Workplace woes, ...need some opinions on this matter... Options

[KAOS]

So, I'm not sure exactly how the world of employment goes, but recently I was given a task that was above and beyond my job description. Now normally I wouldn't be so anal about a new task that let me flex my experience muscle, but I've been working for this company for almost 5 years, and I've been waiting for a raise for the past two years. Every time I ask they come up with reason for delaying my salary increase. Now the last time this happened I was told I would be given a review in August. So, fricken August is almost GONE and I'm still sitting here with no review - and quite honestly I'm tired of asking.

Anyways, back to the story - they gave me a task (firstly they assumed that I would be able to do it and that I would do it, didn't even ask). Well it consumed my time, and needless to say I fell behind in my ORIGINAL tasks. One of the reviewers even had the nerve to say the rough draft didn't look very professional (I almost lost it and told them to PAY a professional then!) Anyways the project is done; I fell behind in my work, and I'm still not getting paid anymore to do all this extra work (which I have friends who do it for a living and get paid mad $$$'s)

So I'm thinking about sending the company I work for a bill for the work that I did beyond my paygrade/job description. I've done some research from businesses that do this fulltime and got a few quotes from them (the project I did was a half-page ad - incase you wanted to know) I took the average price and then charged $10 less.

I'm irrate - in case you can't tell, but what I'm really wondering is: do I have a right to bill them for it? Am I stepping out of line, or am I sticking up for myself in my ****ty workplace?

I can't tell because my opinion is bias - can you guys provide some insight??

What should I do?

This post has been edited by KAOS: Aug 20, 2008 - 6:00 PM

[GriffGirl]

Your job sucks - and I'm sorry for that. Unfortunately it's a harsh reality in the workplace - we're often asked to do things that are above and beyond our job descriptions, and rarely are we fairly compensated for it.

Don't send a bill to your job for the work you did unless you have a strong desire to be fired. It would be extremely unprofessional and inappropriate for you to send them a bill or even say anything about it at all. You can look at this in one of two ways: 1, it's an opportunity to show that you have a good work ethic and that you're willing to take on and learn new skills, or 2, you work for a bunch of punk-ass mo-fo's who pay you less than you're worth and will constantly try to take advantage of you. If option #2 is the perspective you have, then you need to keep your mouth shut, suck it up and find a new job. If option #1 is your perspective, then you should ask what it is you could have done better on the report or whatever it was so that next time you can improve. Maybe part of getting a raise is learning how to prioritize tasks and learn new skills - in which case it sounds like you might have fallen a bit short on this one.

I'm SO not trying to be a b1tch - sorry if it totally comes out that way. I've worked for all kinds of people in my life, and if there's one thing I've learned it's that some of them are just testing you and some of them are just total dix and will take advantage every chance they get. You have to tactfully be able to advocate for yourself in either situation though.

[D-Man]

Your job sucks - and I'm sorry for that. Unfortunately it's a harsh reality in the workplace - we're often asked to do things that are above and beyond our job descriptions, and rarely are we fairly compensated for it.

Don't send a bill to your job for the work you did unless you have a strong desire to be fired. It would be extremely unprofessional and inappropriate for you to send them a bill or even say anything about it at all. You can look at this in one of two ways: 1, it's an opportunity to show that you have a good work ethic and that you're willing to take on and learn new skills, or 2, you work for a bunch of punk-ass mo-fo's who pay you less than you're worth and will constantly try to take advantage of you. If option #2 is the perspective you have, then you need to keep your mouth shut, suck it up and find a new job. If option #1 is your perspective, then you should ask what it is you could have done better on the report or whatever it was so that next time you can improve. Maybe part of getting a raise is learning how to prioritize tasks and learn new skills - in which case it sounds like you might have fallen a bit short on this one.

I'm SO not trying to be a b1tch - sorry if it totally comes out that way. I've worked for all kinds of people in my life, and if there's one thing I've learned it's that some of them are just testing you and some of them are just total dix and will take advantage every chance they get. You have to tactfully be able to advocate for yourself in either situation though.

i couldn't have said it better myself.

If you company is really dickin' you arround like this, for years w/o pay raise nonetheless, than i'd take a gander at what else is arround. Because once a company knows they can treat you like the work-horse, they will. And personally, i have no problem being the work horse; provided i'm paid for it

I'd say to check out MONSTER.com and compare your salary to the makings of others in your field. Then decide if you want to keep this job or do something else.

G/L