Can I cry about my job for a minute please? (NBR)

LKJFD:Osiurklje;r · October 2010

First, let me say that I am a usual poster but can't post under my normal name because...well... it's my name lol. This is a really old account that I haven't ever used. So here goes:

I am so stressed. I did my budget for after LO comes and have been struggling for the last two days because I won't be able to make my bills after she comes... I'll be short...and the only hope that I have is that I'll get a big enough tax refund that I'll be able to pay off my car and then use that money to make the monthly payments that I can't quite reach in the beginning of the year.

This makes me so upset because you know what? I work for HP... yes hewlett-packard... and I don't care who knows because you know what? I have worked here for 3 years.... 3 friggin years and I now make less than when I started. I am the lowest paid person in the whole entire building. I make less than the receptionists and I have been here longer than almost anyone I work with... including my managers. I make 12.75 an hour and my co workers... the people I work with every day... pull in an average of 39- 40 an hour with some of them in the 70s... Ugh... I'm jsut so frustrated and we haven't gotten raises in three years... they raised our insurance rates again this year so for me and LO it will be 260 a month for basic insurance... I just don't know how many more days I can wake up and come here... I don't know what to do... I can't even get the measly bonuses that are based on salary so I'd only get like $175... all the while there is a girl who started at the same time and complains to me on a daily basis about her measly 40k a year... I'm like girly I make 25k... She complains every day. I just can't do it... and I can't look for a new job right now cuz I'll lose my maternity leave and I can't afford to not have an income for six weeks.

Sorry Ladies... I don't mean to unload here but I just have no one else to talk to about this and I don't know what to do.

janneann1127 · October 2010

i'm sorry.. can you bring this information to your higher-ups as a case for a pay raise?

LKJFD:Osiurklje;r · October 2010

janneann1127:
i'm sorry.. can you bring this information to your higher-ups as a case for a pay raise?

Unfortunately, I have tried this multiple times... and so fart it isn't working. I am in the process now of trying to get my job code changed... they ahve me in a job code with 0-6 months experience... and that's a hassle... some of the gals here have been trying to get theirs changed for 2 years. But then If I can get it changed, then MAYBE and I mean MAYBE they'll change my salary but I mean come on... I'm pregnant, been here for 3 years and still can't get a friggin raise. I really dont' want to leave... i can only imagine that stress but I don't see many other options... which sucks considering I moved across the country for this damn job. Oh well... updating the resume tonight and I now intend to spend my maternity leave looking for a new position... I fiure if they cant get this fixed by the end of the year, I don't have much choice anyway.

JulietL129 · October 2010

I really do feel for you... But there are options. Why do you have to take 6 months for mat leave? I know it sucks to not be able to take as long as you want, but there are lots of people who just can't do it. Are you able to qualify for WICC or another assistance program? It's cases like yours that I think those programs are really for. Please don't let yourself get sucked into an even worse position because you are too proud to accept help that is available. Are there any bills you're able to get rid of? I don't know your lifestyle or your financial position but I'm just trying to offer solutions. Again, I'm really sorry you're going through this- but if I was in your position I would absolutely find another job and then go to your job with a case for a raise and be able to say, "Look, I have another offer- but because I feel loyal I'd like to retain my employment here if I can get X terms to make it possible to support my family." I hope you are able to get into a more comfortable situation as soon as possible.

LaLaaaa · October 2010

That really sucks. I'm sorry, I wish I had some advice or words of wisdom for you but I don't. I would be just as mad and frustrated as you are. I hope you can at least feel a little better after venting it out.

LKJFD:Osiurklje;r · October 2010

lcarley045:

No need to apologize for unloading. This is a serious issue for a lot of people and is very scary.

First things first- what can you cut out of your life? Cable TV/Internet Access? Lower your cell phone plan minutes? The number of nights that you eat out or go to the movies? Those are the things I look to cut back on first when things have gotten tight in the past.

Next, any chance of bringing up the idea of a raise to your boss? We are given a bump each year to match with inflation. You sound desperately overdue for one as well. Put together a clear, intelligent arguement as to why you deserve a raise and seriously sit down and think about what that number should be. You should propose the number increase and let your boss counter it. Send your boss a meeting invitation asking to discuss- don't just off the cuff ask him/her in the hallway. Walking in with clear reasons why you are deserving of a raise is key.

I wish you all the best with this. It's a very scary thought and I feel for you completely.

thanks! I have done my best to already cut everything as low as I can... Hell, I wen from living in a really nice town to now, I live in the cheapest apartment I can find in the ghetto.. ugh. My cell is the lowest it can go and I eat more mac n cheese and cereal than any grown person should ever have to. I don't go to the movies... I wish i could, lol.

I have brought up the idea of a raise and intend to do so again. I'm working on updating my resume tonight, so that hopefully if I can show them on paper all the things I do here and have done here in the last three years... that maybe.. jsut maybe they'll consider raising my job code or at least getting me to the top of my job code... waiting on my manager of record... who lives in another state to send me the salary range so that I can even see if I am in the range... I doubt that I am. Once I get all that info together I plan to have a meeting with my 3...yes 3 bosses to hopefully convince them that 12.75 is not adequate.

