What Should I Do: Morality versus Financial Security

[Jes]

Six months ago, I found a job through a temp agency doing finance for one of the world's largest corporations. Three months into this assignment, I was offered a permanent position that required significantly more responsibility, time, and energy. "You've got the job, and we're giving you a $10k raise" my boss tells me. "You've definitely got the job and the raise," my director assures me. "It's not a possibility---it's happening," promises the CFO.

A month later, our Q1 earnings report came out, and an immediate hiring freeze was put into place. "Don't worry," they said, "you're still hired the second they release the freeze. And we will work as hard as we can to get you a raise in the meantime."

Well, after two months of negotiations, I finally got my raise---all forty-two cents of it! The conglomerate didn't have it in the budget, but the temp agency felt really bad about the three months of free additional work I put in, so they let me in on just a bit more of their 44% cut. And just as we're compiling our Q2 earnings data, we are reassured---the hiring freeze is still very much in place. Well, except for the fifteen new interns.

So, given my situation, do I ...

A) Suck it up and do twice the work for half the pay because, quite frankly, half the pay is still a lot
B) Ignore all political judgment and escalate the issue
C) Find a new job
D) Get myself fired (wisely) and collect unemployment

Thanks for reading and your input.

[Niki]

C) Find a new job

[SomeRandomGuy]

How about talking to your boss and telling him that you will not do the extra work any longer without being compensated for it. Some companies and/or managers like to use these tactics to keep from giving their employees raises. If you call them out on it, they will often find a way to push through the raise rather than risk losing a good employee. At least that is my experience.

Good luck.

[Jes]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomGuy

How about talking to your boss and telling him that you will not do the extra work any longer without being compensated for it. Some companies and/or managers like to use these tactics to keep from giving their employees raises. If you call them out on it, they will often find a way to push through the raise rather than risk losing a good employee. At least that is my experience.

Good luck.

Unfortunately, talking is no longer an option. This company is very, very political, and the closest option I have to this is giving notice. They will not make a move based upon threats.

[dali]

Think of all that time you will have to do exactly what you want to do.... I just got fired. It has been a blessing in disguise. If you are as daft as me you will stay too long in something that is eating your heart out and the day will come when that will show and fired is what you will get. Listen to the whispers as they say or something will SHOUT very loudly. Life goes on. Jobs are jobs. The question is how much identification do you get from having one. Obviously you get some from having money. It all comes down to you in the end but I know its a tough one. Trust is tougher ...until you do it. I am expecting wonderful things now , not dragging my resenfull ass around in a swamp of hopelessness anymore. Does that help at all?

[Remiel]

I'd vote for option C. That doesn't sound like a good long term company to stay in. If you can get fired and collect unemployment I'd vote that option first. Don't work for free for too long if thats what it would take to get fired.

Good luck. Find the value in your circumstances.