Salery Negotiations...

[Yoshimoto]

Alright, so here's the deal. Currently I am the IT Director of a small school district. Our department consists of me, an IT Administrator and a part time tech.

Our network consists of 430 client machines, 5 servers(2 domain controlers, a web server, an exchange server, a student information system server, and a lunch program server)that carry about 1500 users.

My main responsablities include (drum-roll please)

Network Engineering
Running Cable
Configuring & Managing Network Devices (Firewalls, Routers, Switches, Wireless Access Points, and Printers)
Writing all scripts for the servers (Java Script)
Building servers (of all kinds)
Installing, Upgrading, and Managing DVR Network Security Camera System (Currently at 64 nodes over 2 DVR's)
Maintenance & Backups of all systems
On site & remote support
Staff Training
Website building and mantenance
Responsible for Video Taping and takeing pictures at events
Video editing & Production
Graphic Design and printing large posters and banners
Responsible for department budget, employee hours,purchases, all department reports and documentation as well as all of the presentations for the Board of Directors, Administrative Meetings, and Staff In-services
among many other small tasks that get thrown at me.

It seems that the motto for this school is if it has a circut in it, its my repsonsibility (yes even programming the bells for class changes three times a year)

I have been with the company for three years now, and have a total of 2 years career training, 2 years of college, and 5 years of in field experience.

The school seems to be getting sick of paying me a good amount of overtime every payday and are talking about putting me on salary. I am having a hard time figuring out what is fair for my resposibility considering it is not a large company. If anyone is in a similar role and has any suggestions please feel free to let me know. I know what I feel I am worth considering a lack of a college degree that is complete or any certifications,the only other incomes I have to compare to are from larger companies though.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[paterson]

Oh, My Spidy Senses are tingling!! Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!

Another way of saying that a company wants to put you on salary to keep costs from going up, is "We want to pay you less for doing more!"

If you really want to go down this route, I would take your last two years, at the very least the last year, and average out what you make each paycheck. Take that number and multiply by the number of paychecks you receive in a year. That would be your yearly income. I would ask for more than what that number is, minimum of 15-20%! Why? Because once companies have you on salary, I find their demands on "overtime" can get out of hand. If they don't have to pay you extra for doing extra work, why wouldn't they expect that!!

So, how do you convince them of this increased salary number? Because obviously, there is enough work for you to do that amount of OT and they are paying you that amount already. Don't expect less!

Also, they are coming to you! Don't expect less, use this as an opportunitiy to secure a better financal situation.

I would not worry too much about your lack of certifications and such, you already work there! They know what to expect from you and they still want to keep you on. This whole thing smakcks of trying to not pay you as much as they currently do. Just remember that this cost saving plan may end up taking either money or TIME away from you and your family. Don't put yourself in a position of less, just to give the company a "hometown" discount!!!!

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Insert Witty Signature Here.

 

[SQLSister]

Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!"

Update the resume and start looking. The amount of overtime you work will go up dramtically and you will not get paid for it. They did this to me once and I went from working 4-5 hours extra per week to working 20-40 hours extra per week.


"NOTHING is more important in a database than integrity." ESquared

 

[gbaughma]

I don't necessarily agree with looking for more work.

It's simple, really (as I have done in the past during salary negotiations).

Yes... take your current base pay, and add 15-20% onto it.

Then, make it clear, that since you are on salary, that they can expect *some* overtime from you, but overtime will be "comp'd"; in other words, for each hour you work over, you get to take that time off at some other point. That can work into extra days off.

There's nothing wrong with being on salary, I've been salaried for years. But if I work OT, then I just tell my boss "Hey, I banked an extra 4 hours last night doing server upgrades (or whatever), so I'll be leaving at noon on Friday."



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[genomon]

I'll keep it short: don't go for the salary. Not at your present job, anyhow...

Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root
canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.

