Underemployed and Underpaid
Two weeks ago, Michael Cooper of The New York Times, wrote about the difficulties faced by those who are employed, but not making enough to sustain themselves or their families in his article entitled “Lost in Recession, Toll on Underemployed and Underpaid.”
The article raised an important point about the vulnerability of workers who have jobs that are not offering a full 30-35 hour workweek. I wanted to share some advice if you, or someone in your close network, finds themselves with reduced hours.
1. Be Flexible: Consider taking on unpopular shifts or making it known to your co-workers that you are looking to take on greater hours in case they are out sick or on vacation.
If you’ve typically taken Saturday off for family or social reasons, consider amending your availability. Also, if your employer has multiple locations, indicate that you’re willing to work at more than one location, if it means a fuller schedule.
2. Be Creative: Do not pigeon-hole yourself into your current responsibility set.
Think outside of your job description. Ask your boss—or even your company’s owner (if it’s a small business)—if there are additional responsibilities you could take on a few hours a week. This can be an especially smart strategy if you have specific skills that your current position doesn’t take advantage of, but you think the company could use. Sell your boss or the company’s owner on how paying you a few extra hours could increase business. Also, ask for training or an opportunity to build your skills in areas within the firm that seem to be busy and aligned with your skills and interests. Showing your boss that you are ambitious and willing to learn new skills are both positive signs of a good employee.
3. Be a Superstar: Go above and beyond.
Employers often cut everybody’s hours in lieu of laying off a small number of employees. That saves a few jobs, but it hurts everybody’s budgets. That means you must do excellent work, show enthusiasm, and go above and beyond. If you stand out among your peers at work, you’ll be first in line when hours come back.
4. Be Persistent. The squeaky wheel often does get the grease.
Never assume that your boss knows you want more hours. Believe it or not, she may just assume that if nobody says anything, everybody’s okay with the cutbacks. Tell your boss regularly that you’re looking for extra hours. Do it every week; don’t be a nag, but slide it into conversation whenever you can.
Angie Kamath
Angie Kamath, who oversees Workforce1 as the Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development at the NYC Department of Small Business Services, shares her perspective on Workforce1 and the New York City job market in her weekly Jobs in New York City column.
Have a response to Angie’s column? Drop her a note in the comment section below! And, if you found this helpful, please share it with friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and email!
I don’t know about this advice; though I reserve my judgement.
If recruiters are offering you 75K when you have multiple bachelors and masters degrees and should be getting north of 200K leaves a lot to be desired. It may damage your life long earnings if you take a junior salary and position. Staying unemployed may be better.
Humility is not a business, boss or 1%er trait and neither should it be yours….perhaps only in a religious settings!
Thanks for sharing your opinion, Spiro N. Antzoulatos. The Workforce1 Career Blog was established, in part, to create a forum for jobseekers to share their opinions, experiences, and advice for peers. Thank you for contributing to this community.
Do workers have ANY rights at all? What if I can’t work changing days every week, or changing locations? This is not realistic advice. The fact is that most businesses are doing just fine, but hoarding their profits rather than passing it on to their employees (or giving customers price breaks), instead trying always to extract more and more from us.
If I do the jobs of three people, I’d better get paid correspondingly. The problem is that that doesn’t happen, and that’s why bosses say they’re “saving” so much. Workers need to unite and demand getting paid what they’re worth…and to demand the right to do their own job and not 3 people’s jobs. Here’s a radical notion…how about hiring 3 people to do the work it takes 3 people to do? I know, the widget might cost an extra dollar or so, and we can’t have that.
Whatever happened to job stability, stable hours, any kind of predictability whatsoever? I’ve bent over backwards so many times I’m broken…so that an employer can save a couple of bucks. In this climate, working doesn’t pay. Not with the stress, the hostility, and the tolls on health–and the way that if you ARE a GOOD employee, you are TOTALLY taken for granted and unappreciated… It’s wage slavery, emphasis on slavery.
Yet people who move to better employers are seen as “job hoppers” when in actuality they’re trying to stand up for their rights usually, trying to get something better. The attitude is that you’re supposed to suffer for 6 mos-1 year before leaving for better circumstances…this is poor advice. If a situation is bad, I’ve now learned, I won’t stay. This makes me look flaky, though, when in actuality it means that I value myself and my health.
And if I told my boss EVERY WEEK I wanted more hours, yeah, that would be seen as being a nag/ sycophant/ bother/ dense. Has this person been in an office remotely lately?
The stats in the NY Times article are pretty bleak. Your comment echos the article’s title: Lost in Recession, Toll on Underemployed and Underpaid.
