I have a question, directed to employers.

17 Comments

1. AnonymousMay 13,2023 at 12:34PM UTC

   This situation mirrors what happens in life.

   The work gets done and deadlines are met by the worker bees. These folks believe they should be recognized and rewarded by their performance but unfortunately go unnoticed. It's the louder and more self-serving employees that reap the rewards because they demand it and make it known that they expect rewards even when its not their work. People give them what they want because they take the credit.

   No one genuinely cares about the worker bees. They are believe to be easily replaced, easily ignored and not acknowledged for any true skill or contribution. They are usually not rewarded because no one believes they would leave or be recruited away. They are invisible.

   It's sad but true.

2. AnonymousMay 13,2023 at 9:20PM UTC

   Yes, there are always workhorses and showhorses in every organization.

3. AnonymousMay 13,2023 at 9:54PM UTC

   I’m so glad you explained it that way, because I too have witnessed this type of leadership. I just don’t understand. When new younger employees who don’t want to work are hired they fight to keep them, but folks that are diligent- they overlook. Especially when you know your rights.

4. AnonymousMay 14,2023 at 12:09AM UTC

   Workhap (a former recruiter) discussed this on one of his IG posts and dev Josh Fluke on YT discusses this all of the time.
   Fluke gets a lot of backlash for being "negative" yet it has been my observation that people love the idea of truth until it's actually spoken. His videos on working in corporate as "a race against time" along with climbing the corporate ladders is a joke are revelatory and uncomfortable as truth can often be. As someone who did contract stints and now owns her own business, I saw it in the corporate workplaces all of the time and my friends who are in corporate have experienced this as well.

   As someone in the comments mentioned one of his videos :
   'Many years ago, someone told me (and this was stated as a positive), "If you want to be sure a task gets done, give it to the busiest person you know." This is the attitude in business. There's always one person seen as the one who will accomplish things, so instead of getting other people up to speed and fostering new talent, it's easier to just dump it on the person who will kill themself to do it.'

5. AnonymousMay 14,2023 at 12:44AM UTC

   I am in this boat. Been with mine almost 4 years. New hires who are much younger and don’t have as much experience are making the same if not more. But since I am not the bosses pet, I don’t get the nice raises. It’s sad because they use her to get raises and time off.

6. Rosa E HearnMay 14,2023 at 2:19PM UTC

   I had been in the workforce since 16, by 18 I was Asst. Branch Manager by 21 I was running the branch. At 23 I went to work for another company to become a international sales manager for a larger company. My new co-workers treated me like crap because they saw me young, stupid because I didn't know the system yet and inexperienced even though I have been in the workforce for 7 years. I worked by butt off at school and work and studied the competition and read books to help me grow my position on the weekends.

   I earned that job, I earned my paycheck, yet I was getting remarks and glares from co-workers that it wasn't fair.

   Now, I don't know your company situation but I was one of those young people many years ago that got the raises or that job. Add the fact that I am first generation immigrant trying to help my family added more stress to my journey.

   I just wanted to provide perspective. That young doesn't mean inexperienced.

7. AnonymousMay 14,2023 at 2:23PM UTC

   An honest opinion from my experience, the new people I hire tend to have more technical skills. The people who have stayed in their position often haven't bothered to learn new skills and find ways to improve processes. The new hires quickly outpace the "tribal knowledge" because they use their skills to quickly learn the history and become proficient.

   It is worth the time to review your knowledge and see hope you're keeping up - not with your coworkers, but the industry.

8. AnonymousMay 14,2023 at 10:20PM UTC

   I can see why that matters and that makes a lot of sense. In my experience I have seen the opposite from the new people. They complained about not making enough money and did very little.

9. Audrey KirschMay 14,2023 at 3:03PM UTC

   Sometimes you have to let others know all that you’re doing in order to be recognized for it. However, My company just gave out raises and they were an insignificant percentage which had no reflection of anyone’s performance, good or bad. Some companies are just unfair. You have to decide if it’s bad enough to make you want to do something about it.

10. AnonymousMay 15,2023 at 4:32PM UTC

    I hope you are asking your manager for new challenges and what you want from them. Let them know that you have greater aspirations in the company and want to know what you can do specifically based upon your current skills to get more responsibility and more money. If they give you feedback on things that you need to work on or address please listen to it. Don't let it get you angry and be sure that you take to heart what they are telling you. It's not just about showing up and it's not just about getting stuff done. Good luck.

11. Kristie WhiteMay 16,2023 at 12:48PM UTC

    In truth, managers don't always know what's going on within their teams and staff. Just because someone has the title of "manager" does not make them all knowing and all seeing. Squeaky wheels often get the grease as they say - so the ones that make a point of making their work known to management are often the ones who are well paid and promoted. But it is also a result of self-confidence and belief in one's self to openly acknowledge your own skills and value to the company. If you don't stand tall and promote yourself - if you don't believe in your own value - then why should someone else? Make sure your accomplishments are known to your manager in a respectful way, but firm way.

12. AnonymousMay 16,2023 at 12:58PM UTC

    Part of it here is that you've been there for two years and the job market today is different than what it was two years ago. What you were hired in for is not what others are being hired in for now. It's not a reflection of you. Having said that, the one word I saw in your post that is keeping you where you are "Waiting".

    What are you waiting for? What have you done to push yourself forward in your career and with your manager? You are the captain of your career ship, if you don't take initiative to move yourself forward you'll sit stagnant in the water.

13. AnonymousMay 16,2023 at 1:03PM UTC

    Have you asked for a raise? Maybe they have.

14. AnonymousMay 16,2023 at 1:27PM UTC

    back in the day, the only way to get a raise was to quit and go to another job. Seems like that may still be the only way. You can ask, but amount the people I know, they never get the increase that would bring them in line with the new-hire. Like HR being there for the employer not the employee, keeping people doesn’t always seem to be the priority in a company.

15. WendyMay 16,2023 at 2:23PM UTC

    I have worked at several companies and it's always been "who you know" not "what you know" unfortunately.

16. AnonymousMay 16,2023 at 3:36PM UTC

    I emphasize with your situation and agree with the comments on making improvements and also asking for a raise.

    One area of improvement I'd recommend is proofing your work. Just reading your post shows many spelling and grammar errors. If you're submitting work with these types of errors, you will get passed over as your work doesn't show as accurate or professional. Ensure you proof your work and use spellcheck before submitting. You could also ask someone to proof your work as another set of fresh eyes invariably will catch things the author missed.

    You want to present yourself, skills and work in the best light.

17. AnonymousMay 16,2023 at 3:57PM UTC

    I assume you meant ‘empathize’, not ‘emphasize’.