New Year, same old salary. 

This is the second year in a row I’ve had a salary increment and I’m bitter because my work has more than doubled over the last 12 months. I deserve some compensation for the longer hours I put in to my work. 

I was a little worried when our performance reviews were done. I found it odd that we were assessed well into the New Year, just last week. On top of that, the exercise was not only rushed but also overseen by a guy from some obscure consultancy company who knows nothing about what each one of us does.

I felt like management intended this to use this to deny some of us well-deserved bonuses. I feel cheated because I know other people who aren’t doing as much but are earning a lot more. Now, I don’t want to come off as a whiny employee who feels more entitled, important or smarter than others but truth is there are so many slackers here and yet they somehow get good pay. 

Take for example, Susan, our Brand Manager. A number of eyebrows were raised when she got the promotion three months ago because she’s not your typical go-getter. That aside, she hasn’t been here that long and there are more hardworking and well deserving soldiers. 

She may carry the big title and fat pay check, but most of the productive ideas come from other members of the team. I find it strange that the boss hasn’t realised this yet.

There’s also Nicholas who’s all talk and no substance. You know what they say about empty tins! Yet it seems to work for him, thanks to a widely held belief here that the louder one talks, the more effort they’re putting in. 

If you’re reserved like some of us, people assume you’re not doing anything yet you’re actually being mindful of the other people with whom you share the work space. With the exception of those you may be working with on a project, nobody else needs to hear you shout on top of your voice about what statistics you’re looking up or which report you’re filing.

If I’m assigned a task, I’ll just do it. You will not find me going on and on about how, when or why. I don’t have the time for that. 

Speaking of time, I usually report to work on time and come closing time, I don’t dash out as if the building has caught fire. I know people who literally count down to 5 O’clock and hardly do anything during that last hour. I also know people who call in to say they are sick even when all they are suffering from is common cold, flu. 

While I’ve taken only a day or two off, I don’t remember asking anyone to do my work while I am away. I always make sure I finish any urgent assignments before I go away and I pick up as soon as I return. 

I have however had to sit in for others many times, even when I know very little about what they do. Not a single time have I been compensated for this and I haven’t complained, until now. 

Since no one seems to appreciate what I do, I guess I should stop trying so hard. From now on, I’m going to give the bare minimum. No more working overtime. If it’s time to go home, I will go. Except for close friends, I will not offer to help every Jean, Claudia or Chantal.

Henceforth, when an intern asks for help, I’ll tell them to ask someone else. If the accountant is out for lunch and a client needs someone to sign off on an invoice, I’ll refer them to someone in the next office. 

Basically, if it’s not in my job description, I will not do it. After all I will not get paid for it.

To be continued...