Should I just be happy I have a job?

[jensen]

Please give me some advice... I'm going crazy here. I work as the sales and marketing director at a small manufacturing firm. I started about 18 months ago, just when the economy was tanking. My predecessor left me with nothing to work with. It was obvious the company has simply been riding along with the economy and had done nothing to actually "market" themselves for the past several years. Sales for our company were already off by 10% over 2007 and nationwide projections were for our industry to be off an additional 25% in 2009.

I immediately put together an agressive marketing plan that I hoped would help stem the tide. Unfortunately, my employer was in complete denial and would only allow me to do about half of what I proposed.

I worked hard anyway and though sales fell again last year, we weathered the storm quite well IMHO. I brought in dozens of new customers accounting for 10% of our sales last year, plus gained market position for new products accounting for another 10%. In addition, I renegotiated contracts which will save us an average of 4% going forward. Unfortunately, this didn't completely cover the loss in sales we experienced overall and we ended the year at about 13% down from 2008. This was about a 20% drop from their 2007 high.

However, we are already seeing a 6% growth in sales YTD - when our industry is expected to be off another 10% this year.

I am thrilled with these numbers, considering the state of the economy, and feel that I deserve to be rewarded for a job well done. I asked for a raise, knowing that others in the company have received raises recently and we've begun hiring more staff to handle the increase in sales.

My boss denied my request and berated me for not working long enough hours.

I suppose I should be happy to have a job at all in this economy, but it was really hard to come back into work this morning...

 

[Kathi OD]

Please give me some advice... I'm going crazy here. I work as the sales and marketing director at a small manufacturing firm. I started about 18 months ago, just when the economy was tanking. My predecessor left me with nothing to work with. It was obvious the company has simply been riding along with the economy and had done nothing to actually "market" themselves for the past several years. Sales for our company were already off by 10% over 2007 and nationwide projections were for our industry to be off an additional 25% in 2009.

I immediately put together an agressive marketing plan that I hoped would help stem the tide. Unfortunately, my employer was in complete denial and would only allow me to do about half of what I proposed.

I worked hard anyway and though sales fell again last year, we weathered the storm quite well IMHO. I brought in dozens of new customers accounting for 10% of our sales last year, plus gained market position for new products accounting for another 10%. In addition, I renegotiated contracts which will save us an average of 4% going forward. Unfortunately, this didn't completely cover the loss in sales we experienced overall and we ended the year at about 13% down from 2008. This was about a 20% drop from their 2007 high.

However, we are already seeing a 6% growth in sales YTD - when our industry is expected to be off another 10% this year.

I am thrilled with these numbers, considering the state of the economy, and feel that I deserve to be rewarded for a job well done. I asked for a raise, knowing that others in the company have received raises recently and we've begun hiring more staff to handle the increase in sales.

My boss denied my request and berated me for not working long enough hours.

I suppose I should be happy to have a job at all in this economy, but it was really hard to come back into work this morning...

Should you be happy to have a job, especially in an industry that is seeing losses across the board? Yes.

HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that you have to stay where you are if the company doesn't appreciate what you've done to keep sales from eroding further and you're not happy. It seems as though presenting a case for a raise to your boss might be wasted breath, but other firms might be impressed with your effort and outcomes.

I'd keep the job you have now and start looking. You might not find something right away, but then again you might. No sense in keeping the status quo if you aren't happy with your situation.

 

[puffkin]

It sounds like you are exactly what a lot of other companies need!

Yes, you should be happy to have a job right now. Take this from someone who lost her job last June and DH just lost his last month. WE never thought we would be in this position and it stinks!!!!!

What I would do is continue your strong performance at your company, and make sure to quantify it. I would also start looking around at other similar opportunities. I bet other companies will be falling over themselves to hire you with the results you have managed to achieve and will be willing to compensate you accordingly. Worst case scenario is you stay at your current job, best case is you have some wonderful offers from companies that will appreciate your talents. I would get some resumes out there stat!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

It stinks that in this economy employers know they can pay us less and treat us worse and get away with it.

