Outside of the institution of slavery, the consensual agreement around work is—one party provides a service which is outlined in advance, and the recipient pays the provider at the agreed upon value of the service. Pretty simple concept, right? This approach allows you as the employee to go into a job feeling confident that you can one, handle the workload on an ongoing basis, two, handle your bills consistently, and three, be able to maintain a work-life balance how you see fit. But what happens when your manager pulls you into their office and hands you an additional set of responsibilities that could literally justify hiring an additional team member?
I don’t think it comes from mal-intent, unless there’s some personal vendetta between parties, which is highly unlikely. But there are reasons behind this, so let’s talk about it, so you’ll know what to do if you find yourself in this situation. Pull up a chair, have some breakfast, and take some notes.
There’s Simply No Budget
The fact of the matter may be, there just isn’t any room in the budget to financially accommodate the increase in work. Your employer may honestly want to increase your pay, but just can’t at the moment. What you could do in this case is take on the extra role without additional pay right now, but have a conversation about a future raise. Get the details of when that could happen and how much the increase will be. You could also talk about receiving a promotion, even if it’s not feasible for it to take place right now. Find out when it could happen and what that would look like. Be sure to get this in writing or at least in an email. There’s nothing wrong with taking on the work if there’s a promise ahead that will make it worthwhile.
You’re a Push-Over
The saying is true that ‘people will treat you the way you allow them to’. If you have never spoken up for yourself at work or you seldom express your ideas or perspective, then your employer will see you as someone who’s overly accommodating, i.e. a pushover. This is your chance to speak up for once. Call foul on the play, if it calls for it. Obviously be professional, tactful and reasonable, but you must be vocal. Ask for what you need. Ask for what you want. Suggest delegation amongst a group of colleagues, if that’s a better solution. Your employer may know what they’re doing, but there’s also a chance that they don’t have a clue that what they’ve given you is just too much. So if you say nothing, you will get nothing—except stuck with a boatload of responsibilities you never signed up for.
You’re Desperate For Your Job
A job is essential to finance a livelihood—we all know that. But when you feel as though your job is what “keeps” you, that’s where the problem lies, on a couple fronts. One, people pick up on desperation and may treat you accordingly. Again, I don’t believe most employers have malicious or deceitful intent, but if you act as though your life is riding on this one job, then your employer may feel like they can count on you to do more work with no additional pay. Two, your job is NOT what keeps you. Whether you’ve verbally said it or not, if you’re acting like it, then that’s what you’re ultimately saying you believe. You may be living paycheck to paycheck, or you may have an abundant amount of bills or debt to handle. Whatever the case is, I want you to know that if you lose your job tomorrow, you will still be taken care of. You may not be able to maintain the same lifestyle, but you will indeed be maintained. Your job is a blessing, but that blessing didn’t come from your employer, it came from God. He is your keeper. If this is hard to believe, this is the area in which you must focus your efforts on building up your faith. Study out Scripture about God as the creator, sustainer and provider. Also pray that He helps you trust in Him, not trust in man. The more secure you are in the Lord, the more confidence you will exude before your employer, and the more respect you will receive. Stop being desperate, instead shine bright with confidence and you will see a difference in how your employer distributes the workload.
You’re Not Asking for More
Co-author of “Women Don’t Ask” and Carnegie Mellon University professor, Linda Babcock shared in her research that women are four times less likely to ask for a pay increase than men. Also, when they do ask for an increase, it’s 30% less than what men request. You’re not getting an increase in pay because you’re not asking for an increase in pay. Throughout my career, asking for more money was so uncomfortable. To prepare for the ‘main event’, because it felt like a showdown, I would research how to ask for the raise, then I’d practice before going into that dreadful meeting. It was not fun. And it’s not that I didn’t deserve the raise—I totally did! But it’s something about being in that position that feels so unnatural. It almost felt as though I was overstepping my boundaries, not deserving of it, or I was even being rude. Over time, I fought those feelings and persistently fought for my raises.
There was even a time I was asked to transfer to a completely different location which would have been inconvenient for me to travel to each day, cost me more in transportation, and my role would change but the details wouldn’t be shared until I got to the new place. I thought, “not appealing at all!” Well at this point I firmed up and smartened up. I told them that I would agree to the transfer if I got an increase in pay. They thought about it and said okay, but what they offered felt like pennies. So I got specific and said if my raise is this competitive amount (I specified the amount), then I’d be happy to do the transfer. Although they declined my request and had me stay at my original location, it felt like a victory. They were going to inconvenience me at my expense, and I didn’t go for it. I was bold and it felt wonderful! That’s what I’m calling you to. Even if it’s uncomfortable—be bold, and ask for a raise to accommodate the new workload.
You’re Getting an Opportunity
Have you verbalized what your work goals are to your manager or someone influential in your workplace? Well it’s possible that you’re getting a boatload of work because you’re being given an opportunity to actively pursue your vision. That’s not a bad thing at all! There are some employers out there that listen, that care, and want to see you succeed and actualize your dreams. Let them help you—take the work on and do it without any additional money. This is a chance for you to spearhead special projects and shine. It’s your chance to get your foot in the door. It’s your chance to show them what you’ve got! Now, be sure to only allow this to go on for a limited period of time, but for now, take it and be great!
To powerful workweeks and good morning eats!
Love,
Yardley
Eggplant Hummus Rounds w/Smoked Salmon
Ingredients
1 Eggplant
1 cup Hummus
5 slices, Smoked Salmon
3 large leaves, Kale
2 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt + Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Slice eggplant into 1” rounds
Add Extra Virgin Olive Oil to pan at medium high heat, slide eggplant rounds onto pan coating both sides with olive oil, then leave rounds on the pan to toast on one side until lightly toasted
Lightly sprinkle a dash of salt and pepper on the rounds as they toast. The smoked salmon is sufficiently salted, so feel free to skip the salt.
Flip the rounds and repeat—leave rounds on pan to lightly toast
Once both sides are toasted, spread 1-2 Tbsp. of hummus on one side, then add a slice of smoked salmon
The hummus I chose was cilantro jalapeno by Trader Joe’s, but feel free to make your own hummus from scratch. Buying it ready-to-eat cuts down prep time, but I’m all for from-scratch!
Finish with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes
Repeat, completing the stack of rounds
Enjoy!
