Apologies in advance. I’m feeling rather cynical today.
Recently a dear friend told me he got into a very heated argument with his boss because he felt he was being underpaid and unappreciated. While I can understand how he feels, I have to say I inwardly cringed. It’s been my experience that nothing good comes of such conversations.
My friend seems to be of the impression that his employer will now see the error of his ways, appreciate the value he brings to the organization, and a raise will soon follow. Not bloody likely. If his boss were the type to recognize the value of his employees, he’d be properly compensating them already.
The fact is, as good as you are at your job, you’re never indispensable. Even Steve Jobs got fired from Apple. Look over your shoulder. There are at least 10 people standing behind you, eager to take your place. Especially in this economy. This means that the average employer can, and will, treat you like crap. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but if you want groceries and a roof over your head, that’s the way it is.
So before you start shouting, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” consider this: we are all cogs in a massive wheel, and cogs can be replaced.
The View from a Drawbridge 
A very hard lesson to learn, but one we must.
Unfortunately, you are right.
I wish I weren’t. Ah well.
For the most part I agree, but often you can be indespensable and more fool the boss who realises too late. I work in a small company of 10 employees and have done for the last 15 years. Everything we do is second nature it would take an age for someone to replace anyone here and do as good a job, mostly as we’ve got everything down to a tee and in a particular way, I think the way we do some things which is mainly geared to knowing how our boss likes things done would seem bizarre to someone coming in fresh. So it’s knowing how he likes things to operate giving us the advantage. And the fact I also run him and his families personal lives goes a long way too. Personally I’d hate relinquishing control of running my own life the way he does, but he obviously finds organising things he has to do tedious or beneath him.
I was on a lesser wage for years but never plucked up the courage to ask for more, I finally did and got a 30% increase instantly. Sucks he knew he was getting a good deal but would rather pay less for years. But I still consider myself lucky having had such job security.
For the most part employers have no idea what your job entails and whether you are excelling at it or not.
Well, you had me until that last sentence, Joe. While employers might not get bogged down in the minutiae of what you do from one minute to the next, they do know what end result they expect, and their opinion on your level of excellence is based on your ability to achieve those outcomes. Bosses know when they have someone competent on their hands. They also know exactly how much they can get away with, and believe me, most of them push that to the limit every single time.
If you want to see the very worst in someone, put them in a position of authority.
😀 Quick, delete my last sentence!
Your last sentence is spot on though.
🙂
uh… I am fairly sure I am… HA!
Well, I could have done without that. HA!
Me too…