 

[Pakey]

I've been in upper management for many moons now and I believe that if people are not happy with what they are making, they should seek employment elsewhere. If your current wage is competitive in that market, you won't find anything. If your current wage is too low, you should be able to find another position.

Personally, I believe I pay my employees a fair wage. I rarely give anyone an adjustment because they ask because I believe I'm already paying them the correct amount. A few have been able to find better paying jobs and I have always wished them well as they move on.

So keep working hard but start looking.

 

[wdwfan16]

Be happy you have a job and start looking so next year you can be happy to have a job that appreciates you.

 

[dizluvah]

Be happy you have a job and start looking so next year you can be happy to have a job that appreciates you.

Well said, and I totally agree. Good luck OP and hang in there until something better comes along

 

[Planogirl]

Yes, you should be happy to have a job. At least that's what I keep telling myself. You should also be looking for something else if you're unhappy. At least that's what I'm doing.

My job is a nightmare for me. I work for a large credit bureau and to say that they are vicious is downplaying their behavior. I can't afford to walk out though so I can sympathize with how you feel.

Better things are out there but we just have to be patient.

 

[ccgirl]

When was your last raise?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Happy to have a paycheck? Why yes you should.

Happy to be stuck in a poor position? No--not ever, even in a bad economy.

What does this mean--job search while you still have a job. Don't use the economy as an excuse to not even look if the job is really poor.

I worked in a good economy as a housekeeper at Disney to get away from a job that sucked. I was miserable, but I was happy to have a paycheck. But I still kept looking. Thankfully--I only had to clean toilets for 2 months or so.

As for the raise? You haven't provided enough information to determine if the boss made an appropriate decision or not based on the state of affairs. Many companies are not at liberty to provide financial rewards at this time due to them trying to hang on in the economy.

The fact that he berated you for asking though--is a bit disturbing.

 

[disney1990]

I have been unemployed for about a year now. I think you should be happy to have a job.

 

[jensen]

I've been in upper management for many moons now and I believe that if people are not happy with what they are making, they should seek employment elsewhere. If your current wage is competitive in that market, you won't find anything. If your current wage is too low, you should be able to find another position.

Personally, I believe I pay my employees a fair wage. I rarely give anyone an adjustment because they ask because I believe I'm already paying them the correct amount. A few have been able to find better paying jobs and I have always wished them well as they move on.

So keep working hard but start looking.

My wage is probably competitive. But, I do expect to receive annual increases. I've never had a job where I didn't get an annual increase and typically they've been high (4% or better annually) because I'm a good employee.

Do you not give annual reviews and increases?

When was your last raise?

I've never had a raise at this job... which is why I finally asked for one.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Ever see "Devil Wears Prada"? My dh goes in everyday saying "I am happy I have a job". He used to say I love my job however not anymore. He works at the big corporate monster that you see everyday somewhere.

They were told last week that they are cutting severences in half starting in 2011, which translates they are sharpening the guillotine. Not that they are not laying off every quarter, it is just now we expect the big one. Not too mention all the garbage they are pulling. He gets paid well but it is not worth the torture to continue to do this to retirement.

So, he is beginning to look and we are also going to get our real estate license together.

We must start plan B, which we are excited about. We are meeting with a company that will probably take us on. Oh and he is going to continue to work at the monster, until they pry it out of his cold dead hand.

 

[Carly_Roach]

It stinks that in this economy employers know they can pay us less and treat us worse and get away with it.

Yes, it does. I'm looking forward to the economy turning around.

Personally, I believe I pay my employees a fair wage. I rarely give anyone an adjustment because they ask because I believe I'm already paying them the correct amount.

All employers say this. It doesn't necessarily make it true. Most employers follow this statement with, "If you don't like it, find another job elsewhere." Unfortunately, with 20% unemployment, finding another job at all is difficult. As I've said before, I'll be happy when the economy improves and the good workers have more choices again. In the meantime, we'll put up with whatever we have to put up with to pay the bills.

My wage is probably competitive. But, I do expect to receive annual increases. I've never had a job where I didn't get an annual increase and typically they've been high (4% or better annually) because I'm a good employee.

I've never had a raise at this job... which is why I finally asked for one.

