I hate my life

[clawhammer]

<rant>
Well everything seemed fine till about a week ago. I work as a computer programmer for a call answering service for $7.50/hour!!! That's very low rate, even though I'm in high school. To top it all off, I'm on call 24/7!!! I do have some other benefits like free high speed internet and a free cell phone (about $100/month value), but still, I'm being ripped off. So I decided to go and ask for a raise because I'm doing a lot more than what I'm being paid for, but I didn't get one. I'm due for a normal evaluation sometime in april, but I need money now. Last thursday I was running an errand for the company, going from supply store to supply store trying to buy some stupid converter. I'm driving around for 2 hours in my car, which has not heat at all, and I live in michigan and it's probably like 10 degrees outside. And to top it all off, on my way back I loose all of the coolant from my car, it is overheating like crazy, I can only go for like 2 miles at a time, and have to pull over for 10 minutes and let the car cool off. Well, I somehow got back, and I fixed the problem, it was a cracked hose. Well, I drove like 100 miles after that, and yesterday I was leaking coolant again. This time another hose was broken, but I still was not able to fix it because it's very tight in there, and the hose doesn't have any extra on the end. So I put a piece of duct tape over it, but it was still leaking. So I come to work today, and I'm working now, I can't fix my car, because I don't know what's wrong with it, I don't have any money to get it fixed, because I'm trying to save up for college, which will be like $6000 due at the beginning of august. Plus to add to the story, they don't even pay me for overtime that I work, they just add it as a bonus at my regular rate. I hate my job, I need a new one, and nobody seems to want to pay more than $7.50/hour to a high school student.
</rant>

[Dog_soldier13]

Be happy that u got a job i would be happy with what u got cuz i am in high school also and i aint got shit

[fredjacksonsan]

Change I hate my life to I hate my job! Sounds like they are using and abusing you. A decent employer will pay you for miles traveled in your car (or a per delivery fee if you're making deliveries)

As stated in the other thread, your employer is breaking the law if they're not paying you overtime for more than 40 hours per week. Sounds like it's time to start looking for another job. Once you get it, you'll have some bargaining power with your current boss, who probably knows you don't have another position - yet.

[87lToronadol]

yeah sux when bosses are gay and do stuff like that...

[Jm93]

Claw, you have it great kid. most high school kids make min wage. you make more.

none or very very few get a free cell phone, you do.

Free high speed internet is unheard of for a highschool kid, hell even for someone in thier 40's, you get it.

THink how many high school kids are better off then you, not many. would you rather be fliping burgers at mcdonalds? didnt think so. you have to prove your worth by example, and with knoledge. hell i was making min wage all through highschool, what do you have on a resume that makes you worth more? if you want a promotion/ raise, prove that you deserve it. by the sounds of things you are like a rich kid who complains that he has to drive a corvette instead of a ferari. you have it extremely well having little work experience, and no real schooling to show that you deserve more money.

Everyone wants the world. and people think thier job is shitty no matter where they are, becuase it could always be better. Prove that you are worth more, get some experience, take some classes. learn. and that raise will come.

[Jimmiz71]

^Well Said, When I got out of school I was working for a HVAC company getting paid salary, after working an average of 15 non-paid extra hours a week and no paid Holidays,crappy insurance, no sick time.. etc.. I soon left and now work for a much better company making over double what I was making before with full benefits. Since your still in school I think your work situation isn't too bad, You need to start somewhere, a free Phone and internet is a nice benefit. If I were you I would hold on to the job till your done with school and discuss any problems or concerns you have when you sit down for your review.

As for your car, any parts store sells preformed hoses that clamp directly in place of your old hose. they also sell just lengths of hose if you know the diameter.. No more Duct Tape to band-aid your coolant system
Good Luck!
-Jimmy

[YogsVR4]

If you are in high school you cannot be on call 24/7 unless you are 18 years old. Tell me your employers name and my old next door neighbor will have a good time talking with them.

[MasterChief1724]

I work at a restaraunt cleaning tables and dishes and I make 7 bucks an hour. Im really lucky to be getting that expecially for what I'm doing. Im thankful that I even have a job. And double thankful for making that much for starting pay.

[WickedNYCowboy]

You can take expenses for repairs and gas for your work off your taxes. There are ways around the labor laws in some cases.

[gold digger]

Claw, I know people who would kill to get that....and youre in high school!! Just think of it as work experience...plus it looks pretty sweet on a resume.

[sivic02]

Are you going away for college? If so thats probably why your boss doesnt want to give you a raise. It wont bother him if you leave a few months early. Also I worked stock in a grocery store for 6.50/hr overnights 40hrs/week so you really have it great to be getting paid 7.50 to do something that you can sit on your ass and do.

[clawhammer]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

If you are in high school you cannot be on call 24/7 unless you are 18 years old. Tell me your employers name and my old next door neighbor will have a good time talking with them.

I am 18.


Well, today I gave up on fixing my car, and had to pay $160 to get the cooling system fixed. After reading some of the replies, I realize that there are two parts of the story. Yes, I am in high school, and yes I am doing much better than a lot of people my age. On the other hand, if my empolyer were to replace me with someone else, I'm sure that they would have to pay the person a lot more than they are paying me, so that's why I feel that I"m being taken advantage of.

[sameintheend01]

making min. wage when the older generation was kids is different that when my generation (i'm 21) is making min. wage. For christ's sake u could buy a new, SWEET ass car working 2 hours a day at the local gas station. you cant get jack for working 10 hours a week anymore.

[my3rdskyline]

"sometimes you flush sometimes you bust. that's just the way it is." - BLOW

You'll truly learn this as you get older. Specially going to college and trying to scrape it together.

[publicenemy137]

Are you guys even reading the full story?!?!?!? The fact isn't that he's making more than minimum wage, I think the fact is that he should get paid more. Flipping burgers or working at retail requires far less skills and responsibility than what clawhammer does as well as knowledge. I would be pissed too, this company is saving a hell of a lot of money by hiring him, and it's not fair because he is WORTH more. I would understand if maybe his job title is a mopper or cashier, but he's a computer programmer dealing with customers 24/7. You could say that "yea he's high school, he's making more than most" but he's also working in a much higher position than most (as well in a smaller pool of applicants), and should be paid a lot more.

Fuck being lucky and such that he has a job, he deserves much more for what he is doing. Sure he is making money, but that kind of thinking will never get you anywhere in business in the future. You should not be paying average or slightly higher than average if you are doing an above average job. If people would take that crap, then there would be no incentive for education, knowledge, or working harder, well because "you are making money and you are lucky." If you feel you are taken advantage of, you should do something about it. You should try working at Best Buy, I made $8/hr starting, as well as being my first job. I just stood around and directed ppl where to go, and sold computers. It seems a lot easier than your 24/7 on call job.