Need professional advice

[JenStone]

Three weeks ago, one of my coworkers (I''ll call her T) broke her arm, badly enough that she needed surgery, and has been out since. This happened at a most inopportune time, because we are currently at the end of a quarter and end of quarters are always extra busy and stressful.

While T is out, I have been assigned most of her responsibilities. Needless to say, I''ve been pretty frazzled the past few weeks, learning her position on top of my already-doubled workload.

Then today, our VP informed me that she would like me to continue doing one of T''s largest responsibilities, even after she returns.

My direct supervisor fought for me and said that I can''t possibly do that (this is very time-consuming work) on top of everything else I was doing. At the moment, I am barely getting everything done on time, working through lunch breaks and clocking overtime. But our VP replied that the department managers had specially requested that I keep doing T''s job because I was doing it much faster with less mistakes.

I talked it over with my supervisor and she has agreed to go in and try to bargain with our VP, to see if T can handle one of my responsibilities in return.

This isn''t the first time this has happened.

This is my first long-term full-time job, and so I''m not sure how it works in other companies. But when you do a good job, aren''t you supposed to get rewarded, at least get some recognition?

Because it seems like whenever I do a good job, I just get more responsibilities thrown at me.

On top of this, I do not see a promotion anytime in the future. Do you know why? Because I''m good at my job.

From what I''ve seen during my 6 months at this company, when someone does a poor job, they just move to another position or get tossed to another department. When someone is especially good at their job, they stay where they are, because the superiors don''t want to lose them. They get nice raises in their yearly reviews, but no promotion.

Is this what all of corporate America is like? Should I pat myself in the back for entering the real world?

 

[Caribou]

You were rewarded.

Typically when people do good jobs at their assignments their ''reward'' is more workload.

 

[laney]

Welcome to corporate america.

So, now you need some skills to succeed here. You seem to be already doing good work. The trick of this is how to make this experince rewarding for yourself. You''ll always have situations like what you did. But you need to capitalize on them to move forward.

The good thing is, you seem like you have a boss that is listening to you.

Next time (or even this time) - if a new task is given to you "permanantely" - then you need to speak up and ask:
Will this task be added to my job description?
If I continue to do well with this task - is this something that can increase my salary?
Is this something that I would do at a "next level".

I''m not sure how big your company is - but have you evaluated your position for growth? Do you know what your next job should be? Do you have a clear understanding of how long, what skills are required of you to get there?

Is that posistion currently filled? Is there room for growth?

Going to you boss and asking them directly - how to get to the next level is a surefire way in corporate america to find out. If there is no room for growth - then there - you have your answer.

If there is - then GREAT you''ll know what is required. ASK!!!!

 

[KittenKat]

Ahh JenStone... you sound like me a couple months ago!

Corporate America tends to work that way. I''ve worked for my industry''s top dog, and have found that the ''800lb gorillas'' do not suit me at all. For example, my last boss was Mr. Point-out-everything-negative-in-everyone. He''d gossip, be rude, make sexist / racist comments... etc. But since he''d been with the company for 15 years, even though MANY women complained, nothing EVER happened to him.

And he didn''t allow people to be themselves. You had conduct your work HIS way or it was wrong. The only option was to find another company to work for. (and I work in the Public Relations industry - which should encourage creativity.)

In the end I went to a smaller, less ''corporate'' environment. I happen to love being more entrepreneurial. (Not to mention they wooed me over with a much better salary!!!)

If there''s no room for growth, stick it out until you''ve learned everything you can absorb - then find yourself a new company who will be excited to utilize your vast experience.

Are you in finance? I deal with company earnings... so I know all about the end of quarter craziness.

 

[eks6426]

As the old saying says, "People rise to the level of their incompetence." Welcome to corporate America. It''s good you have a supervisor that is listening. Discuss your desire to move up and set a path with your supervisor. This plan should have some sort of timeline...flexible but at least get some basic number of months, years etc. until you can move up. Your idea of "soon" might be 1 year wherease your company''s idea of soon might be "5 years."

Also, make allies with managers a level or 2 above you in other departments. That way they will think of you when higher level jobs open in their area. The trick is promoting yourself across the company rather than getting locked into one department.

 

[Waited2Long]

Think in terms of your value versus your salary, and how it compares to your coworkers'' values/salaries. If it''s above average, then absolutely you deserve a raise or bonus. But yes, you often have to ask for it. A business'' primary goal is to pay the owners, not the employees. Don''t be shy about asking. Send a quick email to your boss asking if he/she has a few minutes to talk about your new responsibilities. If you have a fair grasp of your value he/she will be hard-pressed to disagree. The harder it would be to replace you for the same price, the more they will be willing to give in order to keep you from wandering. Be firm in your negotiations, because it''s not something you want to do again in 6 months--you will have less credibility the 2nd or 3rd time. If they want to defer a raise, consider consenting as part of the negotiation process, but be firm in getting a commitment about when and what factors will determine its size.
As a last resort, you can rely on an ultimatum. They are often effective, but they are the nukes of workplace negotiation and must be used with extreme caution. You have to be willing to walk if you don''t get what you want. And experts recommend you not use an ultimatum more than once within a company, and not more than 2, possibly 3x within your career.

