shop owners/foremen/fellow operators i need input

[millbastard]

i asked everyone to read my thread in hopes to get responses from both sides of the fence... so here we go.

Everyday i perform all duties that any other CNC setup man/supervisor would do in a shop like mine, i load/setup/first run every job that is assigned, i adjust offsets in tooling, fix 'operator errors', even fly program when tools disappear or changes need to be made, i am the only machinist in my shop that is trusted by the owner to get things done and also the only machinist trusted to run prototype parts without engineers breathing down my neck.

My problem is, i only make $12/hr, while supervising people making twice that. This is the first machine shop i have worked for, so im not really quite sure how to go about asking for a raise.

P.S. like i said im not by any means a genious and im not trying to be cocky but i just feel as if i deserve a little more for the stress and time i put into this company.

if anyone could give me some ideas on what to say or how to say it, and please shop owners let me know what i shouldnt say.

thanks

-john k
"mill bastard"
SW Florida

[dertsap]

if you can do all that i'd say your underpaid
the problem your facing could be the same as what i faced when i started , some bosses dont seem to recognize how much youve grown and become an asset to them ,they still remember the young punk who walked in the door clueless .i became worth far more outside the doors of the first company i worked for than i was in them , and the boss refused to see that until i walked out the door .it took them months to recover ,and i'm not tooting my own horn ,they just put most of their eggs in one basket , i walked out with more knowledge of their machine setups than they knew themselves

have a talk with the boss he may be reasonable enough to want keep his investment (you) and work something out with you
if not look at what else is out there for you

[automizer]

I have been in the same spot, I worked for a signshop running there CNC department and had 3 guys working under me, I had to quite and be begged back before they would pay me over 15. If they are trusting you with this much it might be a time to just kindly mentions to your boss hey I feel I need a raise, or ask for a review and at the end of the good review say this is going so well I would like a raise. Or take it in for a little time get the experience and go to someone who will pay you

[Geof]

I think dertsap's advice is good but keep this in mind. If you are as competent as you suggest do you really want to continue working for someone who is so thick he does not recognise what you are worth and pay you accordingly.

Here is an approach you could consider. Tell your boss you think it might be a good idea if you gained experience in other places to round out your experience. But you want to keep the opportunity open to return after you have obtained this experience. The idea is that you leave without burning any bridges.

This approach gives you a double fallback option: If you find you are not as good as you think you are then you go back and accept whatever they offer. If you find that you are able to swing it no matter where you go and what you are expected to do then if they want you back they have to pay your price.

[dertsap]

Geof's suggestion is a good one , the experience that you could recieve seeing how other companies work would be extremely valuable and many times eye opening ,but what counts is the experience you gain from it ,sometimes staying in the same company your knowledge comes to a plateau and can become stale and nonstimulating after a while

[Paulo E.]

I agree with Geof, the smart move is not to burn your bridges.
There's a couple of things I would suggest as well from personal experience.

1) Start looking at the local newspapers and see what the average pay rate is for the area you live in.

2) Remeber this!!!! Whatever you dont get on your first interview you are less likely to get it in the future.

As long as you have confidence in your skills dont sell yourself short and remember the best time to find a job is when you have one. <-_->

Time to get some money............. wohooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Cott]

I was in a similar position myself about 8 yrs ago. Started at the bottom worked my way up to manage 45 guys. But I hit the top of what the owner was willing to pay. I honestly gave heart and soul for that job. But after I walked away I came to the conclusion that every company will pay you as little as they can for as long as they can. It is up to you to step up and say, I love this job but I am not being compensated accordingly. I feel I should be making X amount of money. If the owner is involved in his company like he should be then he knows what your worth. He just doesn't want to pay more than he has to. But if you are as good as you think you are then there is another company out there willing to pay you what you feel you are worth. Trust me I left my first job making 14 and started another making 18.

[handlewanker]

Hi MillB, First of all if you think you're worth more, have a look round for another job that will pay more.

Then go back, write out your resignation, if it's required, and present it politely with the customary notice period to be worked.
If your boss doesn't see the loss of you as being significent, then what have you got to lose? Don't look back.

All down through history those that burnt their bridges were the only ones that had decided that from that point there was NO going back, William The Conquorer for a start at the battle of Hastings.

At all costs do NOT indicate to ANYONE, best mates, girlfriend, pet dog that you are disgruntled about your work conditions, pay or any other reason that would put your bosses back up prematurely.

This way when you're good and ready you will have the advantage of shooting from the high ground and will be in command of your position.
I personally have used this strategy from the day I finished my apprenticeship and started out at the lowest pay they could give me.

My father's advice was always "If they're paying a few bob more down the street, that's where you'll find me".
I don't know how plentifull the job situation is round your way, but if it's as rare as rocking horse poo, then be prepared to up anchor and head for pastures new, I did, over 40 years, South Africa to Britain, to Australia, never looked back.

Just have courage, if you truly know what you're doing and you're as good as you think you are, do it.
Ian.

[JROM]

A good friend of mine once told me that your only worth what YOU think your worth. If you think that your worth more then 12 bucks an hour then you will get to where you want to be one way or another. When I finished my apprenticship my boss told me (off the record) that I should get out there in the world and work in alot of different shops to round out my skills. He was right. In the next few years I worked in several different shops and learned alot of new stuff. I never looked back and never settled for less money everytime I made a move. By the way where I live 12 bucks an hour is starting pay for a machine operator. That's a cycle start person who just puts the parts in the machine and hits the big green button!

[Cruiser]

I was in a similar way some while back, and talking to the bosses accomplished nothing. So, I said no more to them at all, I just started looking for other opertunities, applied with several, and after several called to veryfy my employment. I was quickly given a rather substancial raise so that i would forget about moving on ! This is probably the least invasive and most productive way of finding where you stand. And if it fails then you are already looking for a way of improving your situation.

[hightekmodels]

I am there. I almost got a job father away for $2.00 more an hour, and when I told my boss he matched it. I still where ten hats and get paid for two but jobs in Michigan are few.

Seek our Lord and trust in Him.

[trooper55]

Mill, i can tell you im in this situation right now with 12 an hour. So im looking for new jobs and doing waht cruiser has stated, if you keep pushing forward and never look back you will always be moving forward.
Just my 2 cents keep going from something better.