Denying Star Worker's $30k Raise Ends Up Costing Company $3M Contract
It's really not that hard guys, pay your workers for doing good work or suffer the consequences.
It seems to be a running theme in workplaces around the world - bosses are more than happy for you to "prove yourself" and bust your a-- for them but the minute you come back with any request to move up, suddenly there's no room in the budget even after gloating on company calls about what a great year "we" (they) had.
It's an age-old maxim but one that doesn't seem to have sunk in at most jobs: workers don't quit jobs, they quit bosses. More often than not, losing an employee and having to replace them mid-project will cost significantly more money than it would have to just pay the employee fairly for their hard work - the math bears this out most of the time so I'm hard-pressed to believe that it's a "business decision" to make progress so difficult. This story from Reddit user u/tcrambo is a perfect example of that.
1.
I am a young Project Manager for an unlimited commercial GC. I picked up a hammer for the first time 6 years ago (no prior experience). I was raised believing if you work hard and apply yourself you will be successful.
For 2 years I learned everything that I could in the construction industry. Took my work home with me and studied on my own time to better myself. For that I was promoted to foreman.
2.
I was brought into take over a small project at a 12-building, 120-unit condo complex. It started small and the Board of Directors for the HOA told me they loved my professionalism, work ethic, and ability to complete projects on time, and under budget.
We won a big contract because of that small project. That was 3 years ago. I have since taken over the job of foreman, superintendent, & project manager. I do the billing, meetings with engineers and board members, scheduling, take off, material ordering, I even train the subs on application of new products because we didn’t have enough mid management.
The project just passed $2.7M. We got a bid request for another $3M job in the same complex.
3.
All the while the board of directors telling me how appreciative they are and how they’ve gone through 5 different contractors in the years before committing to my company because of my management and quality of work. This boosted my confidence and I went to the owners asking for the raise they promised me one year ago for my production.
4.
They told me “the experience you’re gaining is far more valuable.” I said you’re right. I put my resume on public, got contacted by a headhunter, just accepted an offer this week for $80k a year salary, full benefits, 28 days PTO including holidays, in the office now (no more working from the field full in my own truck), laptop, wifi in my truck for on-the-go billing when I visit the out of state projects, $80 per diem, 100% matching 401k for the first 3 years of my employment, quarterly bonus programs.
The company I’m with now only pays me 40k and that’s it none of the above listed benefits.
5.
The final nail in the coffin was when the owners bragged about how much my project made in a company meeting and then denied me a Christmas bonus. I laid this offer on their desk Friday and watched their jaws hit the floor.
6.
I told the HoA board president of the project I’m running about my resignation when they couldn’t match my the offer. His eyes got big and requested a meeting with the owners and expressed serious concern about moving forward with the new project without my involvement. They don’t have anyone to replace me and I’m not gonna lie, it feels good to hurt their pockets when I gave them everything I had for 6 years and only asked for the median project manager salary.
Forget those greedy fools..
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