 

[MissGotRocks]

If the extra duty is being added to your job, then you should be compensated for it. Don''t be shy about asking either. If the answer is no, then I would seriously consider looking for another job. That same thing could happen again - and all you''re going to be is stressed out and underpaid. It''s a shame that hard work isn''t always rewarded - except for being given more work - but all things in life are not fair. If they don''t want to pay you to do it, then they can just have old what''s her name continue to do it at a slower, less acceptable pace. Good luck - and always stick up for yourself in a respectable manner. You are entitled to do that!

 

[JenStone]

Thank you everyone for your advice!

I definitely think I''m underpaid, but I keep reminding myself, who doesn''t think that? I think what I make is a bit above average for an entry level job so I can''t complain too much.

Regarding asking for a raise, my company policy is that you can only get salary adjustments during your yearly review. So there isn''t really a point in my asking until then.

I work for a huge company and although I''m learning a lot, I can''t really say that I can see much opportunities for me here. This is a publicly-traded company that concentrates on sales and revenue. I know managerial and good salespeople make a pretty penny. However, I need years more experience before I can be considered for managerial work and I myself am not a salesperson and I don''t want to be.

To give an example of the good workers not being rewarded, I''ll talk about (K) and (M). They both started working at the company a year and a half ago in my department. (K) quickly learned her position and became great at it. Our VP relies on her tremendously, and whenever someone in the dept has a question or a problem, they go to (K).

(M) started in my current position and was promoted within 6 months. I''m sure (M) did an okay job to have gotten promoted, but from what others tell me, the quality and the timeliness of my work is more reliable. In addition, she has been getting a lot of praise for her work but I know for a fact that she has other people do all the hard work and needs help from (K) to solve problems.

I have talked to several people about (K) and they all agree that our VP will not move her to a new position any time in the near future because she relies on her so much in this position. According to her, our VP gave her a nice raise at her yearly review, but I also know for a fact that she is not rewarded or recognized nearly as much as she deserves to be.

I promised myself that I would stay here for at least a year to gain the experience (everyone has told me that it does not look good on your resume if you have worked at a position for less than a year). I will see how it goes at my yearly review.

 

[laney]

Well, let me also say this.

What is your expectations of rewards and accolades? I understand that you have been there for less than a year? Make sure the company you work for - or your boss is aware of what your needs are. I''ve worked in large/small/and medium size(right now) companys at all levels.

I work hard to get my employees recongnized when it''s warranted. Sometimes it''s hard in an a company because even though I am the boss - I have to convince my boss and CEO as well as HR that a sizable increase is necessary. There are budgets to consider, and value to the company. I have been successful in doing this for all of my employees - but let me tell you, it''s not that easy.

That being said - there would be no way that I could give a raise to my group several times a year. Yes, I have been able to promote staff mid year - but again - it takes a lot of work.

In addition - I would also be hard pressed to give an employee of less than a year a promotion in a current position (not a new or change job description) - as we have 1st a 90 review and a signficant increase right after that is unlikely. Only because it would be hard to demonstrate that we hired a person at (only a few moths prior) at a low wage. They would question that right off the bat.

I guess what I''m saying is that to avoid dissapointment in this type of enviorment - understand and set your expectations accordingly. In a corporate setting you are unlikely to get raises quarterly - more usual annually - and promotions are usually not frequent - but more spaced apart - even some by several years.

Each company has their own culture and policies. After you finish your experience there - you may want to look for a workplace that more fits how you are motiviated. These are great questions BTW to ask at an interview!

 

[strmrdr]

Is K unhappy about it?
Some people actually like that situation and if their boss rises they go with up the chain.
Iv talked to more than a few VP of huge companies that got there just that way.
As they move up then they move a layer up under them and keep the team together and get it done and rise to the next level.
I also know someone in a situation like K that has turned down several promotions to stay in that position because they like it.
It isn''t always the way it looks in the corporate game.

 

[perry]

It is not uncommon for job descriptions to morph. The key to make it work is to shed some of the other task as you pick up other things. Perhaps some of you "less fun" or "lower skill" task can be reassigned. Talk to your supervisor about this. "If I am expected to do this - can we shift this and this to others....." You might want to mention that you would like to be able to insure that you do the new job to the best of your ability, or that you don''t want to burn out, etc. Please be sure to mention that you are excited to move up in responsibility (at some point you will find you have more ability to control your own schedule - but that may take a few years: Been there, done that).

Perry