JT & Dale Talk Jobs: Take a pay cut to keep working from home?

J.T.: Yes, they can. Unless you are part of a union, then your salary is always up for renegotiation. They can restructure jobs at any time and tell you that your new job is at a new pay rate; whereupon you can then choose to accept it, or you can quit.

DALE: Even so, this surprises me. After all, there’s plenty of data and commentary on companies saving money by having remote employees. Global Workplace Analytics puts employers’ cost savings at $11K per employee, and that’s assuming employees are remote just half the time. The same study estimates that employees would save $2,500 to $4,000 per year, based mostly on the cost of commuting, but also on wardrobe and miscellany (for example, Starbucks). I suppose a greedy and short-sighted employer might want to grab off some of the employees’ savings, but that kind of pay cut would get just about everyone on staff to start a job search. Maybe the company is in trouble and needs to reduce staff, but that’s the worst way possible to do it — the best employees are the ones who can leave most easily.

J.T.: Put together a list of all of the things you do that are above and beyond your original duties. By sharing how much additional value you bring to the organization, especially throughout the pandemic, you can argue that you’ve actually earned a raise, and perhaps they’ll compromise by keeping your salary at the same rate.

DALE: Let’s hope your employer backs down. Meanwhile, do not quit your job — that will only make a job search more onerous — but do get a job search up and running. This isn’t the sort of management that’s going to help you thrive.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I’ve been secretly writing a manuscript for a book about my work. My boss is literally crazy. His wife and the antics that happen in our company are just too hilarious. I actually sent it to a literary agent, and she fell in love with it and wants to pitch it. But I’m having second thoughts because I really do love the job and my boss, and I feel like they’ll be upset if this book gets published. What should I do? — Hank

J.T.: I know I’d be pretty upset if a book came out about me. I also think that if there’s anything slanderous, I’d probably consider suing. The owners pay you to do a job, and you’re returning the favor by humiliating them in a book? You should come clean and allow the owners to read the manuscript. Maybe they will be OK with it. The other option is to use a pen name and change the names/storyline enough that they don’t know it’s you.

DALE: But before you do any of that, drop into the office conversation something like, “This office is so hilarious, I’m going to start keeping notes,” and see the reaction. My guess is you’ll get encouragement, not alarm, but, either way, you’ll be able to discern the path forward.