I should find out if I get a raise next week

[Nikia]

If I don't, I'm giving two weeks notice. I was going to quit on the spot, but I would like to be paid for my week's vacation and don't want a horrible recommendation.
I have been unhappy in this job. I didn't receive a raise last year, which I thought was unfair since to my knowledge, everyone else received one. I had not received any disciplinary warnings or such. I was told that I did not get a raise because of vague things like not being professional enough and not meeting their expectations. My boss did not give details and said that if I didn't know, that was further proof against me. Although my observations tell me that this business discriminates against women, I had no case in my circumstance since I am the only one with my job description.
Despite this vagueness and no one to compare myself to, I have made a conscious effort to be doing my best at all times and not to have unprofessional moments. If I don't get a raise this year, I feel that they obviously don't want me working for them and that nothing I contribute is worth anything. Working there is a waste of my time and efforts.
Of course, money is always an issue as well as health insurance. I have a couple potential jobs, which I am applying for, including a state position with good benefits. Of course, if I don't get one of those jobs right away, I'll take about anything. It could be a good chance to explore other areas though. I am confident that I will be able to get some job, even if it is as a cashier at the grocery store.
Maybe this is rash and not in my best interests financially, but I think that I will feel better emotionally.

[Limbought]

1. I wish you the Best Of Luck!

[Skittles]

2. THEY BETTER GIVE YOU ONE NIKIA

I WILL KICK THEIR ASS. A bit of advice though - do they know your feelings about this issue? You need to let them know. Even so, I would proceed to look for a job while still employed. The Bush economy makes for some pretty hard times job hunting.

[Limbought]

4. Good Point Skittles

Plus, if they get a couple of calls checking your references it might make them realize just how valuable you are in your job.

[Nikia]

9. I do see that point too

We will see what happens. Maybe, I should have started serious job hunting sooner. There was so little out there last month though.

[Nikia]

7. Thanks for your support

Last year, two male friends and my little brother (then 11) also offered to kick their ass because of what happened. I turned them down though.
Yes, I should let them know. If I am not given a raise, I will talk to my boss about it and let him know that this is why I will be quitting.
Like I said, I am looking now and there seem to be more advertised jobs now than a month ago and applying for everything that I'd be interested in and qualified for. I am filling out my state application right now. I turned down taking a lower paying temp job (well a couple anticipated positions) that would be available on an on call basis. Yes, I'd like a job with higher pay or at least close to what I make now with a little bit better benefits (like paid sick days). I am confident that I would find something even though it might be in the grocery or video store.

[GURUving]

3. Good luck

I work for a company that operates in 4 different cities/towns across a large rural area. Everyone who works there gets the same raise (based on their position) at the same time each year. I like the idea of everyone having the same monetary reason to perform, but a small part of me thinks performance based pay raises would be better. Then, of course, the other hand tells me that this system encourages cooperation, and does not discriminate based on gender or minority status. Oh well, I'm happy where I am, for now at least.

[ProudGerman]

5. you're gonna give notice?

If I don't get a raise in my current job, I'll just stop showing up when I get a new one. I'll use up my vacation time and sick time, and just not show up anymore when I land a new job. Companies that don't treat its employees with the decency and respect deserve none in return.

I plan on doing this with my current job. I'm sick and tired of being asked/told to work late with all the advance notice of 1 hour before quitting time. Being expected to work miracles because my department is understaffed is also getting on my nerves, especially the reactions to when the miracles don't happen.

[Skittles]

10. it is getting on my nerves too, PG

I'm sick of being on-call because we are understaffed. I was up all night Friday - ALL NIGHT - and I do not get overtime pay. I'm sick of this "RISE IN PRODUCTIVITY" bullshit. Sure, productivity rises when you make people work 55 hours instead of 40; what DOESN'T rise is employee MORALE.

[Tripper11]

6. Sounds familiar NIkia...

my wife is a legal assistant with an extremely excellent reputation of being one of the best in the city. Yet she has a supervisor who has always treated her like shit. When I had leukemia, the staff offered a day off from their vacations to my wife and the supervisor wouldn't give them to her because all that offered a day all made different amounts of money????? Yeah I don't get it either.
Then during her review in Sept. everyone that reviewed her gave her excellent marks but she didn't get her raise because "she had taken too much time off and wasn't reliable." BULLSHIT! At the end of the year they paid her out over $500 for unused vacation and sick time!

I'd say get another job or as close to it as you can and quit...either you call their bluff and they offer a better work enviroment or you move on and be happier.

[nuxvomica]

11. Vacation sharing is actual good business

Under our previous owners, people were allowed to donate vacation days to an employee whose teen-aged son was dying from a brain tumor. Many gave and did so enthusiastically. So much vacation time was donated that, unfortunately, much of it wasn't needed.
But it turns out to be a boon for the company, in most cases. The donors tend to be senior cuz they have so much vacation time and the recipient tends not to be. So the monetary value of the donated time usually exceeds the cost of the recipient employee taking that time. That's not a guarantee, but this is the sort of policy that the company will likely win on more often than not. That's not even considering the bonds it creates among employees.
Your wife's supervisor is a dingbat.

[Tripper11]

13. To say the least!!! EOM

[Bushfire]

8. Nikia, don't quit without another job offer

Take it from someone with experience, you have much less bargaining power. I didn't think you'd last this long based on our other emails, but since you've made it this long find something you enjoy with comparable pay. Don't do anything to give them reason to let you go either, that may look bad when interviewing if you were forced to accept less than ideal jobs beneath you. Best of luck, again. I'm pulling for you.

[creativelcro]

12. Man, leave your job only if you have figured out your budget

in detail. How long you have to find another job ? What are the prospects ? Even if you hate our job, if you are leaving paycheck to paycheck, leaving your job would seem very risky...