ATOT: Need job/attitude advice

[rudeguy]

I need some advice.

I have been at my current job since June. Its a small business and I like it here. The problem is that I am still a temp worker. I don't get benefits like health insurance, paid holidays or overtime. This week I am more frustrated than normal because I will be losing a day's pay tomorrow. I also worked a ton of hours last week but I won't be getting overtime pay for that, so its a big number when you total up what I am missing out on.

The owner has said he wants me hired but the CEO makes the calls. The owner bugged the CEO enough that the CEO called me into his office. I was all excited but the CEO said he just wanted to let me know that hiring me was "on his radar". That was a while ago and I haven't bugged anyone since.

But now I am taking on more and more duties. Last week I travelled to help set up some new stores we bought then right after, flew to Omaha to set up a new warehouse out there. Technically IT is not part of my job but since they know that I am capable they asked me to do it. Now this week we are shipping out a ton of inventory to get those new stores stocked so I have been helping out in the warehouse. We set a new record for units shipped yesterday and today I came in 1.5 hours early to help get the rest of the units out.

So what do I do? Do I just be pissed that I am missing out on benefits and money? Do I just accept that things take time? Do I bug people? What do I do?

I know my efforts are noticed since the GM, CEO and owner all personally texted me thanking me for all the work these past couple weeks. I can't cash those texts no matter how hard I try.

Help me fix my attitude please.

 

[purbeast0]

if it were me i'd find a new job. sounds like you've been working quite a bit for free, which i refuse to do and if i was forced to i'd get a new job. it also sounds like you are now valued at less, as you are doing more work but getting paid the same.

sounds like they are just trying to dick you around and get you as cheap as possible, and it seems to be working because you continue to do it.

 

[Markbnj]

I think you've more than proven your value, and at this point the only reason they can keep you on and save the cost of benefits is that you're willing to do it. So the right way to deal with this, imo, is to line up an alternative and then go in and see the CEO and tell him the party is over.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Don't accept excuses - it is trivial for them to hire you if they really want to hire you. If you don't have benefits through a spouse, it is important to get them and I'd reiterate my concern to your manager one more time. In the meantime, start looking for other jobs. You might be amazed at how quickly they can suddenly hire you if you tell them you have another offer but would prefer to remain with them.

 

[Zee]

line up an alternative. if you cant find any or are not qualified for any that are good, then what you got is the best there is for you

 

[purbeast0]

Don't accept excuses - it is trivial for them to hire you if they really want to hire you. If you don't have benefits through a spouse, it is important to get them and I'd reiterate my concern to your manager one more time. In the meantime, start looking for other jobs. You might be amazed at how quickly they can suddenly hire you if you tell them you have another offer but would prefer to remain with them.

even if that is the case, that shit don't fly with me. it just goes to show you that they won't make any changes that would make their employees happy until they flat out HAVE to do so. they won't do it just because it will make the employee happy.

my previous company was like that. i had a lot of issues with them and told them how they could change to make me happy. 3-4 months later i told them i'm leaving and they wondered why, then asked me what they had to do to get me to stay. i told them there is nothing short of doubling my salary that would get me to stay, which was obviously unrealistic, and they had to accept it.

 

[olds]

Personally, I wouldn't work for that company. They have shown you their true colors. They treat people like shit.
If it were me, I'd be looking for a job with benefits including retirement. How is your retirement funded now?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

even if that is the case, that shit don't fly with me. it just goes to show you that they won't make any changes that would make their employees happy until they flat out HAVE to do so. they won't do it just because it will make the employee happy.

my previous company was like that. i had a lot of issues with them and told them how they could change to make me happy. 3-4 months later i told them i'm leaving and they wondered why, then asked me what they had to do to get me to stay. i told them there is nothing short of doubling my salary that would get me to stay, which was obviously unrealistic, and they had to accept it.

Yeah I normally would not accept a counteroffer and would tell management I was unhappy. However, rudeguy's situation is different - he is currently a temp and therefore, is easy for his current company to let go of. So he has to play it a little closer to his vest and may not be able to give them an outright warning of his intentions.

Regardless, they have had six months and rudeguy needs to look for other opportunities at this point.

 

[TheKub]

Can you be a temp worker and still have exempt status? Where you placed there via a temp service?

 

[sixone]

I think you've more than proven your value, and at this point the only reason they can keep you on and save the cost of benefits is that you're willing to do it. So the right way to deal with this, imo, is to line up an alternative and then go in and see the CEO and tell him the party is over.

This. Be sure the owner knows, too.

The owner is putting this on the CEO, for no apparent reason. The CEO is either ignoring what the owner wants, or there's something going on that you don't know about.

 

[rudeguy]

Can you be a temp worker and still have exempt status? Where you placed there via a temp service?

No I was hired on as temp...then it evolved. Pay didn't though.

 

[Soundmanred]

If they valued you as a worker, they would hire you.
They don't see you as valuable, they see you as a dime-a-dozen guy who they can make do anything.
Then on to the next one.

 

[blackdogdeek]

I'd find a new job. You could try to make it known that you are looking for a new job by wearing a suit to work a couple of times and go for an extended lunch on those days but that could be a dangerous game.

 

[Train]

even if that is the case, that shit don't fly with me. it just goes to show you that they won't make any changes that would make their employees happy until they flat out HAVE to do so. they won't do it just because it will make the employee happy.

