Boss Underpaying Me - Won't Acknowledge My Contribution

PasturesNew

getmore4less wrote: »

I would be concered in the quality of the stuff you have done if you walking out it rots that quick and needs you there constantly to keep it working.

That's the nature of the beast..... how long does a burger seller continue to work if the person making the burgers stops and nobody else can replicate the special recipe that got people wanting it??

Savvy_Sue

OP, what happens when you go on leave? Presumably the whole website doesn't go off-line? So the boss has no idea how indispensable you are.

In his position, I'd be insisting on ensuring that someone else in the company had access to all the business critical elements - passwords recorded SOMEWHERE etc - on the 'what if he fell under a bus?' principle. One of my 'missions' at work has always been to make sure that life could go on even if I did fall under a bus, which proved useful when I tripped over a recycling bin, shattered a shoulder and was signed off for 8 weeks, no questions asked.

Mind you, I can't believe that you live anywhere so isolated that you absolutely could not commute short-term to a job in your line of work somewhere else, and I'd start my applications in that area.

Icematikx

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

OP, what happens when you go on leave? Presumably the whole website doesn't go off-line? So the boss has no idea how indispensable you are.

In his position, I'd be insisting on ensuring that someone else in the company had access to all the business critical elements - passwords recorded SOMEWHERE etc - on the 'what if he fell under a bus?' principle. One of my 'missions' at work has always been to make sure that life could go on even if I did fall under a bus, which proved useful when I tripped over a recycling bin, shattered a shoulder and was signed off for 8 weeks, no questions asked.

Mind you, I can't believe that you live anywhere so isolated that you absolutely could not commute short-term to a job in your line of work somewhere else, and I'd start my applications in that area.

Digital Marketing is effectively competing against other businesses of a similar nature. In my city, there's some large corporate recruitment agencies here (nationwide ones). In terms of search engine rankings, you're competing against these daily; fighting for top positions in laymens terms. If I was to quit, the website would hold rankings for a short-term period, sure. But as other agencies continue to market & build links etc, it will be a matter of time before it slowly drops down and begins to dilute. That's when he starts to lose his investment.

In terms of positions, the majority of well paying positions are a minimum of 40 minute commute. Every position I've applied for, the question has been asked, "Why are you applying here when you're living at XX?".

I actually went for an interview 2-months back and was declined at second stage interview, because the company thought I wouldn't commute / relocate long-term. That company was a 90-minute commute away.

I have an interview lined up for Wednesday which is a 70-minute commute either way. My city is very much an "industrial" one. We have perhaps two internationally companies in my city, and they haven't recruited for digital marketing since forever. They already have their teams in place. I haven't sent my CV to them because we recruit for them - I can't due to my contract and confidentiality etc.

So I'm limited by the companies I can and CAN'T apply for here because of who I work for. If I was to join a company we recruit for, my employer now would probably charge them a recruitment fee legally. That wouldn't go down well!

So, getting out of the way to another city is my only option. And I can't keep getting to other interviews if I have to take a whole afternoon off (my holidays will soon diminish).

Savvy_Sue

Icematikx wrote: »

In terms of positions, the majority of well paying positions are a minimum of 40 minute commute. Every position I've applied for, the question has been asked, "Why are you applying here when you're living at XX?".

I actually went for an interview 2-months back and was declined at second stage interview, because the company thought I wouldn't commute / relocate long-term. That company was a 90-minute commute away.

I live about 6 miles from where I work, and I have a 40 minute commute most days (drive through gridlocked traffic or walk to bus / train and then walk the other end), so I'd say that was quite a good commute! I don't think DH has ever commuted less than that, although at one stage he could walk it in 40 minutes and sometimes drove, so perhaps that doesn't count?

You maybe need to work on how you express your commitment to relocation, if that seems to be an issue. "Of course I'm living in Backwater atm, but I need* to move out of my present accommodation shortly so I'm hoping / planning to move to The Bright Lights in the next six months anyway."

That need* doesn't need to be a 'my parents are throwing me out' need, it can just be a 'for my own sanity / career development', but the hoping / planning needs to be convincing. If you have friends in The Bright Lights, mention that, if you regularly go there for the Culture, then mention that. Lying is never a good plan, but presenting the truth in the best light is definitely worth doing.

Icematikx wrote: »

So, getting out of the way to another city is my only option. And I can't keep getting to other interviews if I have to take a whole afternoon off (my holidays will soon diminish).

Would your employer be interested in introducing flexitime? If it would allow the service to clients to be extended, maybe?

tea_lover

Sorry if I've missed it but why can't you take time off for the interviews? I've had to take two half-days this week for interviews, that's kind of what annual leave is for.... when you need time off!

If you've got no intention of taking time off for all these interviews you're being offered then why apply in the first place? Seems a bit of a waste of everyone's time.

topdaddy_2

Quite simply, youd be foolish to stay if you feel undervalued. If that means reopening your company or relocating is up to you but you are never going to be paid your worth, otherwise the company wouldnt be profitable.

getmore4less

Have you ever moved away from the area you are in now?

Are you researching accomodation in the places you are looking at jobs, and transport links etc.

That way when the issue of reloaction/comute comes up you can say,

I see the offices are well served by bus/train for flats in the center which are only XXXpm or other area YYY seems to be well located to drive to work and has some good value small houses...

Convincing them you are ready to move should be easy as you need to have convinced yourself first by doing the research, if you don't it will be obvious.

bevanuk

Leave & move. They're not worth working for.

Icematikx

Well, I went in today and not a word was said regarding it. I believe my Manager had words with the boss to make sure he understands the money he will lose if I leave. Yet my boss hasn't called me in for a talk. If he's playing a mexican standoff - he's doing a damn good job!

Had another phone call today from quite a corporate company based in Knutsford. Scheduled an interview Monday so that gives me three next week - all at least £8K above my salary.

I'm as loyal as they get, and I'm only asking for a payrise from £16K to £20K. I understand their not the biggest of companies, and that's why I'm not asking for an average salary of £24K+. I've tried my hardest and I know I've bought in more than he pays for my salary thus far. If he doesn't see that as a profit, then I don't know what he sees as profit.

FBaby

At the moment, he hasn't lost you. He will do if you are offered another job. That's the time you can turn the tables and when you will have more chance to get your increase...if indeed, he values your work so much.

At the moment, it's all threats, but nothing to show for it.