Faced my fears to get what I want

[Lindsey]

So today, I did what I have been scared to do for months. I asked for a raise. I am a drafter for a geotechnical engineering firm. The company has 6 offices in two provinces. In my office, there are two drafters. My "supervisor" is an unprofessional, weird, kind of perverted man who doesn't do more than a half hour of real work in a day, between smoke breaks, talking on the phone, and walking around the office talking to everyone. I've been there for 10 months now, and in July we started keeping track of the projects we're working on, and who is doing the work. Since July, I have started and finished 60+ projects. He has done 3. In the past two months, every single other drafter in the company has quit. I am now handling all the drafting requests for 6 offices! After not getting my promised 6 month salary review, I decided it was time to speak up.
I sent my boss an email at lunch time, explaining that I have progressed my skills enormously since I started working there, from not even knowing how to run a program to being the most proficient at it. I do the majority of the work for everyone and I've had great feedback and I don't miss deadlines. I said I would like to see my salary match my work, and I'd like a 10% raise (actually less than I really wanted)
I didn't think he was even going to mention it to me. But as I was walking out the door to go home at 5, he called me into his office and told me to close the door. He told me I have "worked miracles" for the company, and that the 6 month reviews rarely happen (although, it's on my signed offer of employment and it was a big reason for me choosing this company), but he wants to sit down and talk with me on Thursday afternoon or Friday so we can work out something that works for both of us.
I'm just proud of myself for getting over my fear and actually saying something!

[katepoet]

Congratulations, Lindsey! That was huge!! Wow! I am impressed.

When one company didn't want to pay the rate I wanted this year, we negotiated another rate increase in 6 months time. You may want to have a couple of ideas like that so you can eventually get the pay you want.

[Mandy]

WTG Lindsey!! :thumbup: Proud of you ;)

[Marilyn]

Congratulations!!!!! Keep us posted on the results. It's hard to stand up sometimes. Way to go, girl!!!

[AngieDoogles]

Congratulations!!!! Good luck!

[Forgivenmom5]

Wishing you luck!!

[Chandra Amaya]

Best of luck to you.

[Janet]

Congratulations Lindsey!!! The only way we are going to get what we want is to actually ask for it. Good for you!!!

[DianaB]

Good for you, Lindsey, for speaking out. I hope that you get everything that you're asking for.

[rivermom]

I hope the end of the week goes well for you when you two are able to sit and talk.

[Tink]

Well done Lindsey!
I'm so proud of you for having the strength to ask for what's obviously due you!
If the others have all quit, you should be able to get a significant raise just from what they're saving on their pay!

You might also want to keep in mind that a raise can come in many forms... improved benefits or time off with pay would be rather nice too!
:thumbup:

[Lindsey]

Thanks everyone! I'm a little nervous about tomorrow, but there's another thing I really need to talk to my boss about and I think this might be a good opportunity. I think it's unfair that I'm doing way more than my fair share of work just because the other drafter is lazy. I call myself the only drafter now because he never does anything. I really want to mention to my boss that I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed with my workload and I would appreciate some help from someone else or even to have someone to turn to so I can ask questions about my work instead of feeling so stressed out alone. They way my supervisor ("the other drafter") yells and swears in the office and talks about my co-workers and makes sexist comments really really bothers me. I'm not sure how much of that I can bring up though. For sure I think I should mention the unfair workload, and maybe even tell him to take a look for himself in the drafting book I've been keeping for record. My 60+ projects compared to my supervisor's 3.
On the plus side, one of our biggest engineers in the main office called me today for some work. He greeted me with, "Lindsey! Clifton's new senior draftsperson in Saskatchewan!" wow! My supervisor is more "senior" than me, but I think everyone in the whole company knows he doesn't do work. So, "senior draftsperson" for the whole province really isn't bad for just graduating 11 months ago :D

[katepoet]

That's wonderful, Lindsey. Glad you are being appreciated.

Tomorrow don't use words like "unfair" or "overworked" or you might not get that raise. Find a positive way to say what you need. "I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that the workload has been constantly increasing and that it will soon be beyond my ability to keep up with it. I am already working X hours a day (or completing X projects a week) and don't see how I can squeeze anymore into my day. What are your plans to cover the workload?"

good luck!

[Marilyn]

Oh, just had to comment. As a manager, I would not want anyone to use the term "beyond my ability". May I suggest you say that the workload has increased significantly, and it is "becoming more difficult" to complete all the tasks required.

Just a thought. Whatever you say, it must come naturally and be from the heart. Most managers appreciate sincerity, honesty and candor when coming from a loyal, dedicated performer.

Wish you the very best!!!!!

[Janet]

I'm with Marilyn on this one. One other thing, when you talk down about another employee, do it with class, not with a slamming demeanor.

[Tink]

You might suggest that with all the supervisory responsibilities he has to do, your super has only had time to do 3 to your 60... give him the benefit of the doubt since you don't want to be seen as insubordinate to a superior even if you don't have a lot of respect for him.

[Lindsey]

I'm not sure how to talk down about this guy while being classy lol. I think I'm just going to not really mention HIM, but just mention how I've been feeling. Maybe I'll just say "I feel I don't have enough help with the amount of work I'm doing" or something like that.

[katepoet]

Good edit, Marilyn. We should all collaborate sometime on a "How to talk to the folks at work" book!

[judy]

Lindsey,

I'm so glad that you got up the nerve to ask for a raise. Congratulations! That's not an easy thing to do.

I'm the type to do one thing at a time, so I would discuss the raise at the first meeting with my boss. Then, once I felt that we had a good working relationship, I'd request a second meeting and discuss the other issues.

Bringing a negative (your supervisor, etc.) into a positive meeting - and he certainly sounds positive about you - offsets the energy.

JMO and best of luck. Keep us posted.