When did you get a raise?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
United States
March 17, 2011 7:47am CST
I started working at Subway the very end of January. It is a minimum wage job, but to me a job is a job and right now it's not really about the money (though the money helps).
When talking to my coworkers I've learned that the owners of my Subway are pretty stingy. There are girls who've been there 3 years and only got 1 raise in all that time. The assistant manager doesn't even make $10 an hour! The shift supervisor only makes about $1 over minimum wage.
So needless to say, I'm not expecting a raise.. though I feel I deserve one right now.
There was a night that I was called in on my day off. The district manager was working that night, and decided she didn't feel well enough to work, so called me in to take her shift. But she never told me she planned on leaving.. what she said was "We're getting slammed, can you come help?" so I assumed I'd go in, help them through their busy rush, then be sent home. What a shock when she left! At the time I was still so new that I didn't know how to close by myself.. but that's the position she put me in, and she should have known better.
Last week my manager was sick. The owners asked me to cover one of her shifts, and noon to close.. that's a 10 hour shift! I did it, without trouble.
The day after that shift I was scheduled off. Actually what happened was I was scheduled, but I've told them I'm not available on that day because my daughter has dance. So after they saw that I was accidentally scheduled, they gave my shift to someone else. That person came in and said they couldn't take the shift.. so I had to take it back. Because of that I worked 6 days straight last week!
Then I was called in again Tuesday night, on my night off!
So here I'm thinking I deserve a raise.. but probably won't see it. They're putting me through the ringer right now with all these hours.. but my paychecks still don't look so great because it's only minimum wage!
Well, last night one of the owners showed up. After talking with my manager awhile he asks me to come back into the office. I was worried I was in trouble for something. He starts off with "How are you liking working here?" I lied and said I love it, LOL. Not a total lie, I do like the job.. but it's a minimum wage job doing the same thing every single day.. there's no way I can LOVE the job.. for me it's just a stepping stone to my next job. Anyways, then he goes into this speel about the good work I'm doing and blah blah.. then says they're giving me a 25 cent raise! Woohoo!
The last time I got a raise was like 11 years ago when I worked for Pizza Hut and I got a 10 cent raise! So yeah, I'm pretty proud of this, and can't wait to see my next paycheck after the raise is in effect!
When was your last raise? Have you ever gotten a raise after being at a job for a month and a half?
3 people like this
17 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
17 Mar 11
In this economy everyone is lucky to have a job!
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
17 Mar 11
Ohmy! Some companies really do mot recognize their employees efforts. As i read your post... I thought ofy employment history and felt luckier that i git some raise almost every two or three years...
I haf a raisr when i was regularized as a permanent employee and then two years later. And again after promotion after three years. But when i was working for this bank... They give annual salary raise and the percent is based on your performance.
1 person likes this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
17 Mar 11
I don't really remember the last time I got a raise. When I worked at the last daycare I was at they gave yearly raises to everyone. They graded everyone on a point system from 1-5 and depending what you got was the percent raise you get. Ofcourse they said no one could get a 5. I don't remember how much my raise was. Congratulations on your raise! I hope they don't work you too hard.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
17 Mar 11
LOL.. mind is elsewhere.. what I meant to say was that's not a bad system.. to be graded on a 1-5 scale and get a raise based on that rating. That's how most employers should do it!
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
24 Mar 11
Good for you! Given some of my own experiences I'm always very pleasantly surprised when I hear of a boss or business owner who really appreciates his or her employees and believes in rewarding a job well done!
I have to say at most of the jobs I've had through the years there was either a pay scale that was strictly adhered to or it was "piece work", as when I worked as a sewing machine operator. I do remember at my first sewing job the plant manager was standing and watching me quite a bit and quite frankly making me a nervous wreck, but then I was put on a different operation, one where there was a better chance to make decent money, and I was told it was because he thought I was a really good worker and deserved a better job so I could make some money. He was a guy who never said too much and some of the other workers didn't like him but I really appreciated that and never forgot through the 12 years I worked there.
