my employer doesn’t pay us for time spent waiting for assignments by Alison Green on June 1, 2020 A reader writes: I am an hourly employee who is thankfully still employed during the pandemic. Since we’ve been working from home, we’ve been told that we are to enter into our timesheets only the amount of time we work on tasks. Basically, if a task takes us two hours, we track that and that’s […] Read the full article →
we’re being asked to choose our own pay cuts by Alison Green on April 1, 2020 A reader writes: In the wake of COVID-19, my large company has been told that “tough decisions” are ahead, and that they would first start by asking us to to take voluntary pay cuts. The more of a pay cut that everyone takes, the fewer people will need to be laid off. Here’s the catch […] Read the full article →
I earn more than my peers, and they’re not happy by Alison Green on February 27, 2020 A reader writes: Five years ago, I was hired in an entry-level role. During the initial employment offer, the company offered their base salary for a starting amount. Since I did my homework on the average salary of the role in this area, I countered with a number closer to the average. The company agreed […] Read the full article →
I ask candidates their salary expectations and don’t feel bad about it by Alison Green on February 19, 2020 A reader writes: You regularly talk about how inappropriate it is for employers to ask candidates about their salary expectations without giving any salary information out themselves. Well, I am a medical professional, and, along with my partners, employ two staff in our small office. I became a small business owner/employer having received no training […] Read the full article →
should we cut the salary of a disappointing new hire? by Alison Green on February 5, 2020 A reader writes: We hired an employee almost two months ago who seemed to have quite a lot of experience in our field (which is rare in our city). She asked for a higher salary than entry-level, which we were okay with giving based on her experience. Now, almost two months in, it’s become obvious […] Read the full article →
after I asked for a raise, my boss told me I buy too much coffee by Alison Green on February 3, 2020 A reader writes: In August, I made the decision to begin a job search. After spending seven years with the same organization, I felt it was time for me to leave when it became increasingly clear that I would not get promoted, partially due to a lack of movement within the organization and partially because […] Read the full article →
the new overtime law is here — if you earn less than $35,568, read this by Alison Green on January 6, 2020 Now that you’re back at work for the new year, you might be seeing some major changes to your pay. The new federal overtime law went into effect last week on January 1. Here’s what it means for you: If you earn less than $35,568, you now must be paid overtime (time and a half) when […] Read the full article →
interviewer wants to know my current salary (with an update already included!) by Alison Green on December 9, 2019 I sometimes answer letters privately that I don’t publish here (due to the volume of mail I receive), and I thought this exchange was worth sharing (with the writer’s permission). In September I received this letter: I’ve interviewed with a great company that I am very interested in. I’m close to getting an offer. At […] Read the full article →
asking for a raise is easier than you think by Alison Green on November 18, 2019 With lots of employers doing performance reviews and year-end raises this month, now is a good time to ask for a raise. But will you? I’ve been shocked – horrified, really – by how many people tell me they never ask for raises. Some people rely on their company’s system of merit raises (or worse, […] Read the full article →
employer required me to agree to a salary during our first conversation by Alison Green on October 29, 2019 A reader writes: I was recently interviewing with a nonprofit, and in the screening interview, a brief 15-minute conversation with HR, I was asked my salary requirements. I named a number I thought was reasonable and was told this was over what had been budgeted. HR asked me to confirm, then and there, that I […] Read the full article →