flea,
there are all kinds of reasons why someone might not be at the floor of salary: education, experience, particular skills, etc.
don't accept the floor if you can help it. I understand it is your first job, but think about all the factors that make you an asset.
Negotiating ~ma, flea!
I was essentially told a few weeks ago that I was lucky I got time off when Rob died, since I hadn't been there a year yet and wasn't entitled to vacation. There is no bereavement leave.
Oh my god. Sometimes I think there are no actual human beings left in corporate America at all.
And Maria's employers aren't all that huge corporate. They're just garden-variety assholes!
brenda makes good points. let me add that my first job post-graduate school, I had a low salary. I was not the best negotiator back then, but what really bothered me years ago, is that the low salary in effect made sure I contributed a whole lot less to my retirement, and that is hundreds of thousands of dollars over a decade.
it does not feel good to press, but we have to because otherwise we will get shafted.
Amy, this is a family-owned dealership group. The dealer principal is a micromanaging, cranky SOB who treats all of his employees like crap.
I love companies who want their employees crying at their desks. it really aids in our productivity.
Either way, assholes.
Also, I want brenda to be my negotiator if I ever have a decent job/offer.
Yeah, I have let myself get less than maybe I should have (and am currently doing that still!), but at least I haven't worked for assholes.
Man, Maria. I wish I could get you into my company. I don't mean to be all Pollyanna-y but I am so glad to work somewhere where performance is genuinely valued. I mean, it's not perfect by any means, but if you work hard and show results people notice.
Amy, this is a family-owned dealership group. The dealer principal is a micromanaging, cranky SOB who treats all of his employees like crap.
Ah. That is exactly the kind of privately owned fiefdom hell I escaped from. I was so happy to get back to Big Corporate America with all its bureaucracy and policies and standards of behavior and stuff.
The HR manager there is a friend of mine and we do a good job of separating friendship from work. She knows I'm moving back to PA. It says a lot when she told me she doesn't blame me and if there's anything she can do to help, just let her know. And it's ok by her if I somehow can't give a full two weeks' notice.
Telling, isn't it?