Ok I need some advice.

7 Comments

1. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMay 10,2023 at 4:53AM UTC

   YOU SAID: "Today I received my first raise and it was not what I expected."

   What did you expect and why did you expect that amount?

   Have you been having regular one on ones with your boss to see if you were hitting the milestones you needed to to receive the maximum increase? Is there a set comp structure? Do you know what others raises looked like?

   Considering it's a family business, I'm kind of surprised to hear that you were hired at a "pretty low salary" - why was that?

   You said you knew "that the company is growing and that pay will increase with growth" How did you know pay will increase? Were there expectations/promises made around that?

2. MislynMay 10,2023 at 3:26PM UTC

   Yes I have regular one on ones with my boss my parents own the business. My mom actually retired so I could take over her job because I was working in a very toxic environment that was causing me to many personal issues and health issues. I was hired in at what my mom was being paid and that was fine for the first year. I do all the bookkeeping and payroll so I know what everyone’s pay increases are. Raises this year were not fantastic for anyone due to lack of work but the company is still making money and growing. I see that in my end at work. I was at least expecting a couple dollars more an hour. I was told when I started that after my first year we would see where the company is and be compensated accordingly. I see where the company is and don’t feel my first raise was adequate. I want to have a talk with them but do not want to upset them or make myself look ungrateful. I also don’t want to be taken advantage of because I’m their daughter. I just need advice on how to go about bringing up the issue. I left a job making more money and was told I would at least be at that pay rate by the end of my first year and my raise did not surpass my old job rate. I left my old job due to many broken verbal promises and employees being treated poorly by the bosses. Not just me all employees.

3. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMay 11,2023 at 6:18AM UTC

   YOU SAID: "I left a job making more money and was told I would at least be at that pay rate by the end of my first year and my raise did not surpass my old job rate. "

   Did it MATCH your old pay rate? Because that was the promise.

   What kind of feedback are you receiving in your one-on-ones? Are you performing to their expectations?

   There's really no other way than to sit down with - my guess is your father since he's still involved in the business - and have an honest conversation about this.

   Bring up what their expectations were, how you met them and that you were promised that you'd be at your old pay rate. Try your best to keep emotions out of it. Being sick over it is not the head space to be in.

4. MislynMay 14,2023 at 12:39AM UTC

   Thank you everyone . Woah had a nice little chat with my sister who is not involved in the company. She agreed with me on some aspects but not on some others. She simply said talk to them and get this sorted out before you get to worked up. So… I had a little sit down with them today. Not the smartest with Mother’s Day being tomorrow I just had to get it off my chest. I was Simple told that that is where they feel I am pay wise in the company and as I learn more and start taking on more responsibilities I will be compensated for them. I just didn’t realize there was more they expected me to do because no one has said anything about me learning a new task or tried even showing me new task to learn. I would be more then willing to learn something new. I’m doing my moms exact job the one I was hired to do. I was never asked to do more when hired or taught to do more. I guess just a lack of communication on both sides. We have agreed that I will start taking on more responsibilities and branch out a little more in the company. I know they feel because I’m a single mom I don’t need the stresses that came with my last job so they have been very easy on me and have given me time to adjust. I just was kind of shocked with my raise. They do help out a lot though out the year with kids and things I need. I just need to relax and be thankful. Bright side is it’s still better then my last job checks are just a little smaller so much happier and life goes on. Enjoy your Mothers Day to all you moms out there.

5. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMay 14,2023 at 2:54AM UTC

   I'm glad you spoke with your parents.

   Above you said: "Yes I have regular one on ones with my boss my parents own the business."

   Is this boss you're referencing your father (as it sounds like your mother is no longer working for the business)? What has been going on in these one-on-ones? Have you been asking for feedback? Have you been discussing how you were or were not hitting targets?

   So it sounds like they want you to do more and it sounds like you're open to doing more. Now it's time to get specific or you risk winding up right back where you are now. Targets not clearly laid out resulting you being disappointed with your raise.

   I highly recommend you get with your father and/or your boss and discuss specific new tasks they want you to take on. Together you all need to clearly set a timeline for each individual task to be mastered and discuss how much of a raise you can expect for doing so.

6. MislynMay 15,2023 at 12:11AM UTC

   Yes you are correct. We need to write everything down and get goals. I’m helping build this business with them now so I want them to be successful. When they retire this will be something I take over so I do need to know every aspect of the job not just the office part. We are at a good place and I just need to ask more questions because my s/father is not much for telling me. It’s only been a year we’re getting in the groove and we we get it figured out. I just panicked because I have expected raises that I have not gotten in the past and I never want to be there again.

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMay 15,2023 at 12:50AM UTC

   Glad to hear you have a plan going forward. Make sure that you included not just what the new responsibilities you will be taking on will be, but how much you can expect as a raise for mastering those new responsibilities - especially since you've been burned on raises previously. Good luck!