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Why is it so easy for my boss to take advantage of me?

Ok...here goes the long story.

I'm currently what could only be described as the dumbest person in the working world.

I got hired as a sales person six months ago; to sell security alarms, security cameras and electrical contract services, for which I have very little experience.

My starting salary was acceptable with the fairly high commission rate that they promised, and even though I was somewhat intimidated with the prospect of selling products and services that I wasn't familiar...I thought of it as a step up.

Since then, I've been promoted to Sales manager...though my pay cheque is the same. I have two sales reps under me, one with a lot more experience than me.

This is all well and good, I'm learning.

But now...the two supposed owners or partners of the company have split. The long and short of it is that one wasn't fulfilling his end of the arrangement so the other pulled the plug.

The remaining owner has hired me to fulfill the role of Regional Manager, basically what the other partner was supposed to be doing prior to the separation.

The problem...I'm still at the same meagre salary as I was the first day I got hired.

I've asked and hinted and begged, and even demanded an opportunity to talk about more money...but the answer I always get is "we just can't do it now, we have to get more money coming in before we can even talk about that".

This job requires fairly extensive travel, it requires the use of my personal cell phone (as well as a work phone), it requires very long hours and weekend work, and a huge amount of my attention and focus.

With the price of gas, this job costs me money.

What the hell am I supposed to do? I made a commimment, I promised that I'd be the stand up guy, but how can I go on when my paycheque isn't even enough to cover my basic bills?

Help if you can...but for the most part this was rhetorical.

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Oh...p.s.
Submitted by Pyper900 on Mon, 03/19/2007 - 14:28.

This job was obtained through a family member who had an in with the partner who was cut out.

Before that...it was unemployment for more then three months for me. My resume, while impressive to me, seems to be less than satisfactory to most recruiters, HR maidens and business owners.

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Oh, come on!
Submitted by wolfietherat on Mon, 03/19/2007 - 15:28.

You spelled it out plain as day. The job is costing you money. That is not the way it is supposed to work. They are getting more and more out of you and it isn't costing them a cent, it is costing you. Get out of there now! Quick, before you are vice president!
Look for a job that pays you.

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Wolfie's Right
Submitted by theraininspain on Mon, 03/19/2007 - 15:34.

Listen, if you have shown yourself to be a valuable employee and they are still acting like jerks about paying you what you're worth, then you need to head out. I bet they'll FREAK when you tell them you're leaving! Good luck! :D

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Don't relay on Human Kindness or Decency
Submitted by ilovemydoggy on Mon, 03/19/2007 - 19:46.

To get power - be tough. DO NOT RELY ON HUMAN DECENCY. FORGET IT.

Get them "over a barrel". Have they been kind to you???

Wait until you have a back-up plan in place, then tell them unless they give you ___ more $ - you are leaving.

Watch what happens. ~ Nancy

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Threaten him anyway
Submitted by SmoothOperator on Tue, 03/20/2007 - 01:33.

With a "regional sales manager" title under your belt, it's going to be a whole lot easier for you to find another place work.

Let the weasle know that you want a raise NOW, or else your resumes will be going out in the mail tomorrow, and mean it when you say it.

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My Sucky Job!
Submitted by hammie226 on Tue, 03/20/2007 - 20:33.

I had a sucky job too. I performed above and beyond during vacancies. Note: I "had" a sucky job. That's the beauty of it all now. I can look back and wondered why I put up with alot of crap on the job.

The fact that you have been promoted, I suppose is great for where you are at. I have a different outlook on any rat races, called jobs out there.

You have settled. That's what you did, settled. And to boot, you are still earning the same paycheck you were earning when you were first hired.

Don't be a "sacrificial lamb. Your boss does this because he can. That's the bottom line...he can! No one should ever have to be placed in the position to "beg" for more money. Dogs do that...well for a bone...you get my drift.

What can you do to earn $2000 a few times a week...Read my blogs on "My Sucky Job!" You will never have to beg again!

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