Overworked and Underpaid? You Have 4 Options

By Perminus Wainaina

Over the weekend I met a former classmate and as usual when you meet someone you haven’t talked to in ages its normal to ask them how they are doing. We found ourselves discussing our careers; the ups and downs. While my friend loves his current job and has gained a lot in terms of skills and networks, he is disappointed with the pay and lack of structures.

He reckons that what he earns is not commensurate with the responsibilities and he’s therefore bitter with the low pay and feels overworked.

I wasn’t surprised to hear his concerns on the kind of pay he’s getting. In a survey that we conducted in 2014, 35% of Kenyan professionals indicated that they were in the job market for a better pay, and 25% were keen on a better working environment. From the statistics, over 55% of Kenyan employees are either looking for more money or a better work environment. Though we haven’t done such a study this year, I don’t think the figures would be that different.

What would you do if you were in my friend’s situation?

Determine The Cause. If you are looking for a long term solution as opposed to just complaining, then you should try and find out why you are being paid below the market rate. And you have to look inward and outward. For inward, look for those reasons or factors within your control. For example, it could be that you don’t have the necessary skills or education level to be paid what you desire! With outward, these are the factors beyond your control and could be happening at company, industry or macroeconomic level and that have an impact on what you earn.

For example, if you are working for an SME, there’s a high probability they won’t pay you your worth. Cash flow is a big issue when it comes to small businesses.

Certain industries are also not doing well and when companies are not performing well, the first thing they do is to freeze salary increase in order to manage costs. If you follow business news then you must have heard that 17 companies listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) issued profit warnings last year. If you work for any of these companies, there’s a higher chance your salary has not been reviewed recently. The profit warnings that cut across various industries is evidence that the economy is not doing that well.

What about yourself? Do you have the necessary qualifications, skills and experience to be paid the kind of money you are looking for? What have you done in the last 12 months to increase your value in the workplace?
Some companies and bosses are mean and will intentionally not pay well. If that’s the unofficial company policy, then you better start working on an exit plan.

Ask For More Money. Many of us complain without taking action. Unfortunately telling the world your problems without talking to those who matter will not bring you closer to a solution. If you are genuinely underpaid, why don’t you raise the issue with your boss?

Even if you work for the meanest boss, depending on how you approach the issue they will give you a hearing. Bosses are people like you and I, and there’s a high probability they might have assumed you were satisfied with your pay. If you are contributing to the success of the organization, it’s the company’s duty to take care of you. You shouldn’t be afraid to air your concerns or remind them that you also need to grow.

Resign! Should you resign without another job? It depends on your circumstances. If waking up to report to work causes you stress and suffering then this might be an option to consider. There comes a point where your personal well being comes before a pay check. In any case, you don’t want a scenario where what you earn ends up in a hospital because of stress. You should only resign if you can manage to be without a job for a period of six months.

Start Looking. If resigning is not an option then start job searching. If you’ve determined that things are not going to change, then your last resort is to look elsewhere. And regardless of the circumstances or how aggrieved you are, stay professional by keeping it private. This is not the time to announce to your work mates how unhappy you are and that you are doing everything to quit.

Start by updating your CV, reactivate your networks and put a plan in place. Don’t take the easy route of complaining and not doing anything about it. And the advantage of job searching when you are employed is that you can afford to say no to opportunities that don’t suit you.

When you are underpaid and overworked it is possible to feel that you are in a tight corner with no options. With this article, I wanted to let you know that you have various options that can change your situation for the better. In the end, only you can decide what the best option for you is. I’m not close enough to be able to say what best suits your situation, given it has a lot to do with your relationship with your boss (and only you can truly know the dynamics of an interpersonal relationship).

Perminus Wainaina is the Managing Partner & Head of Recruitment at Corporate Staffing Services Ltd. Website: www.www.www.corporatestaffing.co.ke