LKJFD:Osiurklje;r · October 2010

JulietL129:
I really do feel for you... But there are options. Why do you have to take 6 months for mat leave? I know it sucks to not be able to take as long as you want, but there are lots of people who just can't do it. Are you able to qualify for WICC or another assistance program? It's cases like yours that I think those programs are really for. Please don't let yourself get sucked into an even worse position because you are too proud to accept help that is available. Are there any bills you're able to get rid of? I don't know your lifestyle or your financial position but I'm just trying to offer solutions. Again, I'm really sorry you're going through this- but if I was in your position I would absolutely find another job and then go to your job with a case for a raise and be able to say, "Look, I have another offer- but because I feel loyal I'd like to retain my employment here if I can get X terms to make it possible to support my family." I hope you are able to get into a more comfortable situation as soon as possible.

Doh! I meant six weeks, not six months... i could never afford six months lol.. I'd die if I went that long. I do qualify for medicaid, unfortunately I make too much to qualify for wicc. Unfortunately hp doesn't do salary matching so if I got another offer... they'd basically tell me to take it.

LKJFD:Osiurklje;r · October 2010

lindsayluong12:
That really sucks. I'm sorry, I wish I had some advice or words of wisdom for you but I don't. I would be just as mad and frustrated as you are. I hope you can at least feel a little better after venting it out.

I do... I feel like it is at least off my chest... don't feel like I want to attack my bosses anymore lol... I'm sure that wouldn't be helpful.

LKJFD:Osiurklje;r · October 2010

lcarley045:
Are you going to be raising this baby all on your own? You haven't mentioned the father and I hate to pry, but is he going to be a support at all? And if he's not in the picture, is there any way to collect child support from him to help out?
It sounds like you've cut things down to the bare essentials. So I'll have to agree with Juliet that you look into some government assisted programs as well. Anything to help you make ends meet until your situation improves. That's what they are there for and there is no shame in utilizing them when you've done everything you can to do this on your own.

Well my personal life is in shambles. I'm currently going through a divorce and at the end of my mandated year seperation, I got pregnant by someone else, but since the lawyers found out about the baby, we can't do the divorce until baby is born and I can prove that she isn't my husbands. The other guy says he'll help but I have seen no sign of that so far... and I don't want to depend on something that is not there. I can't pursue child support until the divorce is final and my husband is removed from the birth certificate. (it is mandated by the state that since he is my husband, he has to be on the birth certificate)

I have tried government assistance... they say I make too much... that is the hardest part... some days... I wish I could get laid off... at least then I wouldn't make too much.... at least then I could get some assistance... Sad

LKJFD:Osiurklje;r · October 2010

lcarley045:
LKJFD:Osiurklje;r:
lcarley045:
Are you going to be raising this baby all on your own? You haven't mentioned the father and I hate to pry, but is he going to be a support at all? And if he's not in the picture, is there any way to collect child support from him to help out?
It sounds like you've cut things down to the bare essentials. So I'll have to agree with Juliet that you look into some government assisted programs as well. Anything to help you make ends meet until your situation improves. That's what they are there for and there is no shame in utilizing them when you've done everything you can to do this on your own.

Well my personal life is in shambles. I'm currently going through a divorce and at the end of my mandated year seperation, I got pregnant by someone else, but since the lawyers found out about the baby, we can't do the divorce until baby is born and I can prove that she isn't my husbands. The other guy says he'll help but I have seen no sign of that so far... and I don't want to depend on something that is not there. I can't pursue child support until the divorce is final and my husband is removed from the birth certificate. (it is mandated by the state that since he is my husband, he has to be on the birth certificate)

I have tried government assistance... they say I make too much... that is the hardest part... some days... I wish I could get laid off... at least then I wouldn't make too much.... at least then I could get some assistance...

My heart is breaking for you.

You're smart not to count on something that isn't there for the time being, but at least that can be something to pursue in the furture. And I'm glad that the babies father has said that he will help. Even if he hasn't shown signs of it yet, he's said the words which is a step in the right direction. He's just as responsible as you for making sure this baby has everything that he or she needs. Never forget that.

That's such a tough spot to be in- where the government tells you that you make too much to qualify when it's not enough to live on. Do you have any family that you can ask for help from, or move in with until you can get things squared away?

This is the hardest part.... My family lives back on the other side of the country... I live in sc... alone. Unfortunately, moving home is not an option. My mom has offered several times but that wouldn't be a better situation because I wouldn't be able to find a job and I would be stuck in a tiny town... I can't burden my mom with my bills... so I'm better off satying here even though I don't make much, because when you have bills... sometimes, something is better than nothing. On a side note I was able to forebear my student loans...again, I'm not broke enough to qualify for deferring them but I did get those pushed off for a while... now if I could just make the rest of it work.

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Can I cry about my job for a minute please? (NBR)

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