by Beks
I knew working two days a week would be hectic. Trying to fit five days of craziness into two was going to be tough, but I was ready to take on a little stress in exchange for more time with the kiddo.
This week, my counterpart was diagnosed with cancer and has resigned.
The department head pulled me into a meeting and asked for my advice on how to deal with the situation. There are only two folks who know how to do our jobs – me and her. Even if they hired someone today, I don’t have time to train them. We have a 1/2 person doing a two man job.
The problem? They totally screwed me on my earnings a few months ago and I’m still mad. I felt like saying, “Drop 20K onto my annual salary and we’ll talk” but I have the world’s tiniest backbone and found myself saying, “If you need me, I’ll be there.”
This, my dear friends, is why I’ll never be a millionaire. Millionaires push harder.
I should know by next week what they decide. My debt will be happy, but I won’t be.
Beks is a full-time government employee who enjoys blogging late into the night after her four kids have gone to sleep. She’s been married to Chris, her college sweetheart, for 15 years. In 2017, after 3 long years working the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps, they paid off more than $70K and became debt free. When she’s not working or blogging, she’s exploring the great outdoors.
Call them back now and issue your demand. You have all the power here. Don’t make me come over there!
Ha ha ha! Thanks Debt-free Dan!
I agree with Debt-free Dan. You will be doing the work of two people and getting less time for your family. You don’t have to be demanding or anything, but I don’t think asking the question “what kind of additional compensation will this come with?” is unreasonable. Especially considering 1) they are now only paying one person, not two, 2) they seem to really value you as an employee considering past negotiations have gone well for you and 3) (most importantly) they have no one else at this point.
What is the worst they say – “no”? Ok, then your answer can be “no” too.
Good luck!
Listen to Dan and Andy!
“I should know by next week what they decide.”
The ball is still in your court, even after “They decide”. Demand your raise now! 🙂
Can you negotiate a work from home option?
I would say “As we both know, my salary is significantly under market value. I would like you to immediately raise my salary to the apparent value you place on my services. At a competitive salary, I am still the best value you will find for this position.”
Agree with the other posters. You need to go in there any negotiate now or you’ll be kicking yourself later down the road.
“I think it’s reasonable for me to expect compensation that reflects the value I provide to this organization. ”
Make them make the first offer. Consider rejecting it on principle and making them raise it.
Reject it and say “That’s not good enough.” Go back and listen to Dave Ramsey’s chapter on bargains. Or watch Pawn Stars, American Pickers, and Storage Wars. Crash course on haggling.
I agree, demand now. You have a [bigger] family now – time to get hard!
I would approach it like “I don’t want to come across as taking advantage of an awful situation, but we did agree on these changes for the sake of my time with my newborn. I’m willing to compromise on that so as to help the company, but I feel as if a salary adjustment is in order given the circumstances.”
Then, finish it off with “What do you suggest?”
It totally puts the ball in their court.
Please go back in there and tell them that you need a raise. A raise won’t get you more time with your son, but it would be awful to do all that work, miss your son AND have no extra money.
Deat Free Dan and Money Beagle – BRAVO! I really like your recommendations and hope Beks takes them. I know I will put them in my aresnal.
Thank you
Given that your coworker just resigned, they won’t say no to a salary increase. If they said no then they’d be risking have NO ONE!
I agree with what so many others have said (Debt Free Dan and Money Beagle especially) but if possible and desired, it may be a way to leverage some additional time at home AND a raise (the best of both worlds). You could, for instance, say “To better match my new responsibilities I would like a raise of X, but I’d be willing to take Y (a lower amount) in exchange for working 2-3 days/week from home.” I used to manage a team of 13 people, and I’d have accepted a proposal like that in a heartbeat! Good luck! 🙂
Nothing to say, everyone has already said it. YOU even said it.
You have great readers…all the comments are fantastic!
I have nothing to add except express my empathy. We apparently have similar backbones – I would have been the same. From past things you’ve done, though, I know you have a lot of courage. You can do it 🙂
You have GOT to demand more money for this. If you don’t, they will never, ever really respect you because they will think you are a pushover. They’ll also think that you are limited in what you can do for them in the future because higher level positions with more responsibility require that you be able to negotiate a bargain that benefits the company. In their eyes, you can’t even negotiate one that benefits you when you are holding the winning hand.
No one – and I do mean NO ONE – at your company cares how much you make nearly as much as you do. You have the power now and need to use it to negotiate a much better raise. If they come back and say you got 10% when you were promoted, you should point out that this just shows how woefully underpaid you’ve been for years. If they don’t give you the raise – and a substantial raise – tell them you understand and you presume they’ll understand why you’ve changed your mind and will stick with your 2 days a week schedule until the previously agreed upon date for your return. And don’t you DARE take work home, work extra hours, etc., without more money. Don’t get used!
Good luck to your former co-worker; I hope the cancer is curable.
DON’T LET THEM WALK ALL OVER YOU!!
You have a babe now. And he wants his mama. If he’s gonna be forced to not have his mama when he can (bc you had the agreement of part time) it better be WORTH IT. Lots and lots of $$ worth it.
Get more money.
And MORE vacation days.
Demand an extra week or two or three. If they try and say they can’t do it remind them that you’re going from PART TIME to FULL TIME despite the fact that the PART TIME work was a favour – FOR THEM.
And absolutely get more money.
Please please PLEASE don’t let them get away with giving you no compensation. If you don’t concede to working full-time again, they are screwed considering you are the only person who can now fill that position effectively. You have all the power in this situation- if you’re indispensable, you should be compensated accordingly. Ask for another raise; they obviously see your value, and it’s cheaper than hiring another person and having you train them. If you don’t ask for more now, you’ll be wishing you had in a month.
I’m a millionaire (on paper, but enough of the clueless believe it) and my tip to you is to read this article at least 3 times:
http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-or-the-office-according-to-the-office/
Your problem: You are one of the clueless. Either go for minimum performance or become a sociopath.
Good luck.
Seriously, your readers know what they are saying! I couldn’t agree more with Mar, no one cares how much you make and much as YOU! Bravo!