Anyway, you must be doing something right so just keep it up! A Quarter an hour may not sound like much to some but it really does add up at the end of the month!
Annie
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
25 Mar 11
Many raises these days are like 10 cents an hour.. so I'm definitely pleased with 25 cents!
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
17 Mar 11
Congrats on the raise! That's pretty damn good for not even being there 90 days yet. I think last year I got a .16 raise..... go me! Especially when I know my hubby won't be getting one. Perhaps your co-workers were joshing you when they said how little they make. I can't fantom them sticking around if they didn't get something. Or perhaps if they did their job as well as you do they'd be rewarded better?
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
18 Mar 11
I know. I miss my old job's pay but that was 8 yrs ago and with the way life works for us right now I can't go back into the same field and expect that pay back at the bottom. Plus I can't work m-f right now eventually.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
17 Mar 11
I think it's more a matter of not thinking their pay is worth what they do for it you know. A lot of people have that attitude. I mean, it's a minimum wage job, you can't expect to earn $10 an hour for doing it.. you know.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
18 Mar 11
Yeah.. I know. I've been thinking about it myself. I applied for a full time day job a few days ago (after the whole being called in with no notice thing). I don't even know how I'd pull off a day job.. and obviously doubt that I'll even get the job.. but I figured it was worth a try. I have a friend willing to watch my kids during the day.. so at least I have help to get me started. I don't know if she'll still want to watch them after her baby is born in August.. but if I got a day job now I'd have some time to find a more permanent babysitter.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
25 Mar 11
I used to be a 'high flyer' (well, at least that's what they called me). After college, and when I started working, I used to get merit increases every mid year. This was aside from the regular increases we get at the start of the year.
And then I worked here...
However hard I worked, I never got any increases. We even got a salary reduction once(but that was more because of the economy).
So I had to be creative to get my increases. I applied for jobs within the company, to different departments. Recently, I realized that there were no other departments that I could move to. So, I am moving to a new company!
Congratulations on your increase!
Congratulations on your increase!@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
25 Mar 11
Thank you, I'm very happy they recognized my achievments and when I pick up my paycheck tonight I will see if the increase has made a difference in my pay. My husband also got a raise recently.. but his increase didn't seem to change his check one bit.. must be now he's paying more into taxes.. yay!
And congrats to you on finding a new job! I sure hope it's much much better than this one!
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
19 Mar 11
Congratulations and you should be Proud of yourself. If they usually are one to not give people raises and have already given you one, then they can see the hard work and potential you are showing for them, and may see you as the asset you are. Where I am right now, sometimes I feel like just a number. I am supposed to be making more than people who have been there only 3 yrs. but found out they are making the same amount I am, and when I question it, it goes in one ear and out the other.
I am due for another raise in July when I have been there 5 yrs. if something better does not come along before then. Personally I feel like requesting for a $1 raise instead of the 50 cents they will want to give me just to make up for what the others will make at 5 yrs. as well. But who knows if I will ever see it. With having so many Medical issues anymore it might be a long shot for sure.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
19 Mar 11
I've been in a situation where I've made as much or more than others who'd been there longer. Reason being is because when they were hired minimum wage was lower.. then it went when I was hired. The company brought the previous employees up to the new minimum wage, and I was hired at a little above minimum wage. When they gave out raises (that company gave 10 cent raises) the older employees were making minimum wage plus 10 cents, and I was making perhaps 60 cents above minimum wage.
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
17 Mar 11
Most of the jobs I have had have been contract jobs. No overtime, no raises, until the next contract and nothing to do with how hard I worked. I would get raises when I left one job to go to another.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
18 Mar 11
Well that's good and bad I guess. I mean for hourly employees we still get paid the same no matter how hard we work.. so it's the same thing.
I doubt I'll be getting another raise with this company. But I will be happy for the money I'm making now and see what happens in the future!
