Ever been ripped-off by your own boss...?

[Spinal Tapper]

Needed a place to vent, guys. I have a weird situation at work...and I'm not sure who's right or wrong here...would love some insight on this.

Back-story: I work the 9-5 grind for a small real estate company in the marketing department. I am the only one in this department and I take great pride in the materials we produce here. I was contacted by my owner here (lets call him "A") to do a one-off project for another real estate company in Michigan because the owner of that company "liked our materials so much". I guess the guy is one of his business buddies. Lets call him "B"...

So, I took time out of my day (it took 3 days actually to complete) to work on this project, setting other in-house projects aside, and over 3 days got this project finished up and emailed directly to the "B" after various emails/calls deciding what we wanted to do, and even making changes to a few drafts of the project. I should add that "A" had NOTHING to do with the completion of this project. He actually had NOTHING to do with the beginning of this project, other than soliciting my own email/work phone number to "B" before it was ever even brought up to me...and honestly, if I had a choice, I would've passed on working on it all together.

B's assistant calls me a week later saying she wanted our address because she wanted to send a check! 'Whoa! Cool!' I thought...

I wasn't expecting a check in the mail, but I gave them our office address to send it to. I think "B" wanted to do something nice for me because I was so helpful, friendly, and quick at getting them their project.

Well, a week later, I find out through my buddy/bandmate who is the I.T. guy here that a check did indeed come...for the amount of $500...he just happened to see it pulled up on a random email he had pulled up while working on A's computer yesterday.

Crazy coincidence, right?

So my dilemma is, do I ask for some of that money from "A"? I feel like I deserve it for busting my butt, and the guys who work here are REALLY cheap sometimes (even though $500 is nothing to them). I wouldn't be surprised if "A" just keeps it for himself.
On the other hand, I DID do the work on company time, as asked, and on the company's software...maybe we should AT LEAST split it? Or maybe I deserve nothing?

Also, I suspect that "A" doesn't even think I know about the check at all, but I was the one who told them what address to send the check to...so I won't be surprised if he keeps it from me.

Any help/thoughts?

 

[Baer]

You apparently did this work as part your regular job and was paid your regular salary for your time. Seems really clear to me.

 

[iamlowsound]

You apparently did this work as part your regular job and was paid your regular salary for your time. Seems really clear to me.

This. Plus, your boss is only charging $500 for that amount of work?

lowsound

 

[hdracer]

You apparently did this work as part your regular job and was paid your regular salary for your time. Seems really clear to me.

^^ This again.

Unless you did it on your own time the company gets the check.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

Yeah, I can see the black & white of it in that sense of me "just doing my job" and they get paid on my work. That is kind of how it is around here, I guess I don't see why this would be any different...

But on the other hand, this was a project for someone who is NOT part of our company, nor a client of our company. More of a favor of the "friend" of "A"...

I don't understand why I feel so ripped off about this...

 

[Tat2dHeart]

B's company asked A's company to do a job. A's company agreed to do said job. You got assigned the task, which was done on company computers, using company resources, on company time, and earned a company paycheck. B's company paid A's company for the work. Unless your boss specifically said to you that he was going to pay you a bonus for doing this other work, your paycheck covers the work you did.

This is what they do in business. Companies sell their services to other companies. The employees get paid their regular paychecks for that work. It's part of the job. When your boss assigned this to you, he knew he'd be displacing your normal work to get it done. Your normal pay didn't get docked for lost regular work while you did this project did it?

If you want to do this kind of work and collect 100% of the revenue, that's the place where you decide to market that service outside your regular job. And, you use your own off-work time, your own computer, your own resources, etc., to complete the work. Then, when it's done on time and to satisfaction, you get paid and get to keep it all to yourself after the IRS gets their share.

 

[Truktek2]

You apparently did this work as part your regular job and was paid your regular salary for your time. Seems really clear to me.

+1

 

[Muziekschuur]

Maybe you can write overtime?

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I guess from a business standpoint, this is standard. They don't HAVE to cut me in on the deal, but they COULD...it would be nice and thoughtful. Maybe it's more of a moral thing...I think if it was me in A's seat, I would've cut me in on it for this one-off project.

Aw Crap.

 

[hdracer]

I don't understand why I feel so ripped off about this...

Because you do not understand business.

Say you are a auto mechanic. You work all day on a customers car. The bill is $800 in labor. Does the customer pay you? No, they pay the repair shop and the shop pays you a salary.

Did your paycheck change?
Does it really matter what you were working on during that time?

Cash your pay check and be happy you have a steady job.
Or you can start your own company and keep all the money....

 

[scorpionldr]

I guess from a business standpoint, this is standard. They don't HAVE to cut me in on the deal, but they COULD...it would be nice and thoughtful. Maybe it's more of a moral thing...I think if it was me in A's seat, I would've cut me in on it for this one-off project.

Aw Crap.

Well, next time he comes expecting, drop things off significantly. If he comes over to you and asks what you're doing, just say, "crappy pay=crappy product".

 

[Eublet]

Yeah, I can see the black & white of it in that sense of me "just doing my job" and they get paid on my work. That is kind of how it is around here, I guess I don't see why this would be any different...

But on the other hand, this was a project for someone who is NOT part of our company, nor a client of our company. More of a favor of the "friend" of "A"...

