Marguerite
Active Member
Star, as a woman who has been where you are (and survived) I have a couple of suggestions for you.
1) Don't stand for it, but at the same time don't burn your boats until you have another exit mode in place. However, there is no reason for being a doormat. When you described the others as "gone to college, have degrees, nice homes, nice cars..." you implied yourself as being the opposite. And it sounds so much like my oldest sister, who keeps saying things like, "But I'm stupid." She may have begun saying this partly to deflect her emotionally abusive ex and partly out of irony, but she has come to beleive it. She won't believe us when we tell her that her old apprenticeship qualifications are the equivalent of a uni degree these days, plus her decades of experience in the field. as a result both professionally and personally, she is a doormat. And to be a doormat even partly, is to have your abilities not seen and not properly used. Now, your response to these fellas - that ws you not standing for it - partly. But you need to follow through at a higher level.
2) Write a nice note to your boss outlining what you do in your job. Show him how what you do comopares (in terms of remuneration) to similar jobs elsewhere. Then go into more detail of other small things you do to help him make even more money. Then finish your letter with, "In the time I have worked for you, my income has increased X amount. In real terms this is an increase of Y%, which compares to the Z% CPI increase in the same period of time. In the same period of time, other salaries in the business have increased Q amount. The business has increased in value by G amount. I beleive I am eligible for a raise. I understand that times are difficult in the economy right now but I also believe that it is employees like me that will help this company ride it out and come through to prosper. If you refuse my raise I will understand that times are currently difficult, but I do have my finger on the pulse of this business and recognititon of my worth as soon as the business can carry this, would encourage me to continue working hard to ensure your success."
Or you could keep it simple. "I work hard for you. I haven't had a raise in X years while others around me have. I beleive I am eligible for a raise and look forward to hearing the results of your consideration in this matter."
3) Find the name of this woman's consulting firm and ask her if she needs a junior partner, or if she knows somewhere where your skills would be valued. Also try to get a copy of her report, then use it to apply for jobs elsewhere. Times ARE tough, which is why people like you are even more valued than usual.
In my case, I worked with two blokes, one of whom at least was constantly white-anting me. Utter 'ratbags' (I'd like to use a stronger word but it would be insulting to their mothers). So I asserted my rights by annually applying for promotion. It took about three years but I finally got promoted. I also took on extra duties which I used to justify the requested promotion.
A hint - my added duties were related to occupational health and safety, especially in terms of supporting the boss in ensuring that the building we were given the use of, complied with government regulations. We then put together a proposal for upgrades to the building in order to make it safe. I also organised the evacuation procedures as well as wrote up and collated the operating procedures and instruction manuals. If you don't trust him to back you up, do this but keep the files available only through you. Be indispensible.
You already have a lot of capability when it comes to recognising and lopping dead wood. Why not go freelance yourself? Maybe on a part-time basis, take a day off to go do an inspection somewhere and see how it works. Then go part-time at your current job in order to build up a private consultancy, bit by bit.
I agree, some men can be very frustrating. On the subject of strong British accents working in the US - they'd better not get too uppity. Don't they realise that in fact they are working lower down the social and business ladder (by being in the US) than if tyhey stayed in Britian? Don't they feel they have what it takes to work on home turf?
In the earlier days of Australia, younger sons of the gentry were often sent to Australia to learn farming techniques, management skills and business techniques. And also get them out of the way from family rivalry while the older son got on with running the family estates. They were known as the "colonial experience men" and were a pain in the rear to Aussie workers. The thing is - they were sent here because they were inferior. And they knew it. Of course, they felt they were superior to us (because we were all descended from convicts, weren't we? or people like them!)
There is often a reason for people being dead wood. But there's no reason you have to be a tortoise and carry them on your back.
Marg
1) Don't stand for it, but at the same time don't burn your boats until you have another exit mode in place. However, there is no reason for being a doormat. When you described the others as "gone to college, have degrees, nice homes, nice cars..." you implied yourself as being the opposite. And it sounds so much like my oldest sister, who keeps saying things like, "But I'm stupid." She may have begun saying this partly to deflect her emotionally abusive ex and partly out of irony, but she has come to beleive it. She won't believe us when we tell her that her old apprenticeship qualifications are the equivalent of a uni degree these days, plus her decades of experience in the field. as a result both professionally and personally, she is a doormat. And to be a doormat even partly, is to have your abilities not seen and not properly used. Now, your response to these fellas - that ws you not standing for it - partly. But you need to follow through at a higher level.
2) Write a nice note to your boss outlining what you do in your job. Show him how what you do comopares (in terms of remuneration) to similar jobs elsewhere. Then go into more detail of other small things you do to help him make even more money. Then finish your letter with, "In the time I have worked for you, my income has increased X amount. In real terms this is an increase of Y%, which compares to the Z% CPI increase in the same period of time. In the same period of time, other salaries in the business have increased Q amount. The business has increased in value by G amount. I beleive I am eligible for a raise. I understand that times are difficult in the economy right now but I also believe that it is employees like me that will help this company ride it out and come through to prosper. If you refuse my raise I will understand that times are currently difficult, but I do have my finger on the pulse of this business and recognititon of my worth as soon as the business can carry this, would encourage me to continue working hard to ensure your success."
Or you could keep it simple. "I work hard for you. I haven't had a raise in X years while others around me have. I beleive I am eligible for a raise and look forward to hearing the results of your consideration in this matter."
3) Find the name of this woman's consulting firm and ask her if she needs a junior partner, or if she knows somewhere where your skills would be valued. Also try to get a copy of her report, then use it to apply for jobs elsewhere. Times ARE tough, which is why people like you are even more valued than usual.
In my case, I worked with two blokes, one of whom at least was constantly white-anting me. Utter 'ratbags' (I'd like to use a stronger word but it would be insulting to their mothers). So I asserted my rights by annually applying for promotion. It took about three years but I finally got promoted. I also took on extra duties which I used to justify the requested promotion.
A hint - my added duties were related to occupational health and safety, especially in terms of supporting the boss in ensuring that the building we were given the use of, complied with government regulations. We then put together a proposal for upgrades to the building in order to make it safe. I also organised the evacuation procedures as well as wrote up and collated the operating procedures and instruction manuals. If you don't trust him to back you up, do this but keep the files available only through you. Be indispensible.
You already have a lot of capability when it comes to recognising and lopping dead wood. Why not go freelance yourself? Maybe on a part-time basis, take a day off to go do an inspection somewhere and see how it works. Then go part-time at your current job in order to build up a private consultancy, bit by bit.
I agree, some men can be very frustrating. On the subject of strong British accents working in the US - they'd better not get too uppity. Don't they realise that in fact they are working lower down the social and business ladder (by being in the US) than if tyhey stayed in Britian? Don't they feel they have what it takes to work on home turf?
In the earlier days of Australia, younger sons of the gentry were often sent to Australia to learn farming techniques, management skills and business techniques. And also get them out of the way from family rivalry while the older son got on with running the family estates. They were known as the "colonial experience men" and were a pain in the rear to Aussie workers. The thing is - they were sent here because they were inferior. And they knew it. Of course, they felt they were superior to us (because we were all descended from convicts, weren't we? or people like them!)
There is often a reason for people being dead wood. But there's no reason you have to be a tortoise and carry them on your back.
Marg