Work vent.

[McDISer]

This is a vent more than anything.

My SO works for a company and his boss's are guys he went to school with.

Within the last 2 years, they have promoted over 8 guys to do what my SO other used to do.
With promotion, never comes pay raises. With his promotion, he has a ton more responsibilities

We toughed it out when the company was down, during the recession and we always thought we should be grateful, for the job he has. But with the 8 guys now under him, it just seems unjust that 8 guys were hired at $80,000-$90,000 a piece, yet his wages never reflected that kind of income. But the company can now pay 8 guys that kind of income, he would of been making over $500,000.

We are grateful the company is doing so well-it is a private company. Yes, he should say something in reviews-but those are far and few between. His boss's know the contributions and the changes that he implemented to help run the business, but again, it is their business and he feels he could be replaced.
"Everyone is replaceable in today's world."

As I said, this is more of a vent and I cringe at times knowing the circumstances-just wish he wasn't treated so poorly-but at our age it would be tough to find something.

 

[gottalovepluto]

As I said, this is more of a vent and I cringe at times knowing the circumstances-just wish he wasn't treated so poorly-but at our age it would be tough to find something.

And his company knows it. Sometimes you just can't roll the dice on your future.

 

[Pumbaa_]

great website, askamanager.org

lots of awesome columns along this line and great suggestions for how to approach and language to use to talk about an increase

Good luck

 

[georgina]

Does he think he would be fired if he asked for a raise? I don't see why he couldn't at least talk to his boss? Worst they could say is no.

 

[sk!mom]

This is a vent more than anything.

My SO works for a company and his boss's are guys he went to school with.

Within the last 2 years, they have promoted over 8 guys to do what my SO other used to do.
With promotion, never comes pay raises. With his promotion, he has a ton more responsibilities

We toughed it out when the company was down, during the recession and we always thought we should be grateful, for the job he has. But with the 8 guys now under him, it just seems unjust that 8 guys were hired at $80,000-$90,000 a piece, yet his wages never reflected that kind of income. But the company can now pay 8 guys that kind of income, he would of been making over $500,000.

We are grateful the company is doing so well-it is a private company. Yes, he should say something in reviews-but those are far and few between. His boss's know the contributions and the changes that he implemented to help run the business, but again, it is their business and he feels he could be replaced.
"Everyone is replaceable in today's world."

As I said, this is more of a vent and I cringe at times knowing the circumstances-just wish he wasn't treated so poorly-but at our age it would be tough to find something.

I'm not clear on the problem. He used to do the work of 8 men? How was that even possible?

Is the problem that they've hired more help as they've grown and they all make the same as your DH and you feel that's unfair?

Anyway, a bad attitude is a quick way to unhappiness and losing a job. If the company is doing well and he feels that he deserves a raise, he should schedule a meeting and simply point out his loyalty and contributions and ask for a raise.

Again, I'm not clear on what you're unhappy about so my response may be irrelevant.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I used to have to make a long drive to my job. I always asked for a little closer store to my home, and switch with someone who lived closer to that store. They said to him you make me go I quit. And these were managers who came in long after me. And they even made more money per year than me. So I just made the best of it. There are reasons for why things happen.

 

[Allison]

Sorry, op, I'm really not following what you are trying to explain regarding the other employees.

 

[lanejudy]

OP - it sounds like the company has grown considerably during the past 2 years. They are in a different place now; possibly it was a start-up before and now they are hitting their stride. They've had 8 new hires (or promoted from lower level), to a role that previously only needed 1 person (your DH) -- sounds like workload expanded as well as financials. I honestly don't think you can "sum total" the 8 salaries and say "DH should have been paid $xxx" because the workload was different when he did the job alone. Unless the 8 under him are incompetent, I can't see 8 people being hired to do exactly the same type and amount of work previously done by 1. If he feels that his currently salary does not reflect his management level (I'm assuming the 8 new positions report to your DH), then he should have a frank discussion with his friends/supervisors. That can be hard when business mixes with personal friendships, but he can find a way to do it tactfully. If this is simply a case of "darn, I wish I'd been paid that much when I was in that role" -- well, you can't change history and he accepted his salary and duties at that time.

If your DH is ok with the situation as-is, I suggest you let it go and pay less attention to the finances of his employer. If your DH is coming home and sharing salary info about the employees reporting to him, that's a major HR breach. It'd be best for you to be less involved with some of those details.

 

[McDISer]

OP - it sounds like the company has grown considerably during the past 2 years. They are in a different place now; possibly it was a start-up before and now they are hitting their stride. They've had 8 new hires (or promoted from lower level), to a role that previously only needed 1 person (your DH) -- sounds like workload expanded as well as financials. I honestly don't think you can "sum total" the 8 salaries and say "DH should have been paid $xxx" because the workload was different when he did the job alone. Unless the 8 under him are incompetent, I can't see 8 people being hired to do exactly the same type and amount of work previously done by 1. If he feels that his currently salary does not reflect his management level (I'm assuming the 8 new positions report to your DH), then he should have a frank discussion with his friends/supervisors. That can be hard when business mixes with personal friendships, but he can find a way to do it tactfully. If this is simply a case of "darn, I wish I'd been paid that much when I was in that role" -- well, you can't change history and he accepted his salary and duties at that time.

If your DH is ok with the situation as-is, I suggest you let it go and pay less attention to the finances of his employer. If your DH is coming home and sharing salary info about the employees reporting to him, that's a major HR breach. It'd be best for you to be less involved with some of those details.

