PRYR RQST For my Husband's job ("Esther" is going before "Ahashuerus" today)

I would like to ask for everyone to pray for my husband's situation today. He is going in to his boss to ask for a raise, and we are praying that he not only gets one but a significant one. My husband had deliberately "low-balled" his salary when he was unemployed at the height of the economic downtown in 2009 so as to 'get his foot in the door' for the job, but the figure he's been getting wasn't much above unemployment and that salary has now proved to be unsustainable for our family. It has, in fact, "been" unsustainable for a long time, and we are now out of savings to "supplement" the loss every month of what "used" to be his "normal" salary.

We kept hoping "regular" raises would rise to a level more in line with what a person with his experience background, capability level, and degree should get---but instead his pay is more like what a newly-graduated unmarried college kid might get, not what a married father of three needs to support a family of five. He already is pushed to exhaustion every day and so I can't see him getting a 2nd job to supplement, and I've been considering getting a part-time job -- but since we homeschool and I am needed at home for the children that's going to be very hard to find, especially since I need to shuttle my oldest son (who is blind) to all his piano and organ and tutoring lessons, and my younger two to various things (we can't afford a car for my 2nd son, even though he has his license now). I've even though about a night job at a Quik-Trip or some such, since I'm a night owl anyway and if I work at night it won't affect the kids' schedule during the day, but my husband is scared for me to work at a convenience store at night. But we can't keep on as we have been---the savings are almost gone and something's gotta give.

We are praying he'll get a salary more in line with what he used to get, and what professionals in his field (design-drafting) normally get, which is a fair bit above what he is receiving now. Please pray for wisdom, confidence, calmness, and clear-thinking for Ray, and for mercy in the eyes of his employers (a Japanese company!) as he goes in to present his appeal. We feel a bit like Esther approaching Ahashuerus, but pray that as God directed the steps of Esther and opened the way for her in her life-and-death appeal to this dangerous king, that God will also so order the steps and circumstances for Ray as he presents his appeal to his superiors.

Thank you!

(mods---I don't know if job-related prayer requests like this are ok, but if you could please leave it up on the main page for a while---it's today that my husband is planning to go in---in the next few hours in fact---so if folks could just bathe that meeting in prayer I'd be so grateful! Thanks!)

CM I will definitely keep you in our prayers. We are in the same position in that I low balled my salary as well in 2010 to get this job. It is 35% less than what I used to make and with the tax increase this year well....you get it. I've only had a very small raise over a year ago and it's been really hard to keep our heads above water. I have been in this field for over 20 yaers and though I don't have a degree I do have more experience. There are a lot of young inexperienced kids working here as well. I know my company loves and my sales reps well they always sing my praises. I just wish it would be converted to my paycheck in a- as you put it- significant way.

Take care and will keep you in prayer.

I wish him good luck. Are the others in his same-type position at this place getting more than what he is, or do people not discuss their salaries amongst each other?

Prayers!

Of Course, CM, I will pray.
Your situation sounds like ours. Our savings is gone trying to pump life back into our business. My Dh works from Dawn to Dusk.
Im home schooling our daughter. I have wrestled with the idea of getting a part time job, but it just would not be worth it.
I have resorted to selling off items in our home that we dont use. Helps a little.
I understand.

Praying now.

Prayers up!

Prayers going up for you and yours. Facing a similar situation next month, DW and I getting cut from 40 hrs to 24. God bless you and be with you.

Thank you all so much! He told me he was going to ask to meet with his supervisor about 10 am (it's that now, here), so I don't dare call him until he calls me, so please keep praying! (the meeting 'could' happen any time today)

Prayers up for hubby and you.

I just now saw this and prayed. I even asked that the Good Lord take my prayers and retroactively apply them to the period of time he was talking to them, if he had already been in to speak to them.

The Lord know the intent in our hearts, past, present and future.

I don't know if the meeting has taken place yet or not---still haven't heard from hubby & don't dare call him in case it's taking place NOW---will let you all know as soon as I hear.

Of course, even after the meeting takes place, the supervisor alone does not make the decision---he has to take it to HIS higher-ups and eventually to the JAPANESE officials in charge (and we all know, from the movie "Gung Ho", how they are about employees---they should be so grateful to the parent company to have a job that they'd almost be willing to work for free)---so even when this meeting is over we won't know something until it's been run through those higher levels and we see how they respond--so PLEASE KEEP PRAYING, even after today...

and THANK you all SO much!