 

[aarenot]

First of all, is there a government union you can join? They are pretty good deals, almost cannot get fired in the USA if in a government union job.

Second, and from experience, this is the best way to approach this as I have had this experience numerous times.

When talking with the person who is trying to get you to go salary try to when they bring up the subject initialy laugh, and say that you would consider it, but you are sure they could not afford you on salary. This often puts them in the position of casually asking what you mean, at which point you let them know that you would have certain demands before going on salary.

You would expect to have a contract which would include that training, and certification you currently lack(budgetary funds set aside for such training), an increased benefits package, 4 weeks paid vacation to start with a schedule for additional weeks based on years of service including your pending years toward additional vacation. Seminars, and certifications budgets for all the systems you are supporting, as well as comp time for any after hours, or over 8 hrs per day, or weekend work. Systems you are supporting would include all those you listed like camera systems, etc.

Your pay considerations should be made by taking your highest number of hours for any 12 consecutive month period, not calendar year, but the highest 12 month period ever. Take that number of hours, and multiply it by the highest wage rate you have achieved at any point in your carreer, as that is what you are worth at market value for your skills. You may want to restrict it to the highest wage at the district(Include 1.5 hours for any OT in the figures so as to include all OT in the wage they would be replacing). Then since this is such an awesome promotion, and carreer opportunity that you are so excited about, obviously, a promotion to a newly created position requires a completley renegotiated compensation package. This must be a promotion, or why would you take it ofcourse, so it must be a new position. You might want to ask if you will have input on whom it will be taking over your old position, and duties.

A bit tongue in cheek, but not totally. I would also let them know that if you were to go to salary that one of the non-salaried persons would be taking on all the duties that are not requiring of the director of IT to perform. The part time tech would be doing most everything that is possible for him/her to do, regardless of the total hours they would have to work to complete them( might want to hold this one back for in case they move you to salary without letting them know you plan to do this.). If I was salaried, and director of IT, I would delegate all items that did not require the director to handle which might push me over 40 hours. that part timer might be closer to full time coming soon.

The other approach is to just say, plainly, clearly, and without wavering that you are not interested in being salaried, but may be able to increase the hours of the part time person to full time, and shift some duties their way to limit your own OT. When it blows over you can do what you want with those duties again if you want them back, and the OT.

 

[mikepf]

Get a degree no matter what it takes and get another "gig"!

 

[gbaughma]

It seems that the motto for this school is if it has a circut in it, its my repsonsibility (yes even programming the bells for class changes three times a year)

Sounds like my job. lol

I don't understand the people that are saying "Bail out! Get another job!"

Working for a school district is usually a pretty good gig. Plus, you didn't mention if you get 3 months off during the summer, but still get paid for 12...

I'd love a school district gig. There's usually money available for upgrades and so forth as well.

As far as your duties are concerned, my company is pretty much the same way. I'm the only IT person here, but I also do security cameras, systems, electronic jail doors, not to mention the normal duties; 16 servers, about 70 thin clients, another 25 laptops, *PLUS* I do all the internal web development, programming, and just spent 2 1/2 days installing a complete sound and projection system in our auditorium. I do a lot of our corporate power point stuff for the upper management, take photos of events, print everything from 4x6 photos up to huge posters on a DesignJet plotter. I maintain all of the AutoCad drawings of the building, and I'm pretty much on call 24x7.

I mean, jeez, you got 2 1/2 people there (2 FT and 1 PT). I'm just 1 person. Negotiate a salary if they're offering it to you, don't forget to talk about flex time (if you work over your normal hours, you get to flex those hours later, say to get a head start on a weekend or instead of sick time if you have a doctor's appointment or something).



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[chrissie1]

Wow Greg, I didn't knew you actually worked ;-).

Christiaan Baes
Belgium

My Blog
"In a system where you can define a factor as part of a third factor, you need another layer to check the main layer in case the second layer is not the base unit." - jrbarnett

 

[gbaughma]

Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com