Week of April 12th--pay rates--

[andream]

Are you paid what you are worth? If not how much should you be paid and why? If you ARE paid what you think you're worth, what will you do in the coming year to increase your worth?

do tell...

Andrea

[gee4]

I am indeed but having faced redundancy and having to temp, I have had to fight to re-gain my status as a senior PA earning the money I deserve.  You can definitely negotiate more money with private companies which is why I was picky about the job offers that I was made.

In the 6 months I have been here I have already had a job change and an interim pay rise so at the moment I cannot complain.  However in the past I have worked in the Education sector so have been on a salary scale where you move up a point each year.

G

[peana]

I'm paid well - better than most of my friends in similar positions - and have very good benefits.  However, as I've mentioned briefly before, HR will not allow bossie to give me the pay increase he thinks I deserve, even though it is within his budget.  I have far more responsibilities than most of the other PAs here, and look after a larger department for most (other dept's of this size tend to have support staff to assist them).  I'm a bit peeved at the moment as I feel my job title - not my actual responsibilities - are determining what I earn.

I also feel as though I'm penalised for being efficient.  As I have no staff to support me I've restricitions on when I can take holiday and for how long - company policy no longer allows temps to cover holidays, stating someone else from within the company should be able to provide cover.  In my case that just isn't possible!

Bossie is not happy with the situation either, but we've not had a chance to come up with a solution yet.  I really enjoy my job, but am starting to feel that I may need to move on to get the recognition I need.  I don't want to be greedy, but have got to think about myself and make sure I'm not selling myself short.

[tinkerbell]

I believe I am paid what I am worth but its taken me a long time to REALISE what I am worth but luckily this organisation realised it before I could say anything to the contrary!

I have only been in this position for 7 months so am happy to justify my worth at the moment, settle into the position, manage my workload until I feel confident to increase it.  I would hate to jeopardise my position by jumping into anything too big at the moment.

Peana –  we don’t have temporary holiday cover either but we spread our workload across the other admins in our division, despite being at different levels, which seems to work.  There will never be the same cover though – I still have to organise/do certain things before I go on leave.

[peana]

Hi Tinkerbell, I'm grumpy this morning and feeling sorry for myself having come back from the Easter break!  

I've never had temp cover in previous jobs, but it was great when I first came here and we could - no more dreading the state of your desk / emails / voicemail ...  Unfortunately, it spoilt me!  There are nearly 70 in my department and I'm the only admin - although most of the guys do their own filing, etc. things still build up quickly when I'm out for any length of time!  

I've never taken more than 10 consecutive days holiday (i.e. 1.5 weeks away from the office), although we are encouraged to take at least one 2-week break a year.  This year, after a MASSIVE saving effort, hubby and I were planning to take 3 weeks on a trip of a lifetime to Canada and Alaska.  Unfortunately bossie was not a happy bunny and we compromised at 2.5 weeks - still a huge amount of time I know, but it means cutting our itinerary and missing the chance to visit Dawson City (an old gold rush town way up in the Yukon).  However, he gets to delegate work amongst his managers and spend a month in Australia!

I sound like a spoilt brat, but this is a sore point at the moment!  I'll be fine in a week!

[mathwhizchick]

Peana, I don't think you're spoilt at all.  I completely understand, since my DH is in the same position--he's a coffee roaster with a small company, and has to literally threaten to quit before they will agree to any time off for him.

Back to the topic, I am also paid what I am work, and the LARGE corporation that employs me also has EXCELLENT benefits.  Like you, there is a corporation limit as to how much of a raise I get each year. (However, bossie is VERY generous with Christmas, birthday and APW goodies, in a kind of "compensation" for the raise restriction).  

We do have company-wide performance awards, tied to how we meet/exceed our EPS.  Given the sorry state of the financial markets over the past 2 years, though, that bonus has not happened.

To keep my value, I read everything I can get my hands on, so I can keep abreast of the financial markets.  I constantly browse our company intranet, and keep tabs on all the new information/equipment/processes/procedures, so I can do my job effectively and efficiently.  I network like a madwoman, so I have contacts to help me continue to make my bossie's work life easier.   I do keep brushed up on the MS office pack, but that is really not a large part of my job with this boss.

[ozbound]

As far as the pay itself goes, I'm pretty happy with it.  But I'm still technically with the temp agency so I have no health benefits or personal days and that really bites!

[newtofl]

I am not sure if I am getting paid the right amount.  I now live in Florida and find that the pay is much less then in NJ but since I never worked as a claims assistant, I do not know what the usual pay is.  I am making about $10,000 a year less then I did in NJ.  We just received our raises of 2.5% (this is the company average and only a couple of people in the office received more of a raise and that was because they got a promotion).  

I am continually keeping my eyes out for a new position doing the work that I enjoy and getting the pay that I deserve.  One of my old bosses told me one time that you should always keep your resume out because the best job maybe out there waiting for you.

