Five years ago (March 15, 2017), I, once again, started a conversation with my boss about my job title being incorrect. I know I've talked about this, but I wanted to get the time frame set. Today, I had a final meeting with my boss & the HR Rep to discuss it. Ultimately, they agreed that my title needs to be changed to reflect what I currently do for the company, and they agreed with what was listed on the document I submitted for job duties. They're also going to submit 'paperwork' to get my online corporate profile updated to reflect this.
What they're *not* going to to is give me a raise of any kind. They told me originally that the reason my annual 'merit' increases were so small was because my current pay is so far above the top of that pay grade (they have a systems that drives raises towards the mid-range; if you're at the bottom, your raise % is higher. middle? average. top? minimal). I don't have the mental energy to get into everything that was said, but basically, even though this new title is a pay grade above my last title, they tell me my current pay is still beyond the top of the new range. I asked them, point blank, "So, you're telling me that as long as I continue to work here, I can count on losing money every year?" (My raise last year was 1.5%, which isn't even a cost-of-living raise. I haven't had a raise higher than 2% in maybe a decade.) Anyway, they said yes, due to the corporate standard, that's the case. I asked "So what are my options for advancement, for improving my financial place in this company?". The answer? I'd have to do some sort of lateral move and learn a new position. The thing is, there are no other positions in the company that utilize my unique, decades-long experience, so I'd likely have to take a pay cut to 'change paths'. How is that helpful?
Now, I have no idea what to do. I feel defeated, disrespected, and honestly, a bit offended. They acknowledge that I'm doing 75% more work than they previously realized, but 'too bad'. Anyway, now I'm stuck... I either have to stay and accept my current role (which is easy) and pay (which is easily enough to live on), or throw my life into turmoil by trying to find another job that may pay more, but might really suck. I also now have to contend with the idea that they know I'm unhappy with this, and will therefore start looking for my replacement now & let me go once they do. (Michigan is an 'at-will' employment state.)
Is it worth it to jump ship this late in the game? Depending on the market's performance, I may only be working another 5 years. Will I earn enough extra to stop working a year or two sooner, making the anxiety and disruption in routine worth it? If not, how do I reconcile my feelings of being snubbed by this company? One reason they couldn't give me the title/pay my coworker is simply because I don't have a 2-year degree. His degree has no relevance to his job, and I pointed that out to HR, but they said "a(ny) degree is the company's prerequisite for certain titles, regardless of what it is". I asked about years of work experience being relevant, as many times, job ads will allow for either a degree or 'relative years' of work experience. I was told, "No, they require that piece of paper", which means that even though I know my job better than anyone in this company on this entire continent, because I didn't go into debt for a piece of paper, I'm unworthy of even being considered.
This whole thing just makes me sick, which is why I've let it go for so long - every time I put effort into it, I end up getting angry & fed up, yet defeated and resigned to my fate at the same time. I *really* don't want to change jobs, but they've basically told me I have no future with them. I even considered threatening to leave once I have a few interviews lined up, but even if they were to counter any job offer I had and I accepted that counter, I couldn't trust them to keep me longer than it would take to find my replacement.
Ugh.This whole situation disgusts me. I think I disgust me the most though.
4:12 p.m. - 2022-02-16
Recent entries:
Not worth the time. - 2022-02-27
Years of training. - 2022-02-27
Consistency. - 2022-02-26
Feeling a bit better. - 2022-02-19
Quick realization. - 2022-02-16
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