Any advice on requesting a $3 pay wage at my current job?

[Cherrylicious]

So I work as a dishwasher at a senior living place and have been working there for 9 months the pay is $15.50 an hour. What I love about the job is I have a very consistent schedule and I know exactly which days I work and which days that I am off which makes it very easy for me to make personal plans and to be able to make medical appointments on my days off.

I am very respectful, very reliable and I'm always covering shift for my fellow coworker whenever he is unable to attend work for whatever reason and my work performance is very great. I have
never been a no call no show nor have I ever called out of work under any circumstances.

However, this job can be very physically demanding as I am not only washing dishes but I'm also doing extra work tasks such as cleaning, going back and forth grabbing certain items for the cook to use, taking out garbage and taking boxes to the dumpster Etc also the high expectations from us at the job which includes completing online "learning" courses once per month and keeping the entire kitchen very tidy and following very strict sanitation practices regarding Health Department's concerns. So needless to say that I work very very hard.

I drive about 12 miles from my house to work round trip every single day and I am also a single adult with obviously lots of financial responsibilities and obligations to fulfill.

Of course this is not something that I have mentioned to my job but this is definitely something that I am considering once it is time for my yearly evaluation. Because I believe that I work way too hard for such very low wages. And before anyone suggests, the previous jobs that I've had before paid much more but those were mostly delivery jobs and Warehouse picker Packer jobs where they were requiring to work at a very fast pace and I have been terminated from each job due to poor work performance mainly due to working at a slow pace. So what is your advice should I bring it to their attention or not?

[WindAtMyBack]

You can try asking for a large wage like that. I think the chances of getting it are low, but you can try.

Everything you described about your duties just mean you are a dishwasher. That's what they do. Dishwasher has always been a low wage entry level job. It's pretty much starting at the very bottom. No offense, I've done it myself at 3-4 different places. It's just not a high paying job.

These type of jobs tend to have a high turnover. If you continue working like you have been, there is a chance of moving into something better. That may be more likely than getting a large raise.

Also, bear in mind that asking for a large raise could have the opposite affect. It might be interpreted as being unsatisfied with your job, and that you might be looking for another better paying job. If they think you might leave, they might start looking for your replacement.

[bowenw]

I suggest seeing what happens during your annual review. Hopefully they are happy with your work and will give you a raise. If not, tell them with the increase in the cost of living you cannot make ends meet. Ask for a raise of more than $3 as a place to start. Be prepared to go work elsewhere if they won't pay more. Reliable hard-working people are hard to come by and they must know that and that you are worth more.

[bowenw]

Thank you for the MHO. 😊
Best of luck to you.

[AI Opinion]

To request a raise, consider preparing a compelling case focused on your contributions and the value you bring to the team. Highlight your reliability, willingness to cover shifts, and ability to maintain high work standards. Consider researching standard wages in your area for similar roles to support your request. Schedule a meeting with your manager during your evaluation for a formal discussion. Express your satisfaction with your schedule and contributions, and articulate how a raise aligns with your performance and responsibilities. Approach the conversation professionally and confidently.

[fish5505_87]

I understand your frustration, you looking for a 19% raise, normal raises are around 3-4% You may want to look for better paying jobs or make your case for a promotion! Best of luck!

[In_Trance]

It's not going to happen

[Cherrylicious]

Elaborate?

[In_Trance]

No employer is going to give you that kind of a raise. Think of it from their perspective; why would they pay you more money to do the same job? Especially 20% more. Can you imagine if your rent increased 20%. You'd freak out and maybe even have to find a different place to live.
If you want more money you need to take a higher paying position.

[Cherrylicious]

My question is why wouldn't they pay a higher wage since nursing homes make so much money to be able to afford to pay their employees a livable wage. And as I've stated before, I've had other higher paying job positions but was let go of those jobs due to poor work performance because all of those jobs required me to work at a fast pace. And job positions such as this and cashier or any other work position at a supermarket, are unfortunately the only jobs that I am able to do because there are much easier despite the low paying wage. So your question is basically either a deal with the low paying job or not work at all?

[In_Trance]

It really hinders more around your sense of value.
An example of that would be exactly what you're going through. If you want an easy job with a steady schedule and you get no grief when you work your 8 hours, then you get a low wage.
If you want to earn more money you need to be prepared to take on more things. That doesn't necessarily mean it's all bad.
The other angle you could look at it from is the fact that if they gave you an increase they have to give everyone else on staff and increase. I don't know how many people work there but it's no longer just $3. Payroll is the biggest expense a company has from an operating perspective. The perception is that they can afford to pay more but they really can't. They're operating budget is just as tight as yours is at home.

[chenyu]

Try to take the first step and do it bravely.

[eagle1951]

good luck