[catsmeat]

Duno if I'm getting paid the "right" amount (although I think I do quite well for where I am geographically); what I do know is that I am getting much more, both directly into my bank and in real terms, than I did in the last job.  My travelling has been cut right down (c 13 miles per day as opposed to 40) so my petrol bill has shrunk accordingly - and I did get a substantial pay hike when I joined.  Added to that I spend much less time travelling; my hours and holidays are better, and I have a boss who recognises that I do in fact have a life beyond the office.  If I'm there much beyond five I'm TOLD to go home.  It isn't just about money; it's about the quality of life that you enjoy too.  Heaven only knows how I managed on the salary at the last place!

[mathwhizchick]

Newtofl, I'm sending you an email shortly.  It will have a word doc attached.  Be on the lookout for it.

[countrigal]

I've always said that admins in my company get paid well above average for what they are expected to do, and mainly that is because we are a national company and the salaries are pretty standard across the board, so if you live in LA you get basically the same pay that you would in AL, with the only difference being the locality adjustment which is to cover the differences in cost of living.  Some of the other fields (ie: IT) may not get paid as well as they would in the civilian sector, but it works for the admin field.  With that being said, I truly feel that I'm duly compensated for the job that I do.  Good salary, great leave program (I currently earn 6 hours AL every 2 wks, with an increase to 8 hours when I've been with the company for 15 years, and 4 hours SL every 2 wks), most positions can be flexible work schedules and my boss is willing to work with me on my schedule (unofficially) so that I have the time needed to take my baby to doc appts and such without useing all my leave.  And promotions are fairly easy to come by in this company too, which is also an incentive to stay.

Our company requires 40 hours of continuing education each year in order to stay up on our skills.  They offer computer classes (basic, intermediate and advanced) in each of the main MicroSoft Office Programs so everyone can keep up on their skills in those, plus they offer training on different areas of the company, the interviewing technique used by the company, and other training options that will assist individuals to get their required education hours and increase their worth to the company.  In the next year I will attend some off-station training specific to my job, am hoping to attend a MicroSoft Access class off station (as even the advanced class on station is redundant for me), and will continue to keep my eyes open for any other training or educational opportunities that will help me in my current position or help me in my search for my next position.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[emd_22]

It's taken a long time but I finally think I'm paid what I'm worth!  I had my salary review letter given to me this week.  

Our company has changed the way they reward staff the last two years.  I must say when I got my rise last year I was surprised that the rise on my basic salary was low (about 650 GPB when I had been getting 1000+ GBP added to my salary each year before that)!!

The company now gives a one off bonus to staff so my rise was lower this year (ie 450) but I had a large bonus.  I'm not sure if this is a good way to go or not.  

I have also been told that because I am above the benchmark they have for my role then I have to keep performing exceptionally well to get any benefit from this!  The benchmark for this year was the same as last year (ie 19,550 GBP).  I have to say with the other benefits we get flexible working, private healthcare - I think it's quite a good scheme.....

Liz

[hucks]

Yes I'm paid well for what I do but don't believe that there should be a grading system - I currently work in a solicitors office where because I work for a partner I am on more money than the secretary next to me who works for a solicitor, even though generally I manage to get out of the office on time whilst most nights she's here til late (is that my good time management or is she busier than me?!).

You should be awarded for your hard work and not whether you have a tag of "Partner's Secretary".   I'd prefer to be on a lower wage but receive more benefits (I don't receive any at the moment, hence I'm leaving at the end of April!) including a bonus scheme attached to appraisals etc.

[shirleyt]

I think I am fairly well paid on the whole but feel that the company needs to keep a closer eye on the rate of increase in other factors of living in London.  I can't afford to buy a house so am renting and my pay rise this year will not allow me to stay in my flat given the rent increase and council tax increase.  

When asked why my rise was so low (in comparison to the last years) I was told that it was because our profit related pay was high this year.  Now correct me if I am wrong but isn't the whole point of PRP to be a bonus on top of the monthly salary.  Therefore shoudn't the monthly/yearly wage be allocated without any thought of the PRP.  I realise I am being a little picky but I would be happy to do without PRP if I knew my salary would cover my living expenses.

Thanks for the chance to rant a bit.

Shirley

[JessW]

I am continuously being told (and feel it as well) that for my minimum 50% fee earning job I am piteously underpaid.  Like ShirleyT I get PRP, mine being calculated on a percentage of my division's profit for the forthcoming year and it is also taken into consideration when they calculated my (again percentage based) pay rise.  Yep, I got a grand total of £25 extra per month before tax for my troubles which only just gets me to work  with £2 over (income tax probably).

I am glad that other bosses seem to be paying up - it gives me hope in my continued job search!  Anyone need a paralegal?

Jess