STORM2K

Two weeks ago I was brought into the office and got a speach about productivity, being a mentor and that the company was losing money on me because I am paid too much. I just found out that this was a canned speach that all the experienced people are getting. The difference between my pay and what the customer is charged is $30 an hour. That should be plenty to pay for my cubicle, insurance, overhead and other benefits. Just a BS excuse not to give me a raise this year. Lately, the trend has been for people to give notice and then be offered more money. That way, the proverbial bridge is burned with that employeer. Well, I have a job interview next week.

That bites!

Hubby has had the same thing happen to him. (design engineer) The company he is currently working for is "downsizing" and we are biteing our nails waiting to see what happens next. (when the other shoe drops if you know what I mean) He interviewed at another company a couple weeks ago and of course they hired someone younger. (he's 51) I guess it just bites everywhere in the private sector nowadays. I am still staying with the school system - 16 yrs plus although I drive over 50 miles a day. I would loose 4 bucks an hour to transfer to the county I live in.

Sorry to get off base - good luck with the interview, I'll have my fingers crossed for you!

DanKellFla wrote:Two weeks ago I was brought into the office and got a speach about productivity, being a mentor and that the company was losing money on me because I am paid too much. I just found out that this was a canned speach that all the experienced people are getting. The difference between my pay and what the customer is charged is $30 an hour. That should be plenty to pay for my cubicle, insurance, overhead and other benefits. Just a BS excuse not to give me a raise this year. Lately, the trend has been for people to give notice and then be offered more money. That way, the proverbial bridge is burned with that employeer. Well, I have a job interview next week.

Good luck Dan!

About 4 years ago I left my job of 16 years after hearing what I referred to as "the speech" for the millionth time. "We can get someone to do your job for less money and they will do a better job." (That wasnt the whole reason I left but thats another story.)

They are still looking

Dan if I had a dollar for every time ive heard what your boss said id be a millionaire. Sounds like they are trying to squeeze more work out of you.

Good Luck Dan,

I am starting to come around to the realization that I need to teach some of the younger engineers a thing or two. My superiors have been encouraging me to mentor the younger people. I hate that word - mentor. I think that the concept was created by management. I was resisting it, and just taking the attitude of "leave me alone and let me get some work done." We do have one young engineer who has his head on straight and has some aptitude. I enjoy working with him. The other young one is a buffoon, but that's another story. I've hinted to my boss that I'd like to eventually move into another position, like QA/standards/estimating, rather than project work, but his reaction was one of horror. I guess that means he values me. But sooner or later we all become obsolete. One thing going for me is that I don't care about raises. Not that I make that good of money, but no matter what you make you always wish for a little more. Your expenses always rise to be about 125% of what you make, so it's an endless cycle. I'm more interested in the intangibles.

Anyway, good luck in your job search.

I've tried to move into another position. But, I never can seem to move. Younger people with less experience and skills get moved into project management, while I continue to do the number crunching. (ANSYS- Finite Element Analysis if the means anything to anybody) I am considered to valuable to promote, but not valuable enough to receive a raise.

DanKellFla wrote:I've tried to move into another position. But, I never can seem to move. Younger people with less experience and skills get moved into project management, while I continue to do the number crunching. (ANSYS- Finite Element Analysis if the means anything to anybody) I am considered to valuable to promote, but not valuable enough to receive a raise.

Dan you are in what is commonly referred to as a dead end job. If you are happy with what you are doing thats fine but I dont think you are.

Perhaps another employer would recognize your talents and compensate you accordingly.

Anyone who can do those tasks IS valuable, but I don't know how much of it is now automated with CADD/Modeling interfaces. If you keep up with the technology, you will continue to be valuable.

Me? I'd rather carve out a niche and be valuable rather than go into management. Let the youngsters become managers. You can become a curmudgeon expert and set your own terms. It would be especially good if a younster starts out "under" you. Then when he's "over" you, you can still keep him "under" you.

What the "enlightened ones" at the top that make the big bucks always seem to forget is that experience is VALUABLE. The employee that has been there for a long time has the history of what has gone on, is a LOYAL employee and obviously a good worker. That's why you get MERIT increases (though they are more like cost of living increases), because your knowledge is valued.

The enlightened ones that are making the big bucks and probably big bonuses are probably worried that the bonuses won't be as big as before. Once they start acting that way and begin treating their employees like dirt then their business will suffer. Unfortunately, there's a lot of enlightened ones that have no business being in management and have probably kissed enough butt over their careers to get where they are now.

Unfortunately, when you move on to a new job, you can only hope and pray that you weren't sold a bill of goods by that new company and you just found yourself walking into a new nightmare. With that being said, you do have to look out for yourself. I am a true believer that change is good in the long run - even if it didn't happen at a good time.

Good luck!

Wish you the best of luck!