The job I was initially taken on for was to do specific tasks and paid a basic salary that was £3k below market rate at the time, plus a small bonus, which took it to just below the basic market rate.
They wouldn't up it to the basic market rate, even though I stated they were getting me cheap, so to speak!
I was desperate to leave my last job, so agreed, thinking it was "an introductory rate" and I would soon prove myself etc.
I was promised lots of chances at career progression, high wages and status in the company and more responsibility up to senior level - either in or just after my first year there.
I go the full basic and all the bonus as high sales throughout the company meant we smashed targets every month.
After 1 year, I had a review and was expecting big rewards for my hard work and loyalty as promised, and knew the company were taking on people at £8k higher than my basic for similar jobs.
I was told that I would be getting £1k extra on my basic as I'd "worked hard!; bonuses would be "different structure, but easily achievable" and would be the same rate as last year with extra incentives on top for different things - so basic was still £2k below market rate, and getting the lowest bonus would still not put me at basic market rate, but highest bonus would put me at total OTE of £4-8k over market rate.
Then I was told I had to take on the duties of 2 people who had left, plus some of my managers work as he had been promoted and had no time to do it. So I was doing my job, plus most of the work of 3 other people.
Horrendous sales now means no one has had a bonus since May, we believed it would pick up, but in current economy we have no chance, and company won't change bonus structure, so I could actually earn LESS than last year at this rate!
Someone else has just left (management) and my boss expects me to take on some of his duties as well now, but for no more money. So that's 5 jobs, for one very low salary!!
Now they have taken on 3 more people doing different things, paying them high wages, and promoted someone else in the office and given her a few grand as pay rise, as she had threatened to leave.
I am getting nothing. They just expect me to put up with it, or leave on principle - but I don't see why I should!!!! And there are no jobs to go to - I have been hunting for ages anyway with no luck!!
Surely I am being a mug letting them lie to me saying they can't afford even a token bonus each month, when they have thousands to pay other people????
People laugh at me when they find out how little I am paid, and I feel degraded and a failure professionally. I have spent years getting qualified and working, but I have ended up still earning less than an office junior.
I know I am lucky to have a job at the minute, as so many people haven't, but I am so stressed over this, as I can't see them suddenly giving me a pay rise to stay there.
What can I do????