BlkKnight

I work for a small company (owned by parents), and I'm trying to negotiate a pay rise.

As it's a small company I do many different roles - and thus I find it very hard to come to a figure as to what I earn. If I was specialized in one area it would be simpler.

My roles and previous experiences are:

Systems Admin - running the shop. EX2003 & 2000AD, Linux (Proxy, web monitoring), Network (firewall, routing, port forwarding), Testing the new "application" on which the company will run. Basic IT stuff like rebuilding machines, maintenance, support etc etc. If there is a problem remotely to do with anything electronic it goes my way.

Previous experience: Sysadmin in a 250 user env with unix & win mix. 3/4 years + other previous jobs in the "trade" going back another 6 years or so.

Accounts - "To trial balance" book keeping, entering invoices, paying suppliers, reconsiling bank statements, entering payments, VAT.

Previous experience: None, self taught. Bit of education as part of degree & uni.

Marketing: (using the term loosely) Making sure the imagery is up to date for out catalogue & distributor requests. All web based marketing

Web sales: Inputting all orders that come in from our website. Making sure website is up to date both with content, images & prices.

Telesales: Usual stuff, taking orders, queries, support. Looking after a couple of key accounts.

Any Other jobs: Looking into potential problem with trademarks, domain name infringements etc. Enforcing product distribution with our resellers (i.e. NO E-BAY)


That's about it!

What do you think? How would I best value the job?

DCI Gene Hunt

Overpaid

BlkKnight

LOL, thanks!

DCI Gene Hunt

Its really a case of 'what do you BRING to the company, that's always the best tactic for payrise season. Any chimp can type, update this, update that.. but what makes people worth MORE is their ability to add-value to an organisation.

This is difficult to measure, but I would move away from the word 'administration' into 'management/managing', as nobody's interested in admin staff (10 a penny).

How are YOU going to repay a payrise, what is it (i.e. what benefits) YOU will bring to their company in return?

That's sooooo much better than "well someone doing what I do at MICROSOFT PLC earns 6.2 billion pounds a year, so that's what I'm worth!"

Trust me, think about it for a bit.... you're selling YOURSELF, so what's your pitch, why should they pay more....

BlkKnight

I see what your saying.

It's quite difficult where your main functions are don't generate any income directly and are mainly a support role within the company.

Also, I'm so damn busy doing everything currently there's little scope to do anything else!

Scoobydid

Presumably when your folks retire the business will pass to you so you will have that to look forward to and once you have the reigns will be able to have more influence over wealth distribution
How long have you been in the role? was there a notable increase in turnover / efficiency / from profit when you started? Or since you started, have they had more free time for themselves? The trouble with small businesses is that cashflow can be volatile so maybe you could negotiate shares in the company, or a profit share if they are unwilling to commit to a large rise.

Good luck

DCI Gene Hunt

How many people work for the company?

Do you 'report' to a senior member of staff?

Do you have a job desription/terms of reference?

Just trying to get a feel for your angle

The Chief

Well seeing as i work for pops myself i can see where your coming from.

another thing you cant put a figure on is, 'Loyalty' and 'Honesty'

I mean there is a lot of nicking that goes on, and with you being family you wouldn't nick off your own anyway.

Write all this down and then go and see your parents

Brendan Hughes

If you resigned or got hit by a bus, what would they have to pay a replacement? (Or two replacements?)

MattW

May be you're paid over and above as your family

fitzscoob

There isnt enough money in the world to pay adequately for working with family.

I am in the same situation.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Dont you just say Mum/Dad, I want more money and they either say, yes or no ?

In some cases its more trouble than its worth working in the family business.

Also, you have to compare yourself to similar roles in other companies, is what you are earning comparable to elsewhere ?

Are they employing you to keep you off the streets ?

Are your parents doing well while you hover on the breadline ?

Is the company doing well ?

There is so much to this its difficult to say, I have seen a spoilt brat with a TVR working for daddy on wads for doing very little and heard about a family owned Golf course where the parents sit by and watch the son work as a groundsman there on minimum wage and struggle whilst they do very well, might be character building or an easy life but working for family needs to bear some relation to the real world, either way.

My brother in laws worked for the family business, they had to work harder than the non family members, longer hours, more stick off the boss but at the end of the day you should do allright !

BlkKnight

I currently get about 2k more than someone who is on 1st line sales call, processes credit cards & who sorts out invoices with one of our couriers. . . .

BlkKnight

How many people work for the company? 10

Do you 'report' to a senior member of staff? Yes the MD. ..

Do you have a job description/terms of reference? It's so out of date. . .

Typically do 45-50 hours a week, on call.

Had 7 days sick in 3 years. . 4 of which were for an operation.

Have to be "on call" all the time even when on holiday etc.


- interesting approach!

MattW

Exactly, no money comes in unless they are there

DCI Gene Hunt

What about taking more responsibility in the day to day management of the company, this alone tells them that you are taking the whole thing very seriously and as it's a 'family' business you may one day be required to run it on behalf of your parents once they 'retire'.

As you've been there for 3(ish) years you must have a few ideas how to make the place function better? space management, newer technology, customer satisfaction feedback, emerging markets, etc, etc,

Luan Pra bang

What you can get elsewhere should determine what you are worth. Whatever job you have remember that sometimes you can be trapped to role and company specific skills that have little worth in the big wide world. If I were you I would try to cut hours down and get extra training paid for by the company. Then use these skills to show that your worth to another company far exceeds what you gat paid now. Then negoitiate for a pay rise.

Brendan Hughes

I think there's a difference between what are you worth (what you can get elsewhere), and what is the post worth (cost of replacement). Maybe not always the same.

BlkKnight

If I were to approach an employment agency with my job spec, are they likely to be able to give a reasonable assessment as to what the company would have to spend to replace me?

This obviously doesn't factor in "family values"