100% this. It's one thing to say they don't have the resources now, but if they suddenly appear when you are about to leave, I'd take it like a slap in the face. They are basically admitting to screwing you over previously.

 

[rudeguy]

100% this. It's one thing to say they don't have the resources now, but if they suddenly appear when you are about to leave, I'd take it like a slap in the face. They are basically admitting to screwing you over previously.

its not a resources problem, its a time problem.

We have been super swamped, especially the CEO. The big problem is that he doesn't understand what I do, so I don't think he knows what to offer. Then because of all the craziness lately, looking into it hasn't been a priority.

 

[Train]

Personally I'd push the CEO a little more.

He said "on his radar" well great, in a few weeks time/after new years, "on his radar" should be upgraded to at least "things are in motion", else he is just blowing smoke.

 

[Soundmanred]

I'd find a new job. You could try to make it known that you are looking for a new job by wearing a suit to work a couple of times and go for an extended lunch on those days but that could be a dangerous game.

This could be very dangerous, especially if you don't have an exceptional skillset the company finds necessary. If you are just one out of millions that can do the job, they know they have a large pool of employees to choose from, so why would they give you more than they are.
You play these games when you have the upper hand. You have to be honest with yourself and ask yourself if you are overvaluing your skills.
Sometimes people get disillusioned into thinking they excel at their jobs because they are given more and more to do. They see this as trust and confidence, which is a mistake. Unless they are paying you more to do more, you are being a pack mule. Taking the load and getting run ragged. Why do they do it? That's what they see you as - a pack mule and nothing more.
People without education and exceptional skillsets have a choice - take what you're given or move on to the next job (where you'll be treated the same, most likely).
It's why I help my employees pay for education. I don't need them working for me all their lives, nor do I want them to. There will always be someone to replace them, so I'd rather help them move up.

 

[rudeguy]

Personally I'd push the CEO a little more.

He said "on his radar" well great, in a few weeks time/after new years, "on his radar" should be upgraded to at least "things are in motion", else he is just blowing smoke.

he's really not the type to blow smoke. He will just flat out tell you how it is and if you don't like it, oh well.

I don't think they are not hiring me for any reason other than the chaos lately. I can't get too far into details but we basically bought a whole company, took it over, stocked its stores, set up computers in all the stores and set up a new warehouse all in 30 days (all of this in 3 different states than our own). That's on top of the other Christmas madness (we are a cell phone wholesaler, so this time of year is super busy).

I don't want to seem ungrateful or like I am trying to put them on the spot. But I also don't want to be in the position I am in. Being a grown up sucks sometimes

 

[lxskllr]

its not a resources problem, its a time problem.

We have been super swamped, especially the CEO. The big problem is that he doesn't understand what I do, so I don't think he knows what to offer. Then because of all the craziness lately, looking into it hasn't been a priority.

Tell him what you're worth. Lay it on the table, and tell him what you need to stay on. If he can't do that, walk. You don't have to walk right away, but let him know right there you'll be looking, and you'll do your best to leave the company in a presentable state for your replacement to take over.

 

[olds]

Don't forget that your son is watching all of this.

 

[Train]

he's really not the type to blow smoke. He will just flat out tell you how it is and if you don't like it, oh well.

I don't think they are not hiring me for any reason other than the chaos lately. I can't get too far into details but we basically bought a whole company, took it over, stocked its stores, set up computers in all the stores and set up a new warehouse all in 30 days (all of this in 3 different states than our own). That's on top of the other Christmas madness (we are a cell phone wholesaler, so this time of year is super busy).

I don't want to seem ungrateful or like I am trying to put them on the spot. But I also don't want to be in the position I am in. Being a grown up sucks sometimes

Does it really take that much time to hire you? You fill out a W4, inform the payroll processor, what else? bennies won't kick in til 90 days anyways, don't have to worry about healthcare enrollment process until later.

 

[rudeguy]

Don't forget that your son is watching all of this.

all he sees is me go to work and come home. He has no idea about what happens in between. I'm a grown man, I wouldn't put that stuff on my son.

 

[brandonb]

Personally, if it was me, I'd just go and talk to the CEO again. Tell them that you really enjoy working there, but you value your job security too. That your family has to depend on you having a stable permanent job. Temp was fine for awhile, but at some point, you need to find something more dependable as you have mouths to feed back home. If something can't be arranged soon, you may have to look elsewhere, even though you don't really want to do it as you like working there.

In many situations this is a chess game. They took their move. They moved a pawn up, blew smoke up your ass, and now it's your turn on what to do. You need to make the next move or nothing will happen. Put the ball in their court.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'd find a new job. You could try to make it known that you are looking for a new job by wearing a suit to work a couple of times and go for an extended lunch on those days but that could be a dangerous game.

He has to be a little more careful as a temp, so I would not advise this approach.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Personally, if it was me, I'd just go and talk to the CEO again. Tell them that you really enjoy working there, but you value your job security too. That your family has to depend on you having a stable permanent job. Temp was fine for awhile, but at some point, you need to find something more dependable as you have mouths to feed back home. If something can't be arranged soon, you may have to look elsewhere, even though you don't really want to do it as you like working there.

In many situations this is a chess game. They took their move. They moved a pawn up, blew smoke up your ass, and now it's your turn on what to do. You need to make the next move or nothing will happen. Put the ball in their court.

I think this is pretty good advice but I'd still be looking until you get an offer you like.