Employment raises, how to know how much to ask for?

[BentValve]

Ok, I am 1 of 4 mechanics in a small independent repair shop. I am not exactly sure what the other guys make but I am reasonable sure that I am the lowest paid. One of the biggest reasons I think this is because I get babied and can pretty much do what I like...for example nobody says anything if I come in 30 min late, take a 2 hour lunch etc. If I need a day off its given to me etc.

Well to make a long story short , I took the job after failing at starting up my own business...the wage was on the low side but I took it anyways.
FF 14 months later and I am getting babied so much that I am starting to think something is up...I turned in a few apps @ a few different places figuring they are going to throw me the boot or something. The fact that they have put off giving me my medical card has sort of enforced this theory.

So a week ago or so I went in and told them I was tired of working there and that I want to go to part time, figuring with P/T I would have more time to look for another job.

I got a surprise response and the boss went on to say how much they liked me and asked me to tell him what I needed to stay on full time and he would make it happen.

So now I am wondering how much to ask for and I am not too sure of how to go about it.

I figured id write a list of things id like:

1. $1-$3 an hour raise ...id feel kind of guilty asking for $3 though
2. 1 weeks paid vacation to be taken shortly
3. Give me my medical card ( was promised months ago but still have not received it)

Ive tried to figure my value on paper but its not easy, there are just so many variables...billed hours, come backs, efficiency with shop supplies, upselling etc etc.

If I knew what the other techs were making id have a pretty good idea of what to ask for...I feel I am at least within 10% of the biggest producer.








Then I might ask for too much and they will just say "we are going to have to pass" or something like that.

 

[Qwest]

goodbye 2 hr lunch and coming in 30 minutes late.

 

[richardycc]

hahaha I dont wanna sound like an ass, but you wrote all that, and we still dont know how much you are making now, and you don't know others are making in your company, and you want us to tell you how much you should be making??

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: richardycc
hahaha I dont wanna sound like an ass, but you wrote all that, and we still dont know how much you are making now, and you don't know others are making in your company, and you want us to tell you how much you should be making??

this man speaks teh truth

 

[BentValve]

Originally posted by: binoculaz
goodbye 2 hr lunch and coming in 30 minutes late.

Yeah that is what I am thinking, I suppose I need to figure out what that freedom license is worth.


I could tell you my hourly wage but I am not sure how you can help me there since you dont know the local economy and alot of other factors including how this particular shop does business and how much it does.

 

[BentValve]

But yeah, I guess you guys are right. I need to find out what the other guys are making before I can make a decision of how much to ask for.

 

[sygyzy]

No, you should determine how much you want to get paid to be happy and ask for that. If they are underpaying you, and the amount seems a lot greater, they have to realize it's not and it only seems that way because they are underpaying!