I would like the advice of my peers please. Ive been working in the same industry for eleven years.doing the same job for about six. Recently ive been a little frustrated mainly because ive all this expierence in all the fields of the plant. However a new guy can start,having little or no background at all and is doubling my paycheck.I work as a machine maintenance mechanic. Over the years ive taken it upon myself to not only know the mechanical aspects of the equipment but how to run them at 150% or better (piece work shop) That way if an employee has a problem, i can better understand what he/she is going through because ive expierenced it myself.I asked for a raise however the plant manager said that i was making about the same as the rest of the people in my field. Which was a little discouraging.After a little research i found out that i was being paid at an entry level rate. None of the others have my expierence. not to mension that my supervisor was trained by me.Its frustrating when everyone you work with including your supervisor says youre being screwed.So should i press for the raise or should i kick back and wait for the boss to retire in ten years? i would appreciate anyones input thanks Rick P.S. sorry about the rant

 

ten years is a long time to wait it out. That would be really frustrating, i'm sorry. Pay stuff is always so hard to deal with but if you've been making entry level pay for a job you are excelling at then you should deserve a raise. They don't do an annual review with you or anything like that? Those are great opportunities to ask for a raise. My boyfriend has been at his job for a year but is frustrated because right after he got hired on they put him in a position where a high level 7 (that was completely incompetent and hated by all) had been while he was only a low level 6 because he was just starting out. This frustrates him often and i realize he has to 'earn his stripes' but he has been excelling at his job too.

I think you deserve that raise after 6 years. A guy at my job yesterday joked about how at his last job you didn't get a raise til you threatened to quit. Maybe an option? Best of luck to you.

 

You deserve a raise. I have gotten 2 $2.50 per hr raises in less than 3 yrs. I'm a service man for a cabinet company. I do like you & try to be the best I possibably can. I'm lucky. My company recognizes my efforts & pays me for it.You need to get a raise or start sending resumes to other companies. My2cents.

 

no raises in 6 years?? something is wrong there, in the communication between you and the company.

is there an education issue? maybe the new guys coming in have formal training but you don't?

 

Sounds to me it's time to let the overpaid, underexperianced take control. I would start looking for openings at other facilities that will recognize your eperiance and compensate you accordingly. Your boss has no intention of ever promoting you to a higher pay level. Make tracks and don't look back!

 

Dang- it's time to start looking... quietly and discretely.... at competitive offers from other employers in the area. My son found this out- accidentally, when he got home from the Army. He didn't get a return call from his present employer (he was out of town for a couple of days), and found out what he was really worth. Long story short, he did go back to work for his present employer, but is making over double the money he made when he left.

 

I would start looking for another job.

 

Polarbear is correct, "....it's time to start looking... quietly and discretely"

Unfortunately, life is a lot about 'leverage', and you need to start leveraging your talents for self promotion. Find another legitamate job opportunity, then go see the 'Big Boss' at your current job (the one over the Plant Manager). Remind him of all your capabilities and the political crap that is going on with the new hire. If this doesn't get his attention, let him know you will be looking for another job. My guess is, is that they'll come around and see your value, and if not, well, the other job is a waiting.

Good luck

 

Thanks for all the input folks. ive gotten a couple of those cost of living raises .25 here or there i begged after two years for a review finally got one The plant manager told me first its not tied to wages blew some smoke up my rear then sent me on my way. I cant fault him too much he has to do what corprate tells him.it just sux and theres not a lot of job offers in my area to begin with.Oh well i spoke with the plant controller and hes going to see what he can do. He told me to do some salary searchas online to find out where i am. Thats how i found out I was being paid an entry level wage. well thanks for all the input.....and i thought i was being selfish

 

My exact thought. But before you do this and provided you are on good terms with this plant manager, bring the compensation data that you found with you to justify/back what you are saying. If this produces no results, it's time to start looking (keep your thoughts to yourself, do not share with coworkers). Leave the present employer on good terms. Do this because, as you said, all these newer people are making as much as you. Well, if you like the place you may want to return in a year or two, and at a more desireable rate of pay.

* Those 25 cent an hour raises they are giving you; depending on how often you get them they may be amounting to little more than COLA (cost of living adjustment). Some employers really like to give their employees diet cola while they are at it.

 

I can't even imagine that 25 cents covers the cost of living out here on the west coast. Here is some simple math. .25 x 40hr work week = $10 x 52 weeks in a year = $520 - the 33% uncle sam takes (171.60) = a whopping $348.40 a year in extra take home. That is pitiful. Based on what you are telling us about your experience and knowledge you should be getting better then that and better then an entry level salary.

I agree with polarbear and the others that said you should quietly start looking for another job. In the meantime try and do the salary analysis and present the numbers to your boss. Maybe with some proof he might be willing to work with you, maybe incremental wage increases or something. Especially if otherwise you like working for the company.

Try:
http://www.salaryexpert.com/
or
http://www.salary.com/home/layoutscr...ml_display.asp

Hope those sites help you out.

 

Put together a written request for a raise. Outline what you want for a raise and most importantly why you deserve a raise. Back that up with facts and info such as your ability to run machinery efficiently, etc and that may change the supervisors mind.

 

Sabotage all the machinery in a way that can't be linked to you then when the stupidvisor asks you to fix it tell him that you want about three times what you make now, if he won't give you a raise then pack your tools and leave without fixing the plant, if you're as good as you say you are a far better paying job is probably out there looking for you.

 

Well that is certainly a different approach.

 

I'd ask the manager for some proof that you make what he says you do.