Not really sure what to do with this.

I

Isollde

Genkai Conqueror
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So, I work at a cleaning tool manufacturer. Small company, we do most things in house including assembly of the tools, sales, customer service, graphic work etc. I started here through a staffing agency about 2 months ago. For the most part I enjoy the job, because I can make my own schedule from week to week and it's a more or less laid back environment.

Now, I was originally hired as an Office Manager. Answering phones, taking orders, sending out quotes etc. My boss found out that I was into and knew photoshop pretty well, and asked if I would be interested in doing some of the company's graphic work (to negate the need for an out sourced graphic design company unless it was something that I didn't know how to do, or couldn't handle.). I agreed and have been doing about 90% of his graphics in house since.

Now I knew I was going to be getting kinda screwed over with pay when I agreed to do this, but I'm still new to doing custom logos and graphics, and I knew it would be good practice. We talked pay and agreed to to $10.00/hour until I started doing the graphic work and then it would go up from there.

This conversation was one we had back in Feburary when I had first came into the company. It's now damn near the begining of April and I'm still being paid only $10.00/hour for the office work, and the photoshop work/logos/manual etc is being piggy backed onto that.

I've been a bit unhappy with it because It's a lot of work that I'm doing and barely getting paid enough to get by. He will pile work on me and not give me the time I know is needed to do it. When it isn't done he says something along the lines of "Oh well just take it home and finish it there." but he has already mentioned he will not be paying people for work at home. So I told him that I would not take any work home unless I was going to be compensated for time.

This past Sunday I cam in to do a flyer recreation because it had been ruined and made unusable because it had been scanned so many times. Pictures were pixelated, text was too blurry to make out. It was really just a big mess. He wanted me to take it home and do this on my own time, but looking at the job I knew it would come down to 7-8 hours of unpaid work. So I opted to come in on Sunday instead.

So as it stands right now, I'm getting paid around $80.00 for that work.

I came in to work today, to do some other logos and stuff that needed to be done for one of our clients. Going through the daily e-mails for orders/complaints/requests etc. and I stumbled onto his old Graphic Designer's email. Apparently he had sent some work out to him. So me being nosey looked through what had been sent out vs. what Frantz (the Graphic Designer) had charged him.

It was for 2 small photo clean ups with a little manip to make it look like something was spraying out of the nozzle of the tool and 2 line drawings for the tool's manual. All things that I am more then capable of doing, and have done in the past. Underneath the two emails with finished pictures in them was Frantz's invoice.

Now, I KNEW I was being screwed on pay for what I am doing for Hans (boss), but I guess ignorance is bliss. Because for these very minimal small changes, the Graphic Designer is charging him $200.00. I had just finishes a 7-8 hours job of an entire flyer recreation IN FRENCH for roughly $80.00. I'm a bit pissed off. Because I was told when I asked for more hours or a raise that "We just don't have the money to do that right now. "

This leads me to believe that Hans knows exactly what he is getting away with by having me do 90% of his company's graphics, AND his office work. I'm reall at a point where I'm not sure what to do. I have a few options that I have in my mind that could try, but I'm pretty sure, to how they will turn out.

Option #1: Ask for more money.

Since he and I have already been down this road before I'm almost positive to how this conversation will turn out. "We'll have to see how our sales are. We really don't have the money for that right now, Lets revisit this at the end of April/May etc"

Option #2: Ask for more money and threaten to ONLY do his office work for him if he says no.

I think this would hurt me in the long run. because when he says No, I will lose allt he practice I have been getting, and be here for only office work, ad he will just continue to out source the graphic design work. Though, if he doesn't agree to pay me more I think I'd probably refuse to do his graphics work out of plain ol' spite.

Option #3: Keep quiet about finding the invoice for the Graphic Designer, go over his head and try and get in with their company then quit and leave him SOL with no office person.

Option #3 is self explanitory.

So this is the point that I am at right now. Any suggestions, or experience you may have had ina similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

/end rant.
 
Isollde said:
This leads me to believe that Hans knows exactly what he is getting away with by having me do 90% of his company's graphics, AND his office work. I'm reall at a point where I'm not sure what to do. I have a few options that I have in my mind that could try, but I'm pretty sure, to how they will turn out.

Option #1: Ask for more money.

Since he and I have already been down this road before I'm almost positive to how this conversation will turn out. "We'll have to see how our sales are. We really don't have the money for that right now, Lets revisit this at the end of April/May etc"

Option #2: Ask for more money and threaten to ONLY do his office work for him if he says no.

I think this would hurt me in the long run. because when he says No, I will lose allt he practice I have been getting, and be here for only office work, ad he will just continue to out source the graphic design work. Though, if he doesn't agree to pay me more I think I'd probably refuse to do his graphics work out of plain ol' spite.

Option #3: Keep quiet about finding the invoice for the Graphic Designer, go over his head and try and get in with their company then quit and leave him SOL with no office person.

Option #3 is self explanitory.

So this is the point that I am at right now. Any suggestions, or experience you may have had ina similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

/end rant.
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Hans does know exactly what he is doing, regardless of whether its ethical or not. Finding people to do something inhouse is always cheaper than doing it outsourced. When outsourcing projects, they agree on prices for the size of the art. They are also licensed users, and if you don't give your business to them, they have other projects I'm sure they can utilize.

However, before you get up in arms about leaving, I'd also take a look at the experience factor. I'd personally for right now be more pushy about getting your title changed. Then, when you hit a year experience, you can say on your resume for future job offerings that you have direct work experience as a graphic design artist. Landing the first job in a career like that is usually the toughest, and you may have just been able to sneak in under the radar.

