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[Aug. 8th, 2008|09:13 pm] |
Had a massive argument in work yesterday. Probably the biggest argument I have ever had in my illustrious career. I was called into a meeting with the two mental directors to discuss the job offer they had given me earlier in the week. I told them that I was going to decline it. They said fine. I then went on to say that if I had asked for them to offer me a permanent job and they had come up with that I would have been hugely insulted. I explained that they have offered the bare legal minimum in benefits. That my brother offers better benefits to his minimum wage staff. One of them said 'I'm glad he is in a position to' and I said 'he understands that you have to if you want staff loyalty, and for your staff to feel secure and happy, you obviously don't understand this.' I told them that the job offer does not recognize any of the work I have done for them over the last 5 years, it does not reflect my loyalty to their company, and the 1000's of hours of unpaid work I have done for them. I told then that they have been very lucky to trade off my strong worth ethic. I said I was disappointed that they are unwilling to invest in me in the slightest. One of them said at one point 'well you have to realize that you come and go as you please' I snapped back 'you could look at it that way, or you could look at it, as I open the office in the morning while you are still sleeping in your bed, and that I make sure that it is securely locked in the evenings because by then you have pissed off early - and I do this as a freelancer WITH NO BENEFITS!' I went on to say that they had only offered statutory sick pay, and that was 'a fucking joke'. One of the directors refused to look at me during the whole hour-long argument; She just took 4x A4 pages of notes while I ranted. The other director had tears welling up in her eyes at one point, and she was shaking and generally looking very upset. I ended it by saying I would work for then for the next year at my new hourly rate (10% higher than before), but on the condition that they looked again at the holiday pay for me, because I an 100% sure that I am legally entitled to it. At the end of the meeting they asked me what they could offer me to get me on the payroll and I said 'Substantially more money and a large share in the company, but to be honest even then I would be dubious' They looked shocked, and stunned. I win!
I think I was as surprised at my assertiveness as they were.
If being self-employed has taught one thing, it is that I will never, ever sign a contract to work for any company unless they can prove that they really want me, and that they will reward me for my efforts.
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| Comments: |
Awesome! Whoa, it must have been exactly as satifying in person as it is merely reading about it.
Yeah, it was exciting. Especially as I know I am right, and I am better than them, and that one day I they will see that!!! The best bit is that after my argument, they made adjustments to the job offers to some of the others junior members of staff, and now they are getting OK benefits. I feel like a Union representative!
Woot!
My union rep would be tickled!
I made the argument that the offer being made to me at the time was insulting, and it paid off, too.
l don't think employers like it when you tell them you find something insulting! Glad it worked for you too. To be honest I am just pleased that I got my rise, and that the people that wanted t go on the payroll got a bit more because of my rant.
nothing boring about that little rant..i found that life affirming..discovering ones own mettel and using it in a forthright sincere moment is really something...and i wouldnt be surprised if they do offer you a directorship in that company..if they don't,it's only through their own lack of self esteem...i could really sense a lack of self esteem in the dialogue they trotted out.
it's hard standing up for oneself..not because of cowardice,its more often the thing of being a pleaser...its a thing to strike that balance,especially when it comes natural to please .
much respect to you toby.
Thank you very much!
The people that I work for are idiots, I am much more capably than they will ever be, and I think they know it!
Fierce! I hope you get better results!
God , Toby, that was brilliant !
Yay, go Toby!
Glad it seems to have done you good to say that stuff out loud to them. It really does have to be said. Best possible situation as a freelancer is for them to need you more than you need them - because you are confident in your ability.
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