I haven't had a raise in over six years which has become common for the past decade. Most of the people we know in the private sector haven't had raises in five years or more. People who are lucky enough to get COL adjustments count themselves as fortunate.

Last year we had to take an 11% decrease in pay which is becoming just as common as no pay raises.

In your case, I'd quantify the sales numbers, go to work with your incentive being improving the bottom line so YOUR resume looks good, and getting out of that place when you can. I wouldn't expect annual salary increases because it appears that this practice is going away.

 

[ccgirl]

My DH hasn't had a raise in 6 years. He is a good employee too. IF you don't like the job, look for another one. IMHO, finding a marketing job is tough. 4% raise is unbeilievably good and pretty much unheard of around here. We're lucky to get a COA raise of 2%.

 

[cabanafrau]

I've been in upper management for many moons now and I believe that if people are not happy with what they are making, they should seek employment elsewhere. If your current wage is competitive in that market, you won't find anything. If your current wage is too low, you should be able to find another position.

Personally, I believe I pay my employees a fair wage. I rarely give anyone an adjustment because they ask because I believe I'm already paying them the correct amount. A few have been able to find better paying jobs and I have always wished them well as they move on.

So keep working hard but start looking.

While I believe there's a certain measure of correct info., as well as a certain amount of experience in your reply, frankly it not only seems harshly judgmental, but left me wondering just how far out of your bubble you reach to expand your knowledge? These types of issues aren't always so cut and dried.

Although I think I might like to see you take a crack at reviewing compensation packages for the financial sector. That sounds like a pretty good fit and might actually straighten out a bit of the economic mess we've been slogging through!

 

[Pakey]

The company I work for did not give increases last year. We hope to this year. But employees have to keep in mind that while sales might improve, other costs continue to rise. We had a 22% increase in health insurance, a 12% increase in workers comp. These are just two specific items that relate to employee benefits; we won't get into other cost increases. So just in employee costs, we saw a 34% increase without pay increases. We were thrilled that we were able to just keep all of the employees working without doing across the board pay cuts; very few asked about increases (we have several hundred full time employees and a few thousand returning seasonal employees).

And to PP who said that employers do not pay a fair wage, that is not true in our case. I'm guessing that if a poll was done, most people would say they are underpaid. We all want more money and we all like to think we can't be replaced.

 

[wdwfan16]

Yes, it does. I'm looking forward to the economy turning around.

All employers say this. It doesn't necessarily make it true. Most employers follow this statement with, "If you don't like it, find another job elsewhere." Unfortunately, with 20% unemployment, finding another job at all is difficult. As I've said before, I'll be happy when the economy improves and the good workers have more choices again. In the meantime, we'll put up with whatever we have to put up with to pay the bills.

I haven't had a raise in over six years which has become common for the past decade. Most of the people we know in the private sector haven't had raises in five years or more. People who are lucky enough to get COL adjustments count themselves as fortunate.

Last year we had to take an 11% decrease in pay which is becoming just as common as no pay raises.

In your case, I'd quantify the sales numbers, go to work with your incentive being improving the bottom line so YOUR resume looks good, and getting out of that place when you can. I wouldn't expect annual salary increases because it appears that this practice is going away.

The US unemployement is not at 20%. If it was we would probably be in a depression right now. At the height of the Great Depression unemployment was at 25%.

We are about 10% (I don't know the exact numbers this week) with pockets of higher and lower unemployment.

 

[cabanafrau]

The US unemployement is not at 20%. If it was we would probably be in a depression right now. At the height of the Great Depression unemployment was at 25%.

We are about 10% (I don't know the exact numbers this week) with pockets of higher and lower unemployment.

Well, I can tell you that living in Michigan is indeed living in a pocket of higher unemployment, with no light showing at the end of the tunnel. We are very grateful to be employed and pray for our friends and neighbors to be lucky very soon. Watching this unfold all around us we are painfully aware that at least in our world, a depression is not a farfetched outcome.

 

[lillygator]

did your boss say anything more? when you were hired was there any mention of doing marketing, changing it up? You feel you went above and beyond but maybe your boss feels as though beign the director of sales and marketing you are doing your job?? IDK.

If you aren't happy, I would start looking.