He accepts his salary-and he has the type A personality that thrives on this kind of work. When he finally sits back and reflects-on our vacations which are far and few between, he understands he needs to have a decent review-but as he stated-it just seems like there is never a good time for a sit down review.

Also, he does not share salary per say of employee's. He just knows he has hired "shop leaders", etc., to take over the demands of each of the shops, plus 2 other people to over see all of the shops.

 

[sk!mom]

He accepts his salary-and he has the type A personality that thrives on this kind of work. When he finally sits back and reflects-on our vacations which are far and few between, he understands he needs to have a decent review-but as he stated-it just seems like there is never a good time for a sit down review.

Also, he does not share salary per say of employee's. He just knows he has hired "shop leaders", etc., to take over the demands of each of the shops, plus 2 other people to over see all of the shops.

If he just waits for a good time to present itself then it will likely never happen in a busy work environment. If *he* is upset about his salary, then he should request a meeting.

Agree, that he should not be discussing other's salaries.

 

[lovesmurfs]

He should not be comparing his salary with those in his company. He should be comparing his salary with those in other companies doing what he does, with the responsibility he has. And then he should also document the value he's brought to the organization through his work.

If, after a review of other salaries, he's able to see that he is significantly underpaid for the role he plays, then he has documentation to bring to a request for a raise. If denied, then he has a choice to either continue to work there with the salary he's making, or find a better opportunity.

 

[Kaytie]

but at our age it would be tough to find something.

Respectfully disagree. I'm as old as Disneyland. My last job moved to another state last month. I just got a new job this morning.

 

[McDISer]

If he just waits for a good time to present itself then it will likely never happen in a busy work environment. If *he* is upset about his salary, then he should request a meeting.

Agree, that he should not be discussing other's salaries.

He doesn't discuss salaries. The job postings were put out there online and at job fairs and the salaries were listed. It was made public what th company was offering for these jobs.

I guess I am more upset than he is. He remains comfortable with his job, he sees it as moving further up the ladder, but just not getting paid with promotions.

 

[McDISer]

Respectfully disagree. I'm as old as Disneyland. My last job moved to another state last month. I just got a new job this morning.

Wow, good for you. I am not being sarcastic. It is a tough world out there.

 

[Keels]

If it's financially impacting your current livelihood, then maybe ask him how he feels about it.

But if not? Leave it be. It's his battle to fight, not yours.

 

[1st*toright]

Leave it be. It's his battle to fight, not yours.

This is really good advice! DH and I are both in professional services and have similar issues at work (managing clients & staff, billing our time, dealing with project budgets etc) but we have very different approaches to work. For a long time he would come home and vent about some situation and I would try to coach him (the way I would a colleague) through the issue. Not actually helpful.

For example, he was doing the work of the next level up, without the promotion. I thought he should go to the partner in charge and ask for the promotion, he never thought it was the right time. We had the same discussion about a zillion times. I was trying to be supportive (because he rocks and should be recognized for being awesome), but it just annoyed both of us to have the same conversation over and over. Eventually I realized that I'm in charge of my career and he's in charge of his. His way works for him (he eventually did get the promotion), and I just needed to make like Elsa and let it go.

I now try really hard to be his wife when he talks about work, and focus on being sympathetic and supportive, and not switch over to my "work" mode to give unasked for advice and try to solve the problem for him. It has really helped us - I don't feel frustrated that he doesn't take my advice and he doesn't feel like I'm nagging him.

Which isn't to say, OP, that your dynamic is at all similar. Just that for me it was very positive to let go of trying to "fix" my DH's work issues.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I work at a university and all salary information is public by law. I actually think greater transparency in salary information makes for a better work environment. It provides a treasure trove of information regarding what to expect from salary increases and promotions for your current position, by looking at others with the same or similar titles in similar departments. Leaving employees in the dark regarding such information only breeds resentment between colleagues and second guessing.

I am pretty early in my career (7 years work experience), but I have already been promoted to a management position. This didn't happen automatically. I had to make the case to my boss that I had taken on new responsibilities and was seeking to take on even more, which also deserved an appropriate raise. I set up a dedicated meeting time and had detailed notes what I had achieved in the past 4 years of employment, how my work had evolved over that time and what kinds of new responsibilities I was seeking to take on. My boss was impressed with my initiative and gave me the promotion that I was seeking, including a raise that was much more generous than I had anticipated.

 

[McDISer]

The company actually brought in a specialist to do an outline of job descriptions. This is when it was noted how many jobs my SO was actually performing. He brought it to the attention of the bosses how certain areas could be delegated out, and they could hire on more people. So he didn't even get a chance to plead his case. Yet, he has moved onward and upward in their eyes with different responsibilities.

I am getting good advice and I think I need to step back and away, and listen when he does talk, but just listen. He has to figure it out if this new responsibility is going to make him happy.

 

[mousehockey37]

If he's got a more prominent role, he should be making more than those that report to him. If he's being used by his friends/bosses because of the type of person he is, and they know they can get away with not paying him more, that's a huge issue.

 

[ronandannette]

He doesn't discuss salaries. The job postings were put out there online and at job fairs and the salaries were listed. It was made public what th company was offering for these jobs.

I guess I am more upset than he is. He remains comfortable with his job, he sees it as moving further up the ladder, but just not getting paid with promotions.

He should have been in the boss's office 5 minutes after those postings went live. What you're saying is just crazy - he makes less money than the people he supervises and everybody in the organization knows it?