Is your company treating you fairly - Copeland Coaching

Is your company treating you fairly If you ask an employer why their employee quit, they often say pay. The person found a better deal somewhere else. But, if you ask the employee the same question, pay is rarely the reason. Its certainly at the top of their list for the new company they want to work for. But, its rarely the real reason they left their old company. As you know, a big reason employees leave is they feel treated unfairly. This brings the question, What is fair? At a government job (including the military), whats fair can feel more obvious. Pay is a known quantity because pay scales are public information. Promotions and raises are typically scheduled. In this type of job, its unlikely you will wake up one day to learn that your peer is making significantly more money than you, or has been awarded more vacation. In a corporate job however, this isnt the case at all. Im the biggest advocate for the job seeker, so dont get me wrong. But, things work differently in this world. Whats fair often doesnt matter. Pay is based on things like how well you negotiated. It may be based on your previous salary history. It could even be based on the college you attended. It isnt necessarily based on the following: The quality of your work How senior you are How much money you saved the organization How smart you are Essentially, fair is what youre willing to accept. And, once youre in the door with a company, they arent obligated to pay you more just because youre a superstar. Its upsetting, I know. It can make you angry. It can make you want to scream. But, in the corporate world, you are your advocate. Youre the one who must convince your company and your boss that youre valuable. Getting the most money is a game. Its one you have to play. And, you have to play it on the front end. Dont expect future raises to be more than 2-6% annually once youre at a company. So, what should you do when you wake up one day to realize that your peers are making more than you? You could kick and scream. You could quit. There are laws about this stuff, RIGHT? Yes, you could. And, if youre truly being mistreated, I dont want to discourage you from seeking help. But, think about where you want to put your energy. If your company doesnt respect you enough to pay you what youre worth today, what difference will it make if they pay you more tomorrow? Youll still be in the same unfortunate situation, with a boss who is unlikely to recognize your talents or encourage your growth. If you learn that youre being treated unfairly, my suggestion is to start looking for someone who will treat you fairly. Search for a company that values you. Find a boss that will promote you, and be your advocate. Stop focusing on the past and start looking toward the future. But, whatever you do, dont quit your current job (if you can help it). I know its awful. I know you hate being there. I get it; you hate your boss. But, if you quit, you will forever have to explain what happened, and why you have a gap on your resume. Youll forever have to explain that you were underappreciated and underpaid. Other people may even assume that you were fired. Crazy, right? Its something we dont think about when we make the choice to quit, but hiring managers will wonder what happened. If you are being treated unfairly, Im terribly sorry. Its the absolute worst feeling in the world. Hang in there, and refocus your energy on what you can control YOUR FUTURE. In no time, youll find someone who will truly appreciate you! I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, dont hesitate to reach out to me here. Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If youve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. Happy hunting! Angela Copeland @CopelandCoach