A "conditional raise" - how about that?
By maezee
@maezee (41985)
United States
April 27, 2010 11:35pm CST
Here's my dillema. I make $8.25 (practically minimum wage..) here in Minnesota, USA, at a dry cleaners I've worked at for for about 2 1/2 years now. I've only gotten one raise - .25 cents - throughout these 2 1/2 years. I talked with my boss about it, and her boss, and her boss gave me a proposition that made my head hurt to think about. I'd like your guys' perspectives on it if you don't mind!
See, I work for this dry cleaning company with about 25 locations around the metro area I live in. I work at one location, however, if I choose to help out another store, usually in a different city, the company gives a bonus of $25 plus the mileage it takes to get there. Now, these opportunities to work at different stores come up anywhere from ZERO to FIVE or SIX times a month. You can imagine the (good) money that that extra bonus brings in. However, the company is finally getting the extra help they need and so people like me get less opportunities to work at other stores and make this bonus. ANYWAY, what my supervisor "offered" to me is a "conditional raise". Meaning, I could take an extra .20 cents an hour - making my hourly pay $8.45 an hour instead of $8.25 - but I would NO LONGER get any of these bonuses for working at other stores!
I would really like to just be able to SAY that I make a little bit more - as it's slightly embarrassing for me to still make what I did 2 years ago at this company - but I feel like this puts me between a rock and a hard place! A "conditional raise"?! Who has heard of such nonsense?
Have you ever been "offered" something like this - a raise, in exchange for a bonus or other benefit? What would you do if you were me?
3 responses
@beachdune (907)
• India
28 Apr 10
I feel why employers take out all the pulp from the employees and just leave them hanging around a rope. This thing is prevalent in many place in my country.
@Shar19 (8236)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Oh Maezee! This is not the job for you. You could be doing so much better than that. One raise of 25 cents in 2 1/2 years is terrible. These people are taking you for granted. Get yourself out there and find another job that will pay you better. You're worth it!
@jeeyah (1092)
• Philippines
28 Apr 10
You've been working there for more than 2 years and that's the only raise you got? And they're offering you another raise but with a certain condition? No way. I think you should try looking for another job that can offer you more than that. I think that company is taking you for granted, and you don't deserve it.
However, if you don't really want or find it hard to find another job, then I suggest you try to analyze what could make you more money. If you take that conditional raise, you will have a higher steady income. If you don't take it, you may get some bonuses, but there's also a possibility that there would be times when you won't make bonuses. This is actually like a gambling dilemma, you will never be sure which choice could give you the best.