Keep logs of your work that you're doing, and bring in quotes to match the work (not bills from your own company). This way you can show your value, and make a reasonable compromise with your boss for the work you're doing. Also remember though, that because you have a backup of office work, you have guaranteed chargeable hours, which the graphic design company does not. Having the guarantee to always have work is why typically inner-housed employees may make less then contractual.

Hope this helps
 
That sucks. Early last year we had two guys retire and I've been doing my jobs and their jobs since. There was no pay increase because it was supposed to be temporary while they hired new guys, but it's been 15 months now and they haven't done anything about it.

I usually bring it up once in a while and get "I'll look into it" as a shitty response. I honestly don't know why I've put up with it for so long, I think I'm just too lazy to find another job.

Just keep bringing it up. I vent my frustration by showing up half an hour late to work every day.

Good luck. If you find a miracle technique that actually pays off, let me know.
 
no experience but I wish the best for you Iso
 
Anyone else think:

"I'm Hans!" "And I'm Frantz!" "And we're here to pump *clap* you up!"
 
Could be a good way to relieve stress, just picture them in those outfits.

But honestly, it's not worth it if he's going to use you for more than he's paying.
 
I too, have conducted work far and above what I was initially hired to do. And, like you, did not get properly compensated. Indeed, Hans knows the sweet deal he's getting. However, a little patience may garner you a new career in something you enjoy. Option #4:

jamal said:
However, before you get up in arms about leaving, I'd also take a look at the experience factor. I'd personally for right now be more pushy about getting your title changed. Then, when you hit a year experience, you can say on your resume for future job offerings that you have direct work experience as a graphic design artist. Landing the first job in a career like that is usually the toughest, and you may have just been able to sneak in under the radar.
Click to expand...

The above is exactly what I thought as I read your post. In addition, start making a portfolio of your work. Most graphic designers I know have degrees, but a few do not and they got started much the same way you are. Hans knows what side his bread is buttered on, and now, so do you. ;)
 
What Jamal and Cerato said. Do eeet.
 
A lot of good advice so far. Build up your portfolio and make sure to stay open for other things if you can. I work at a small company too and since I'm graphic design they seem to think that I can do everything. Having unreasonable deadlines isn't fun. Fortunately I was able to talk to my bosses and they are helping me out with it. Good luck with everything.
 
I say start a portfolio like everyone else said, document what you do and start searching for a new job. Listening to you describe the situation, even if you do get a small raise I'm pretty sure it's not going to be what you are looking to get and the bitterness is still going to be there. Your boss is also going to expect you do more as well if he does give you a pay raise.

Keep doing what your doing, try not to take on any extra unnecessary assignments and find a better job and GTFO is my advise.
 
Thanks everyone. Some really good advice in here that I hadn't considered. I sat down and spoke with my parents last night, and they have more or less said the something along the same lines. I've been considering using all the stuff I've worked on for Hans to try and make my portfolio look a little more professional (considering right now 90% of it is FFXI Signatures lol XD).

I come off the staffing agency in about a month and I'm going to bring up to Hans about giving me a raise for my services, and I think I may try and start looking for a job elsewhere incase that goes poorly.

Overall I like working here because of how laid back and relaxed it is, but I don't think that is enough of a reason to stay if he and I can't seem to come to an agreement about payment.

I'll keep ya guys updated and let you know how everything turns out! :D

Thanks again for your input~
 
Also, don't be afraid to send a little extra money on paper for your portfolio. Just another reminder to whoever you interview with that you are worth the money! Good luck. :)
 
Isollde said:
This leads me to believe that Hans knows exactly what he is getting away with by having me do 90% of his company's graphics, AND his office work. I'm reall at a point where I'm not sure what to do. I have a few options that I have in my mind that could try, but I'm pretty sure, to how they will turn out.
Click to expand...
Problem is he sees you as a cheap and convienent way to get his work done and I've seen this way too often were a energetic employee wanting to please gets more and more work piled on them till they get to the point where unpaid overtime is ruining any kind of job satisfaction they may have had.

Isollde said:
Option #1: Ask for more money.

Since he and I have already been down this road before I'm almost positive to how this conversation will turn out. "We'll have to see how our sales are. We really don't have the money for that right now, Lets revisit this at the end of April/May etc"
Click to expand...
And after those sales come in I'm sure he'll say the same thing about the next few months, I've been around those kind of employers they tend to feed off the good naturedness and eager to please employees they have.

Isollde said:
Option #2: Ask for more money and threaten to ONLY do his office work for him if he says no.

I think this would hurt me in the long run. because when he says No, I will lose allt he practice I have been getting, and be here for only office work, ad he will just continue to out source the graphic design work. Though, if he doesn't agree to pay me more I think I'd probably refuse to do his graphics work out of plain ol' spite.
Click to expand...
Its your choice of coures but where do you see yourself after 6-12 more months with this place, will the experienced gained outweigh the in-job frustration you are getting? If he wont pay you for additional work done after your normal working shirt times then maybes its time you contacted an employment standards person and get some input there on this kind of workplace behaviour.

Isollde said:
Option #3: Keep quiet about finding the invoice for the Graphic Designer, go over his head and try and get in with their company then quit and leave him SOL with no office person.

Option #3 is self explanitory.
Click to expand...
I'd stay away from that, dealing with someone he does also could just backfire and leave you jobless, also quite often it is better to leave a workplace with a clean record of employment in case he decides to blacklist you in that field of work. Of course you dont need to use any previous employers as a reference and certainly shouldnt if the time there was a bad one for you.

Isollde said:
So this is the point that I am at right now. Any suggestions, or experience you may have had in a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

/end rant.
Click to expand...
I hope the situation improves and you find the stabilty in your work you desire, if not theres always more ponds to go swim in dont let this fish (Hans) choke yours.
 
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