Time to Leave job as PA/Sec/Admin?

I need some advice here, losing out on too much sleep. Will try to cut it short. Have worked same engineering company now for 12 years as the pa/administrator/accounts etc. I am the only admin person to 12 staff so it is hard going .

I earn 35k for the past 3 years so have asked for a raise twice in the past year to put me up to 40k excl bonus as my outgoings are huge with mortgage, childcare, cost of living- I was basically told no, "you earn enough" and had civil service rates flashed at me but lower end of say Grade 3. I have checked agencies out and with my experience they have some positions offering 45-50k.

I get no pension, health insurance, sick leave payments, perks etc but do get generous bonus although this year it was 1,000 less than last year even though everyone else got the same or more than last year. I was never given a contract that outlines an annual salary review so have to beg for a salary increase.

Every other member of staff over past year had salary increased between an extra 5 and 20k so just feel like a door mat now. Seems the harder I work and less it is appreciated. Feel paranoid now they want me to leave so they can just hire a junior and pay pittence to!

Time to cut the apron strings or try lay down my case? I find it hard to haggle over salary and terms with the boss, otherwise a nice person but when it comes to money it is a different story!

Thanx in advance!

Often in a small company you feel more attached and put up with more. This seems to be the case with you. I was like that and eventually took the leap to more. I haven't looked back. No harm in going for a few interviews to see what comes of it. It may help firm up your feelings.

It is unfair of the company to flash civil service lower rates at you. If you were in the civil service 12 yrs, you would probably be on about 35K now, and all for short hours (9 to 5 with an hour for lunch). Also you would be guaranteed your increase every year and would not have to fight for it. Also most govt. jobs have plenty of back up & cover, so if you are out sick/holiday leave, the most urgent jobs will be done and you won't have to face a huge backlog when you return.

If you are only working the std 39 hour week, and are on that much money 35K, then you are on a good number. However, if you are prepared to put in more effort to further your career, you need to go to agencies & apply for more senior jobs. It is very hard to expect your present employers to give you a higher salary if you are doing similar work for the last 12 years. Are there any more higher level projects you could take on in your current job, to make you more 'valuable'? The way your company looks at it: they could take on a person with 2 or 3 yrs accounts experience, who would do your job for 22 or 23K. You need to add skills & make yourself more valuable.

I would try to move jobs if I were you. It is easier to secure a good pay increase by moving jobs. Also, when you work for the same company for years, they may take you for granted. They may think that you will never leave no matter what, and they probably feel they don't have to pay you top money to keep you from leaving.

HTH

You'd be on more in the civil service with your level of responsibility you'd be on the far end of 40k. You can get job descriptions of the various grades in the civil service outling responsibilities and skills to back up your argument. It sounds to me like it's time to leave, as other poster suggested go for job interviews to test the water, I know it's scary to leave a place you've been in that long, you become almost institutionalised.