I love this post, It doesn’t matter your experience, certifications, expertise, degrees, hard working, or revenue producing juggernaut; employers will not pay you a market rate, or if you are there will not give you the pay, title,or respect. If you do not like being overworked; they allude to a 20% constructive unemployment rate and that others will be glad to take your position for es
I think what Angie’s column is very good, but the reason for the cutback is because of the economy. Some small businesses, even the big businesses, (USPS) just can’t afford to give anyone anymore hours. It is definitely a try to promote yourself by any means possible. I totally disagree with Spiro, unemployment is never better if you have a family to support. Anything is better than nothing. Can you really support a family on unemployment? I don’t know, but I pray I don’t have to ever. I also believe there is some discrimination against people who are employed and looking for a PT job to make ends meet. They assume you can’t handle two jobs without ever giving you a try. I worked two full time jobs for 19 years until I was laid off. (consolidation) Now I am over qualified for some PT jobs. I have no shame in my game, I have just applied to Target for PT work. Maybe I can prove myself to become a mgr.,in the near future. I have no retail background, but I’ll keep pushing.
Hi Sandra, Best of luck with your application to Target! In a previous post, you identified yourself as being a veteran. Did you see Kelly Dougherty’s post today on the new Workforce1 Veteran’s Career Center?
Great advice, since I’m a firm believer in having a “create a need and fill it” approach to work. Though, I am currently on the “not working and not paid” list, I have expanded my search to part-time and alternative shifts, with the hopes that it will lead to something more permanent. I came across this blog by accident. I was not even aware that WF1 had a blog. So, this is great advice and is timely, given my current situation.
Regards,
Terrie N
Thanks for your comment. How did you find out about the blog? We are trying to get the word out to more folks – so please share the link with your friends, too.
Hi,
Honestly, I found the blog because I applied for a position with SBS and came across your name. This blog came up when I googled you. I had no idea that WF1 offered additional resources, aside from those weekly emails I receive. Actually, it’s kind of ironic when you think about it. I applied for the QA position. However, I will definitely share.
Regards
Ah, thanks for answering. If there is additional info that you think would be helpful on the blog – or if you have questions related to your job search – you can always use the “ask a recruiter” function and/or keep replying to this comment chain.
I was unemployed for 6 years and I’ve been underemployed for 4 years. I actually have been doing some of the things this article suggests but I agree with alot of the readers here. Time is more important than money. If you lose money you can make it back. If you lose time, you lose it and you can’t make up for it. My job is a waste of time but I stick it out with a smile on my face because I am still living at home with m.o.m. and if I quit she would probably kick me out. So I am stagnated with a 15k annual salary and 75k in student loans. I have an MBA and people tell all the time I should be making more money. OK? But I have yet to find a business or a company who would give me the compensation I deserve!
Wow. That is a tough position. Sticking it out with a smile takes a lot of work and perserverence. Sounds like you have explored many options. One thing that takes more work and perserverence – but does pay off – is networking. Have you tried networking? It might be a way to connect to opportunities to use your MBA and your full potential.
Hello Angie:
In 1993, I worked for the Hamilton Multi-Service Center. It was a summer job and I was so proud of what I did at age 17. The job market has changed from encouraging to discouraging. I last worked as a teacher/home visitor and I experienced things that have caused me trauma. Education should be encouraging as should be the world of work. I underwent a humiliating experience with DOL specialists that left me dumbfounded. While I am a disabled individual, I was discouraged from continuing to claim for benefits, which I paid into, and was told to collect disability instead. If I desire to work that is my right and choice. Just because I am disabled it does not mean I cannot work. I should be the only one to determine what is best for me. After this, a worker yelled at me while seeking answers about my benefits. She refused to assist me and discontinued our conversation. I later found out that I had 11 weeks of subsidy when I was supposed to be covered for the whole year since I was in school. This is the 599 program. I was discriminated against and was told that there were more unfortunate individuals who were more deserving of this program. I was questioned extensively about my reasons for applying. The specialist mocked my reason for studying which was to teach English to speakers of other languages. He questioned sarcastically, “Are you seriously considering teaching English to others?” As if my race or nationality were a barrier to doing so.
If you asked me, I’d say that the humiliation endured is much too traumatic to stomach. I was an abused employee and decided that I would have gotten worse emotionally and mentally if I continued to work in such an environment. When I contacted DOL they stated we cannot help you.
This is heart wrenching…. I hope you take time to listen to your subordinates; they may have much to contribute and may need your assistance or help. It makes all the difference when an employer hears and actively listens.
Hi Angie
As I am looking for a job, I registered with workforce1 and set up an alert with their web site and because of that I always get an email as soon as there is a new job posted in their web site. But the problem is when I try to apply for that job from the email alert it ask me to log in to their web site and as soon as I log in I do not see that job in their web site and I can not apply. Reason I believe is that workforce1 job posting web site is not get updated very frequintly.
FYI
Regards
Avijit sur chowdhury
avi_sur2003@yahoo.com
Hi Avijit Sur Chowdhury, Thanks for your comment. I’m sorry to hear you are having a problem finding jobs online. There could be a few reasons, including: 1. the information that you provided to Workforce1 when you registered does not match the job requirements, 2. the job was filled very quickly and has already been removed from the website. You can always access all jobs in the Workforce1 system (including jobs advertised online, as well as additional jobs) by visiting any of the Workforce1 Career Centers.