[Cynthia Leigh]

Seagate Free Agent Go is good. Mine holds 500GB, but I think you can get one with more storage space. Don’t know if they are available at Best Buy. I bought mine from CDW for around $100. It just plugs into your usb port. All these products are easy to use.

[Cynthia Leigh]

Thanks for the clarification. Honestly, I wasn’t certain what you meant initially by calling me sweet. So I thank you and will take it as the compliment you intended it to be.

 

I agree with you completely in paragraphs 2 & 3.

 

 

[Cynthia Leigh]

Yes, Craig, point taken. We are all hardened by the economic situation!

 

My point was that she should do her research. Maybe the company is not, in fact, doing all that poorly, but using the economy as an excuse to cut wages and put more take-home pay in the principals’ pockets. They may not only be afloat, but have wind in their sails. I was also trying to say if she has some of the numbers, is skilled at negotiating and not angry when she talks to them), BZGirl might get a raise because she presents a valid argument. All they can say (other than ‘You’re fired!”) is “no,” You can also pretty well bet she is getting paid less than any man in the office who has equal status. Research data still tells us women get 77% of what men are paid when performing the same job. If the company is doing well and won’t give her compensation, she has to decide to deal with it or quit. She either gets more money or more information about how they view employees. She also has to decide if other sorts of compensation are acceptable, a cut in hours, for example.

 

And trust me on this, I’m really not sweet. Nor am I naive. But I do like to figure out ways to get what I want. And if they are working with a bottom line, they can’t argue with their own numbers.

[Cynthia Leigh]

I agree with Russell that this is a toxic environment. I, too, have worked for a narcissistic, abusive boss. Personally, I would get out. It won’t get better, and you will continue to feel worse and worse.

 

Realize that you may have to relocate to find work and that it’s hard to find a job. If you can, cut back your hours. Just tell the boss the deadline can’t be reached. Or that you have a second job now, so you have to leave at 5 everyday. Then you will have the time to look for something else.

 

Knowing you are actively looking elsewhere is empowering and will help with your attitude greatly.

 

If you like the projects, want to stay and want to try for a salary increase, I suggest going to your local library and ask for the password for Hoovers.com. It will give you full company profiles, including annual profits. With a little number crunching, you can figure out how the financially fit the firm is. It can be a good bargaining chip, if you tell them you are aware of the profits that you helped make.

 

You might also look long and hard at the overall situation. Are you so angry with them and have they broken your trust and spirit so much that even a raise won’t make you feel better about working there?

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