Prayers for a much needed raise

Prayers said...

Prayers sent.
I know you have the faith, so 'be not afraid'(I read that somewhere)
SS

I would scale back my expectations. An argument for increased pay should rely on performance wrt his peers. Period. The needs of the family for more money, are not going to sail well with an employer. They should be focusing on performance. I wish him the best and will pray for you.

Prayers sent!

Hubby met with his immediate supervisor, but turns out he is an "interim" who took over when the manager left for another job (because they refused to give HIM--the manager--a pay raise--so he went somewhere else. They've been doing without a manager since. Doesn't bode well, I know, that they'd prefer LOSING an experienced manager and doing without one, and raising one of the engineers to be a temporary manager, rather than offer the experienced manager enough of a pay raise to keep him). The supervisor told my hubby that he (my hubby) would have to talk to HR (groan) but that he would meet with them with him and put in a good word for him---so we put things off until next week and try again.

Thank you for all your prayers!

I may well request your prayers again next week--same Bat-time, same Bat-channel....

homepark said:

I would scale back my expectations. An argument for increased pay should rely on performance wrt his peers. Period. The needs of the family for more money, are not going to sail well with an employer. They should be focusing on performance. I wish him the best and will pray for you.

Click to expand...

He has had TWO excellent performance reviews in his two years with the company. But bear in mind this is an ASIAN company and the mindset is different. Their attitude is that employees are not valued as assets, but as little more than peons who should be grateful just to have a job. They have, in the last year, lost THREE upper-level personnel (see my post above) because they refused to pay them on a scale that is competitive with other current employers in the field, with the result that the company has lost a long-time manager and two other mid- to high-level persons in the last year (see above post).

My husband is the ONLY drafter for an engineering deparment of SIX engineers, and they hired him for the purpose of his taking the burden off the engineers of having to do their own drafting. What he is asking is merely a pay level commensurate with OTHER drafters IN HIS FIELD, so that he can afford to stay there with a company he already knows and likes, rather than have to start searching for a new job.

However, if the company does not want to pay the "going rate" for a proven good employee with a given level of education, experience, and knowledge, there does come a point where they're being "penny wise, pound foolish"--and those decisions have already cost them three very good employees and they are literally limping along right now with no one really qualified even managing the department and directing / prioritizing the work assignments. THAT has led to a LOT of confusion, disorganization, and inefficiency, since they are all Indians with no "Chief"--yet, as I said, penny-wise, pound foolish.

I didn't go into that much detail, I guess because I assumed folk would know my husband wouldn't ask for a raise if he hadn't proven himself a good worker---that is a given.

Countrymouse, that is why I advised about keeping your expectations in check. Asking a company to change its pay scale because you need the money, may not go over well with what it calls 'management'. Their method of low-balling pay and benefits has nothing to do with your husband or family. Places like that, as you have noted, do not regard their employees highly. That is their loss, and a continuous one at that. It may just be a place to keep food on the table or to get experience while planning to move on.

Sweat shops run like that, are all over the place. I have worked in my fair share. There is a reason that folks move on from those places. The owners know that and figure that into their business plan, or are just completely ignorant about it and scratch their heads.

I wish your hubby and you all the best.

Prayers Countrymouse that your DH will get the raise when he has the meeting later, prayers for all in this situation.

Take care and God Bless!

Norma

CM, as they say, it's easier to get a better job if you're already employed. Don't let hubby just sit there. Have him start sending out feelers, and networking, and looking at jobs on the internet in your area. If he gets an interview, have it scheduled for early morning (he'll be in a little late), or late afternoon (he has an errand and has to leave early). No quitting first!!!

I too hope your family is better set monetarily and very soon........but....it would be a miracle...IMO

One of my sisters worked for a hospital equipment corp. (not sure what it's name is)....and after landing a 64 million dollar contract for them....they gave her a whopping $500 bonus!!!!!

Needless to say, she resigned as soon as possible.........what a bunch of creeps!!! This is corporate mindset........squeeze the suckers dry and let 'em go!