Should I withhold fixing a certain issue at my job until they pay me appropriately?

Question

Here is the situation. I am a Data Analyst with over 9 years experience, and my salary is only 40% of what the average is. I always find and fix problems that save the company well over what they pay me. I have recently discovered $279,000 in over-billings to our company that I am cleaning up, and they are aware of, but I was not given a raise. I just discovered $150,000 in other undiscovered "overbillings" to our company that I have not told anyone about yet. I am debating if I should kind of blackmale them and use that to get a raise. I know it's not right to blackmale, but it's not right for them to pay me only 40% of what my salary should be when I'm doing this type of work for them, that only someone with 9 years experience for them would discover. The overbillings are unnoticed by them because it matches what the expected billings are, but I have discovered that the expected billings are incorrect. Should I blackmale them and use this to get a raise?

Also, I am looking for a new job, every day. But no luck yet. But what do I do if I cannot find a new job for 6 months?

Answer 1

Why do you think you are underpaid by 60%? Those salary calculators, and college advice, is crap.

You sound misearble, try this, find a new job and get paid what you think you deserve.

Finally, if I found out an employee KNEW about a $150,000 error and did not bring it to my attention I would fire the employee.

Answer 2

It's not illegal, but failure to pay rent will cause the landlord to evict you and you just don't do it. If this is an issue that the landlord CAN resolve then you need to address the problem in writing to your landlord and explain the issues you're having. On the other hand It might just be that since you are in an apartment and all apartments are in such close proximity to each other that any little smell permeates the rest of the units. Unfortunately that's apartment living for you. This might be an issue that the landlord cannot rectify. Send the letter Certified Return Receipt Requested and give your LL 14 days from receipt of the letter to comply. Explain that if you have not heard anything from the landlord regarding if this matter that after the 14th day you will escrow your rent with the courts. Before you send this letter first contact the Consumer Affairs division in your city or county and speak to the person that handles tenant/landlord issues and speak with them. The will inform you if you can "legally" withhold your rent and the steps you need to take inorder to do this without getting evicted by the landlord for non payment of rent. If they tell you how to go about doing it then make mention of it in your letter to the landlord. The landlord must be informed in writing that you are doing this, you must have a copy to keep for your records to show that you made every effort before you had to resort to these measures or it could come back to bite you later down the road. If this issue is something the landlord cannot resolve because it's mearly a matter of smells permeating the units thru the walls or thru the A/C system then legally you cannot withhold your rent, you will have no leg to stand on if the landlord takes you to court. Good luck

Answer 3

I guess the first thing is after 9yrs it would only be fair for you to be paid properly!! I would gather all the information you explained except the last 150k and go have a sit down with your boss and ask if there is any reason your pay is not up to par. You should be able to go to a website that tells you what the average pay is for your job(do a search engine) .Make him tell you why!! Then look into the company rules and see if your due a raise based on time and production.If the raise does not come through after you have done all you can the right way find anther job and then do what you have to do but remember with your experiance you might be doing yourself a favor by just finding other employment.

Answer 4

I hate to tell you this, but the company gets to decide what's appropriate pay for you, you don't.

Have you talked to your boss about your pay situation, pointing out that you are underpaid by industry standards and pointing out the money you saved them by your initiative in doing your job well?

Doing what you are suggesting would be downright stupid - if you tell them basically "I know something you don't know but I'm not gonna tell you unless you give me a raise" sounds pretty childish, and certainly isn't going to make you look like a good employee who deserves a raise, and if you don't tell them there's more problems out there that are losing them money, it'll be pretty weak blackmail since they won't even know.

I'd let them know about the problems that still exist - use that meeting with your boss to mention that you think you deserve a raise. Then if you don't get one, look for another job. If your pay is really that much below what your skills justify, you should have no trouble finding a job somewhere else that would pay you significantly more.

Answer 5

No. Ask for a raise on your merrit. If they don't see it as a boon to have such a employee as your self, I would be looking for employment else where. When the company becomes aware that they could be loosing a fine employee, there might be a change in their attitude and your salary. There will always be a job for a man such as your self. Good luck.

Answer 6

If you like your job. No. If you think you can start somewhere else, for the same pay, or better, then yes. But it is a moral issue, would you be able to sleep at night if you did it that way? Me, I would not be able to live with myself. But I would also talk to my boss, and see if it where possible to get a raise. Like I said. You have to live with your dissension.

Answer 7

The more you do for a company the bigger asset you become. Document all of your "savings" to the company and ask your boss for a review. Go in there with the ammunition and hope for a raise. If you don't get it then tell them that you have been offered a position you cannot refuse. That should make them look at what they have in front of them.

Answer 8

Resorting to criminal behavior to deal with idiots is...well, idiotic.

Find a new place to work. There are TONS of jobs for qualified data analysts. Use both examples as why you're awesome as an employee.

Answer 9

No, don't blackmail them. I believe they are paying you to analyze data and report these types of errors. Therefore, what you found falls under your normal job duties. If you aren't getting paid what you are worth, get a new job elsewhere.

Answer 10

congrats!what an idea of justifying 'tit for tat'!will u be calm and answer a few questions before taking that suicidal leap?one:Are you paid less than what you were appointed on in black and white? two: what are you going to get if the coy you are working for goes to losses?I am glad to note you are listening to your conscience and therefore hesitating from sinning against the light that is in you, my friend.J ust go to the boss and tell him the truth. I hope he will appreciate you.