09-05-2002, 03:24 PM
09-05-2002, 04:22 PM
I have marked this day on my calendar. Kid's logic is one I agree with 100%. :crackhead:
One thing that is 100% true is that if you are a valuable contributor, if you help make a difference, you will always get a better raise than the average and you will always survive layoffs, downsizing, rihtsizing or whatever you want to call it. Unfortunately, if your in a union, that logic won't apply. With unions it's a numbers game based on seniority.
I have been involved in a number of reorgs and am going through one now. I have never laid off one person that was a valuable contributor. People that do just what is expected, even if they do it very well, are expendable. People that take initiative, make a difference, survive all the time. Even in tough times for companies, I have been able to give larger raises to those that contribute. By justifying an increase related directly to growth or cost savings to a company, it's an easy thing to do. If a union mandates that a person is guaranteed a raise just because they are there, it is difficult to do anything extra when it is warranted. However it isn't warranted often because people are seldom incented to do better because their increase is guaranteed.
If you want more, if you want to grow, prove it.
One thing that is 100% true is that if you are a valuable contributor, if you help make a difference, you will always get a better raise than the average and you will always survive layoffs, downsizing, rihtsizing or whatever you want to call it. Unfortunately, if your in a union, that logic won't apply. With unions it's a numbers game based on seniority.
I have been involved in a number of reorgs and am going through one now. I have never laid off one person that was a valuable contributor. People that do just what is expected, even if they do it very well, are expendable. People that take initiative, make a difference, survive all the time. Even in tough times for companies, I have been able to give larger raises to those that contribute. By justifying an increase related directly to growth or cost savings to a company, it's an easy thing to do. If a union mandates that a person is guaranteed a raise just because they are there, it is difficult to do anything extra when it is warranted. However it isn't warranted often because people are seldom incented to do better because their increase is guaranteed.
If you want more, if you want to grow, prove it.
09-05-2002, 06:26 PM
Kid,
I agree. However, being at a company that doesn't reward you for busting your ass leads to being lazy. For the first 8 months I "shook up" the company and busted my ass to get everything done, upgrade everything, etc. Now, after being here for a year and a half, I'm bored. I've saved my company more than $200,000 in chargebacks and haven't seen SHIT. We've grown to the point where we are limited by number of PEOPLE in the order processing and data entry department to do business. You get to the point in a company that makes millions of dollars but is still run like it is in a basement, where you "give up" and coast.
I agree. However, being at a company that doesn't reward you for busting your ass leads to being lazy. For the first 8 months I "shook up" the company and busted my ass to get everything done, upgrade everything, etc. Now, after being here for a year and a half, I'm bored. I've saved my company more than $200,000 in chargebacks and haven't seen SHIT. We've grown to the point where we are limited by number of PEOPLE in the order processing and data entry department to do business. You get to the point in a company that makes millions of dollars but is still run like it is in a basement, where you "give up" and coast.
09-05-2002, 06:42 PM
Dough, doing something and looking for a reward is seldom the easiest way to get a reward.
What has worked for me is showing my commitment to the company and my job. Being a solid person that can be depended on and never asking for anything in return. I've been here for 2 years and have not seen a substantial annual raise. However, every year I make a little bit more money on bonuses. Or, I get little kick backs like a digital camera, a laptop, a new desktop computer, etc. Put it to you this way, I have one of the two fastest computers in our company. The other one is on the desk of my counterpart. Both of them are better than the computer used by our IT manager.
Also, I've been promoted to a different position that suits my talents better and will lead to better things in the future. All of this because I worked smart and hard for a long time. Anyone can bust their ass for 8 months in hope of getting a big raise, managers know that. What they want to see is long term commitment.
However, aren't you an IT guy, yourself? Then you should know that there are 15 million guys just like you and only about 5,000 positions to fill. They don't have to pay you shit, because you've got no place else to go.
What has worked for me is showing my commitment to the company and my job. Being a solid person that can be depended on and never asking for anything in return. I've been here for 2 years and have not seen a substantial annual raise. However, every year I make a little bit more money on bonuses. Or, I get little kick backs like a digital camera, a laptop, a new desktop computer, etc. Put it to you this way, I have one of the two fastest computers in our company. The other one is on the desk of my counterpart. Both of them are better than the computer used by our IT manager.
Also, I've been promoted to a different position that suits my talents better and will lead to better things in the future. All of this because I worked smart and hard for a long time. Anyone can bust their ass for 8 months in hope of getting a big raise, managers know that. What they want to see is long term commitment.
However, aren't you an IT guy, yourself? Then you should know that there are 15 million guys just like you and only about 5,000 positions to fill. They don't have to pay you shit, because you've got no place else to go.
09-05-2002, 06:55 PM
Why should a company care how hard you work?
If it takes you 70 hours in a week to complete what it takes someone else 30 hours in a week to complete, shouldn't they make more than you? Shouldn't they be the ones that get promoted and get the bonuses.
Dedication is great, but it's more important to be effective, and that's why pay should be based soley on performance, not seniority or dedication.
Employees bitch about companies showing no loyalty, when in reality, you know that if you found a job that paid you more or made your life more enjoyable than at your current job, you'd leave in a heartbeat, as well you should.
If it takes you 70 hours in a week to complete what it takes someone else 30 hours in a week to complete, shouldn't they make more than you? Shouldn't they be the ones that get promoted and get the bonuses.
Dedication is great, but it's more important to be effective, and that's why pay should be based soley on performance, not seniority or dedication.
Employees bitch about companies showing no loyalty, when in reality, you know that if you found a job that paid you more or made your life more enjoyable than at your current job, you'd leave in a heartbeat, as well you should.
09-05-2002, 07:01 PM
If common sense ruled the world, things would be a lot easier.
Too bad it doesn't, so we have to live according to reality.
Too bad it doesn't, so we have to live according to reality.