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 Mar 11
So employers all over the world are equally stingy when it comes to raise LOL
The system of raise here in India is somewhat different…usually the payment is on a monthly basis and not hourly and the raise is also a percentage of our existing pay…also the raise is given usually at the beginning of a financial year i.e. effective from April. So right now as April nears, we all are at our best, trying to please the boss LOL…usually, we’ve got our raises every year (thought not everybody is equally happy, as usual), there were a few years in between when the company was not doing well and we had no raise or bonus. However, this year looks promising and the Boss has also made his intentions clear that he does want to give a good raise…so just hope the best for me.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
18 Mar 11
Around here each company does it differently. Some companies do performance reviews every 6 months and you'll get a raise then if your review is good. Some companies do it yearly. I think mine just gives raises when they feel like it. Some of my co-workers were promised a raise in January and they never got it.
@AmbiePam (85496)
• United States
18 Mar 11
I can't imagine getting a raise after such a short time. I guess it can happen. When I would get my paycheck I'd look straight at how much had come out for taxes and Social Security and I felt like the government stole from me. LOL While the real people work the politicians are the ones who get the raise.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
18 Mar 11
Yep.. my husband loses about $200 a week to taxes.. yay! I lose between $10 and $50 depending on how big my paycheck is. Though with us, we normally get that back at tax season. This year we got about $10,000 back in our tax returns.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
17 Mar 11
Raises are nice.. but yeah, in this economy having a job is more important.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Mar 11
Congratulations Kat. You must be extra good for them to give you a raise so soon. This is wonderful and it is an incentive or you to keep us the good work too. Actually I am getting a ten percent increase from April 1st. This will help a little as electricity will be going up for the third time this year. All flour products are going up by at least 16% this weekend. Not good. But I am glad that I still have a job despite my boss' many efforts to get rid of me. The other owners know my worth and I do my very best each and every day. You go girl!
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
19 Mar 11
Good for you, you deserve it just for putting up with your jerk of a boss!
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
19 Mar 11
I got a raise the first of December last year. It was the first time I got a raise in two years. Where I work we were getting raises every year but when the economy got bad,to save money,raises were put on the back burner. Now the economy is a little better and that is why I got a raise! Only problem with the raise is none of them I have gottan in the past 9 years have covered the cost of living! I know a raise is better then no raise at all!
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
19 Mar 11
I know what you mean. My husband has had a few raises over the years and none of them seem to help cover our expenses.
@chinchoy (191)
• Hong Kong
18 Mar 11
I was in a situation once and I consider myself really lucky that I kind of got a raise even before I started working for the company.
Back then I was unemployed and looking for a job. I applied for a position in the Operations department and they told me that they would have hired me but the guy I meant to replace somehow would continue to work there. Naturally, I was so disappointed. Almost 3 months later, I got this call from the company out of the blue asking me if I would consider working in their Support department instead, and the pay was 30% more than the original job that I have applied. Well, I couldn't believe my luck and how can I turn down such an offer. I also got another raise two years later when my employment contract was renewed.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
17 Mar 11
GOOD FOR U for being such a good worker & good for them for noticing & appreciating it. It's been so long since i worked for anyone else but i doubt i did. I was self employed for the last 20 years i worked. Hard work does pay off i have always believed. i'm proud of u.
@NIECIE21 (365)
• United States
17 Mar 11
I understand your frustation, but to be honest, if you have only been there for a few months, then no, you do not deserve a raise. I know that it stinks to work on your days off and to come in on your days off and work extra shifts, but that is part of working...I have been there before (heck, I am doing it now). I see that you got a 25 cent raise though. That is good! Just keep doing what you are doing and maybe when you go for your next review you will get more :) And if not, just remember it may not be what you are doing, but it could be due to the fact that we are still going thru tough econmic times and not many people are getting raises right now.
@jeffreyallen (298)
• United States
17 Mar 11
Congrats on getting 25 cent raise! To most people it doesnt sound alot, but trust me, 25 cents added to your how much you get paid for hour. It adds up. It sounds like they are working you hard and you`re new. I`ve heard similiar stories. Like my friend that worked for toys r us. They didnt make them leave till 3am. It really isnt fair with minimum wage jobs and how they treat their customers, but I`m glad you`re couping. Sounds like you`re on their good side. Good things will happen if you keep it up. Goodluck.
