Need opinions on work-related situation (pay)

[nboy22]

Hey everyone, I'm looking at gathering some opinions from your past experiences in what I should do about this situation that I ran into during the past few days.

I work for a studio and get paid really crappy wages (not salary, but hourly). I love the job and have a blast doing it, but to be honest, I made more at my call center job without a degree than I do with my degree in 3D animation and working at this particular studio.

It's a small company and they can't really afford a whole lot of payment to their employees, but there's this situation that came up and it just won't leave my mind and I need some other opinions on what I should do.

I went to film on location at a copper mine on Sunday. Now normally I would have Saturday and Sunday off. So we drive down to the copper mine on Sunday, we ran into a wildfire and had to take a 2 hour detour to get to the mine. We worked all of Monday and today (Tuesday). I was wondering how my boss wanted me to count my hours, and when I questioned him about it, he said I should only count the hours that I was actually filming. Now keep in mind I usually get Sundays off. So he basically took my free time away from me, and doesn't want to pay me for it. Now I'm pretty sure that I'm right about this, but I think I should be getting paid for the time I was traveling on Sunday. Is this correct? I don't really give a crap about the time I wasn't filming on Monday/Tuesday, and I don't really care about the trip back to the studio, which was about 3/4 hours. My second question is, should I care about the time traveled back to the studio on Tuesday? and should I be paid for that?

What would you do? I'm upset because I basically live paycheck to paycheck and I consider myself pretty dang talented. I feel cheated and just want to know if I'm in the right feeling this way. I'm missing at least $15 k from my "salary" per year. I plan on talking to the CEO tomorrow in a civilized manner and explaining how and why I feel the way I do.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Hey everyone, I'm looking at gathering some opinions from your past experiences in what I should do about this situation that I ran into during the past few days.

I work for a studio and get paid really crappy wages (not salary, but hourly). I love the job and have a blast doing it, but to be honest, I made more at my call center job without a degree than I do with my degree in 3D animation and working at this particular studio.

It's a small company and they can't really afford a whole lot of payment to their employees, but there's this situation that came up and it just won't leave my mind and I need some other opinions on what I should do.

I went to film on location at a copper mine on Sunday. Now normally I would have Saturday and Sunday off. So we drive down to the copper mine on Sunday, we ran into a wildfire and had to take a 2 hour detour to get to the mine. We worked all of Monday and today (Tuesday). I was wondering how my boss wanted me to count my hours, and when I questioned him about it, he said I should only count the hours that I was actually filming. Now keep in mind I usually get Sundays off. So he basically took my free time away from me, and doesn't want to pay me for it. Now I'm pretty sure that I'm right about this, but I think I should be getting paid for the time I was traveling on Sunday. Is this correct? I don't really give a crap about the time I wasn't filming on Monday/Tuesday, and I don't really care about the trip back to the studio, which was about 3/4 hours. My second question is, should I care about the time traveled back to the studio on Tuesday? and should I be paid for that?

What would you do? I'm upset because I basically live paycheck to paycheck and I consider myself pretty dang talented. I feel cheated and just want to know if I'm in the right feeling this way. I'm missing at least $15 k from my "salary" per year. I plan on talking to the CEO tomorrow in a civilized manner and explaining how and why I feel the way I do.

Be careful, you may be right in principle but most companies don't pay you for travel time. If you raised the issue with your boss and got shot down I would drop it.

 

[nboy22]

Be careful, you may be right in principle but most companies don't pay you for travel time. If you raised the issue with your boss and got shot down I would drop it.

This may be true, but remember I am not on salary. They are paying me hourly and that was their choice. So I just don't understand how a boss could expect their employee to take time out of their life to travel for a work-related project when they could have been enjoying their free time.

 

[KaOTiK]

This may be true, but remember I am not on salary. They are paying me hourly and that was their choice. So I just don't understand how a boss could expect their employee to take time out of their life to travel for a work-related project when they could have been enjoying their free time.

Unfortunately you are probably screwed. It is a dick move by your boss. My best advice from someone that works in the same field, look for better studio. When I had to do field work before I was salary, I was paid for the entire day regardless (though I would have paid them for some of the fun I had on site lol). I know the market sucks atm out there, but just look for another place, your bosses attitude alone shows he doesn't give a fuck about his guys. Since you're an animator you might have to work your way up at a new place (cleaning mo cap) but if your good you'll move up quick.

Avoid game companies.

 

[nick1985]

I'd avoid the confrontation and just look for another job.

 

[bhanson]

For me personally I think it depends.

Is the company the type where there is huge potential for growth? E.g., people at startups work crazy hours for practically zero pay in the hope that they'll hit it big. Doctors during their (3-5 year) residency work at least 80 hours a week for $40k.

Do you see yourself growing at this company or is it pretty much just a job? Once you bring up the compensation issue you can't take it back. It will forever change how you're viewed and depending on the circumstances that could swing either way.

I turned down a job offer last year that represented a 50% pay increase. I then brought it up to my boss and tried to negotiate a pay raise. I didn't get anything. A few months later I transferred somewhere else and got a 35% raise and I'm happy.

I'm paid hourly but I still often times work off the clock.

 

[nboy22]

Thanks for the input guys. I do see that I have a lot of potential to bring this company up, however it's hard for me to have an inclination to do so if my boss and the CEO don't show that they care about me. I do so much for the company that it irritates the hell out of me that they wouldn't be considerate enough to pay me shit wage for 3-5 hours of traveling out of my own free time.