I don't understand why I feel so ripped off about this...

It seems to me like your boss already paid you to do the work, since you did it on company time with company tools. I suppose your boss could be kind (if he chooses) by giving you something extra, but it's not owed to you at all that I can tell. You are being compensated for your 9-5 job already. The work you did for another company resulted in loss of production for your bosses company. It's only natural that he should take that payment to compensate him for that lost time. It doesn't matter if it was his friend or not. Everything seems very legitimate to me.

 

[Eublet]

Well, next time he comes expecting, drop things off significantly. If he comes over to you and asks what you're doing, just say, "crappy pay=crappy product".

Worst advice I've heard in a while. I could name a bunch of reasons, but employees who behave this way will never succeed in their life or career.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

You all make great points. Thanks.

I definitely understand the way a business works, I've been here for almost 7 years. This is the first time something like this came up, and maybe I've just been wishing he'd cut me in on this deal since I was so helpful.

Honestly, I think if this situation comes up again, because I feel like it might, I'm just going to say 'No', and see what happens then.

I'm very busy here and I felt like I was doing a favor for someone, but I suppose that wasn't the case at all.

 

[scorpionldr]

Worst advice I've heard in a while. I could name a bunch of reasons, but employees who behave this way will never succeed in their life or career.

oh, of course, you're right. He should pump out another ton of top grade projects for zero additional income. After all, it's not like he puts any effort into it. :scowl:

 

[Eublet]

Maybe it's more of a moral thing...

I'd caution you against this kind of thinking. Respectfully, the moral thing for you to do is work 9-5 as you were hired to do, and for your boss to pay you what he owes you for those hours. If you worked overtime, then there should be overtime pay. Not paying overtime would be immoral. The word you COULD use in place of "moral" above would be "thoughtful" or "generous". And who knows, you might see that down the road? Maybe a Christmas bonus, or you'll have extra favor with your boss when it's time for a raise. But your boss right now has ever moral right to keep every bit of that $500 for himself, and you should feel proud of your work such he got the check, not bitter that he didn't pass any of it on to you.

People who would think you are being treated without proper moral respect in this case are likely folks who tend to feel victimized by a lot of things, and also feel they are entitled to things they shouldn't be entitled to. This type of mindset can lead to all kinds of issues down the road if you let it fester over time and become a common reaction to things, which is why I am warning you against it...as respectfully as I can in a forum like this. I hope my language is coming across as such. In essence, don't be one of those people who thinks they are owed something when you are not. As a professional businessman myself, I can promise you that it'll have very drastic consequences on your career if you take that path. It's better to work hard, be proud of what you do, and seek the favor of those over you who have the ability to help you prosper. That doesn't mean you let anyone take you for granted, or that you don't seek compensation that is commensurate for what you do and in keeping with industry standards. It just means you don't go thinking folks owe you for something when they don't.

 

[DwaynieAD]

the days of getting something extra for going above and beyond are far behind us. My dad instilled in me to always go the extra mile and in the professional world all you get are higher expectations and less thanks. I also see how much my dad is taken advantage of. sad to say but employees across the board need to start doing only what is expected of them so employers quit getting something for nothing. after all they aren't going to give you something for nothing.

pains me to say this, but it's a sad truth.

 

[Mykk]

I think this situation is clear, you were hoping for compensation for the extra work. Your boss probably feels it falls within your existing job detail and compensations.


I did however recently walk out of a job, aside from just being a crappy work environment they would also roll down the time clock/cards so everyone would end up missing anywhere from 15-45mins a day. I never did understand why that "9-5" 40 hour work week job didn;t just go to salary instead of hourly

 

[Spinal Tapper]

Well, next time he comes expecting, drop things off significantly. If he comes over to you and asks what you're doing, just say, "crappy pay=crappy product".

Worst advice I've heard in a while. I could name a bunch of reasons, but employees who behave this way will never succeed in their life or career.

I actually see both sides of this...

Next time, in a lighter, more non-aggressive way, I will simply let A know that I do not have time for these projects during work hours, and if they want to charge me for overtime, I will start the project at 5pm once I am off work hours, and we will figure out some sort of pay for my time.

He really could've been cool about it and cut me in, though. Maybe $100 for my time, or whatever. A friggin gift card to Starbucks, I don't care. I still think I would've done that, from a moral standpoint if I were in A's shoes.

I think a happy worker is a productive worker, and the guys here, like A, have the mentality that "we should all just be happy we have a job anyways".

 

[hdracer]

You all make great points. Thanks.

I definitely understand the way a business works, I've been here for almost 7 years. This is the first time something like this came up, and maybe I've just been wishing he'd cut me in on this deal since I was so helpful.

Honestly, I think if this situation comes up again, because I feel like it might, I'm just going to say 'No', and see what happens then.

I'm very busy here and I felt like I was doing a favor for someone, but I suppose that wasn't the case at all.

It seem the the company you work for would be considered a Small Business.

Small Business thrives on Team Work.
You sure do not appear to be a team player.

You did nothing extra. You did your job and got paid.
Now you want to complain? What on earth makes you think you deserve one dime of that money?

If I ever found out that one of my employees went on the internet and complained about me "ripping him off" over something like this, he would be sent packing.