my company over the years that I care, I go that extra mile etc.etc. Not a suck up but one who cares. And now it pays off. I am respected by my superiors and treated accordingly. My advice is find out if you can win the battle before the fight. Like Syn said find out if the numbers point up or if any raises have been given out lately. Management likes to rule by intimidation, when the moment is right stand up and speak your mind and don't let them see the fear in your eyes. Just ask, and if they say NOOOO then your response is ok just checking. Then start a rumor that the competition is looking for experienced personnel. (just kidding) I'll bet that most want adds start with "experienced required" blah blah blah.
Test the water, open that can of worms and go fishing.

Posted 03-02-2009 at 02:04 AM by kokopedal kokopedal is offline

	Thanks Synth & Kokopedal. Tomorrow is Monday ... I may give them a call. The Sleeper Must Awaken!
	Posted 03-02-2009 at 05:02 AM by MoodsR4Cattle

Well, the sleeper didn't awaken ... just yet. I know, it's been two weeks. But I didn't feel the time was right and as it turns out, I was right. They closed their Music Row record company on the 16th and let go of half the people and blaming the economy. I only found out because of a post on a forum that just I happened to surf to ... I'm always the last to know anything through "normal" channels.

To have something to bargain with I've spent the last two weeks completely redesigning the website. It's got more bells & whistles and better fits the theme. I'm going to present it today.

Posted 03-18-2009 at 04:25 PM by MoodsR4Cattle MoodsR4Cattle is offline

Update:

The new site design has been approved. Phew. The catch is, that in order to fully use the new design we have to get a new bionic server (bigger, stronger, faster) and have thus done so. Now we're in the midst of migrating everything over to the new server. It's a little scary though. The old server never crashed and only needed to be rebooted twice in the last 5 years - it ran like that drum beating pink bunny. New server, new company - hope it all works out.

Time to ask, you say? Maybe.

Posted 03-30-2009 at 11:10 PM by MoodsR4Cattle MoodsR4Cattle is offline

	go moods go moods go moods go moods.
	Posted 03-31-2009 at 12:48 AM by supertackyman

	yeah... sounds like a good time to ask to me too
	Posted 03-31-2009 at 03:55 AM by synthetic