Flying solo!

11 Comments

1. AnonymousMay 10,2022 at 6:11PM UTC

   Wow your company is saving so much money on salaries and benefits. They are so lucky you haven't even asked for a raise!

2. AnonymousMay 10,2022 at 9:08PM UTC

   This has happened in a short amount of time.
   One team member left in April and one put in their 2 weeks last week. I was just notified today that another person put in their two weeks and I’m the final team member left (we had a tiny team to begin with.)

   I would like to go about asking for a raise. I am early in my career and don’t have a lot of clout in my organization, so this post was made to get assistance with how to go about asking for a raise and not getting snarky comments about it. I don’t think I could make a case for the salary of 4 employees… but I agree a raise is absolutely necessary.

3. Barb HansenMay 10,2022 at 7:41PM UTC

   Talk to your boss about prioritizing your work.

   You can't do the job of more than one person, because you are only one person.

   Strategize with your manager about what work has to be done (mission critical work), what work can slide (if you have to push work off) and what work can be put off until a new hire is brought on.

   If all of the work you are doing is all mission-critical, then the conversation with your manager is about how you can help speed up the hiring process to replace your missing team members.

   If you think you'll get push back from your manager, or you think they are too busy to work with you to solve the problem, then you make the plan and present it to them as a solution.

   Good luck!

4. AnonymousMay 11,2022 at 8:20PM UTC

   Thanks for your helpful suggestions! Luckily I got word today that leadership is hiring for one other person immediately, so that is helpful to know I won’t be alone. My boss expressed that she doesn’t want me to try to do more than I am getting done right now and that we are going to set expectations with customers on longer turnaround times, so I am grateful to know that the expectation is not to do four people’s work!

5. AnonymousMay 11,2022 at 10:19AM UTC

   You need to do something or they will take advantage of you. As I see it, your options are: 1. document everything to salvage what you can when the ship goes down; 2. prepare to leave because the ship is going down; 3. ask for a raise and redefine your role (prioritize what tasks must be done, set new metrics based on a one-person shop). Get a better title while you are at it. Good luck.

6. AnonymousMay 11,2022 at 8:07PM UTC

   Thanks for these constructive suggestions!

   I asked for a raise today and I am to hear back with an answer by Monday. Unfortunately I cannot leave the organization right now- I am 5 months pregnant and don’t want to lose FMLA leave or change insurance, so I am trying to make the best of it until maternity leave in October. I work for a huge corporation, so I’m not too worried about losing this benefit or my job.

   I agree that redefining the purpose of my role/ future team is necessary. I have some suggestions for new department roles and titles. I was notified that leadership is hiring one more person, so I don’t think I’ll be alone for long, but I am mentally preparing myself to onboard someone new and have less time to get my usual work done.

7. AnonymousMay 11,2022 at 1:26PM UTC

   I have been in a similar situation. I did some calculations on my sudden added value. I broke down the cost of a person filling the role and the savings being offered by my completing it. In addition to this, I wrote down a salary that I felt was more than fair for both the brand and myself. They rejected it. They wouldn't even give it a thought. I quit. My point is, the worst they can say is no. Go into the conversation with facts and math to state your argument. You clearly have serious value and if they can't see that, leave.

8. AnonymousMay 11,2022 at 8:12PM UTC

   Thank you! Great advice! I have all of the data already graphed out, etc. (lucky for me, part of my role is BI, so this info is already all ready to be presented.) My boss has approved the request for a raise, it is just going above her at this time and I should have an answer by Monday. I agree, all that they can do is say no! And if they say no, it’s up to me to value myself enough to stay or leave.

9. AnonymousMay 11,2022 at 9:36PM UTC

   You are sort of an advantage if people are leaving left and right, it would be smart for them to consider giving you a raise or promotion as an incentive to stay.

   Just make sure you back it up with facts and data. Give examples of specific work duties you had to accomplish. If they are smart, they will realize they put themselves more at risk of losing another great employee. So bring up strategically and diplomatically

10. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 1:34AM UTC

    This is a great suggestion and I appreciate the positive take on the situation.

    I do already have the data and facts laid out regarding my current productivity and the hours spent by the team that I will be taking over. I also will point out my newfound responsibilities, such as training/ onboarding the replacement that is being hired and taking over as a project manager on a huge project that is being handed over to me.

11. AnonymousJune 9,2022 at 12:48PM UTC

    Update- I had to jump through some hoops (created a proposal to discuss with higher ups, who took it to HR) but I got the raise! This has really helped me feel appreciated and valued by the organization. We also got approval to hire another employee who will be starting in the next month. Things are looking up! Thanks for everyone’s words of advice and motivation.