I'm looking for another job constantly, but I think the next job pretty much has to be in LA because of the industry I'm in. It makes it kinda tough because it's relocating, finding another job, finding another place to live, transporting all my stuff from Phoenix to LA, etc...

It would be extremely shitty for them if I left. The other animator isn't even half as good and tries to pass half-assed quality work by making up excuses rather than just doing the work right the first time. I have a feeling if I said I was leaving they'd try to keep me there, but you never know. Just seems like a retarded business practice to not try to make your best employees as happy as possible to keep them there.

I'll probably be there another half year to a year just so I can say I have 2 full years of studio experience on my resume, build a new demo reel, and a new portfolio website. I should be getting a yearly review in June, so we'll see if they even do that. At this point it feels like they're just going to completely disregard the fact that I should have a yearly review and a raise.

 

[KaOTiK]

No need to go to LA. Sure LA is obvious place, but try thinking a bit more out of the box with your career. As an animator, you aren't stuck to doing movies/games. The biggest field that uses those skills that most don't think of, simulation/simulator companies. They are generally great to work for from my experience. It is basically like working on a game but not having to cut corners and you are treated well and work normal hours.

 

[nboy22]

No need to go to LA. Sure LA is obvious place, but try thinking a bit more out of the box with your career. As an animator, you aren't stuck to doing movies/games. The biggest field that uses those skills that most don't think of, simulation/simulator companies. They are generally great to work for from my experience. It is basically like working on a game but not having to cut corners and you are treated well and work normal hours.

Cool, thanks for the tip. I have given it a little thought, but every time I think about simulator/simulation I think more about math than actual keyframe animation.

Can you tell me more about your experience with those types of companies? I'm definitely interested. Making movies is definitely on my list of things I want, but right now pay is also important to me so I have the feeling I'd take what I can get that's willing to pay me a decent wage. It's not all about the money, but when half your check goes to rent and the other half is not much to live off of it's a bummer.

 

[MotionMan]

Hey everyone, I'm looking at gathering some opinions from your past experiences in what I should do about this situation that I ran into during the past few days.

Are you an employee or an ind. contractor?

What state are you in?

MotionMan

 

[nboy22]

Are you an employee or an ind. contractor?

What state are you in?

MotionMan

Employee. I live in Arizona.

 

[KaOTiK]

Cool, thanks for the tip. I have given it a little thought, but every time I think about simulator/simulation I think more about math than actual keyframe animation.

Can you tell me more about your experience with those types of companies? I'm definitely interested. Making movies is definitely on my list of things I want, but right now pay is also important to me so I have the feeling I'd take what I can get that's willing to pay me a decent wage. It's not all about the money, but when half your check goes to rent and the other half is not much to live off of it's a bummer.

I worked for a military sim company for a little over a year (probably be working there still if I didn't have to leave due to a medical problem). It was great. It literally was making a video game from my end (texture artist and did some environment work on the side too) and same for the artists that worked there. We had deadlines that needed to be met like any other job, but they were never difficult to achieve, we were salary but never worked more then 40 a week, most the time we did 35.

Basically to me, it had all the perks this line of work could offer really with none of the drawl backs. Our boss/ceo was also extremely awesome. If we were ahead of deadlines for parts, he'd give us a few days off as a reward. We worked hard but were rewarded equally for it as well.

 

[MotionMan]

Employee. I live in Arizona.

I am not a lawyer in Arizona and I have only reviewed a few online sources, but, honestly, I think you need to at least chat with a Labor and Employment lawyer.

I think your boss is making a big mistake that could come back to haunt him in the future.

Maybe you can help him out by educating him about the law.

MotionMan

 

[nboy22]

I am not a lawyer in Arizona and I have only reviewed a few online sources, but, honestly, I think you need to at least chat with a Labor and Employment lawyer.

I think your boss is making a big mistake that could come back to haunt him in the future.

Maybe you can help him out by educating him about the law.

MotionMan

This is why I was asking for opinions/experiences. I feel like legally, morally, or business ethics-wise that there is something wrong with this.

I worked for a military sim company for a little over a year (probably be working there still if I didn't have to leave due to a medical problem). It was great. It literally was making a video game from my end (texture artist and did some environment work on the side too) and same for the artists that worked there. We had deadlines that needed to be met like any other job, but they were never difficult to achieve, we were salary but never worked more then 40 a week, most the time we did 35.

Basically to me, it had all the perks this line of work could offer really with none of the drawl backs. Our boss/ceo was also extremely awesome. If we were ahead of deadlines for parts, he'd give us a few days off as a reward. We worked hard but were rewarded equally for it as well.

Sweet deal, that sounds great. If you don't mind me asking, is that company still in business to this day?

 

[KaOTiK]

Last I checked yes they are. There are ton of sim companies out there, I live in central FL which is like the most concentrated area of them, for military at least (why I don't know)

 

[pcgeek11]

I'd avoid the confrontation and just look for another job.

This...

 

[BoomerD]

I'd avoid the confrontation and just look for another job.

Indeed. You want me to travel for a job on my days off...and not pay me travel time? Fine...I'm finding another job. (just don't tell them until you've secured other employment.)

 

[MotionMan]

Indeed. You want me to travel for a job on my days off...and not pay me travel time? Fine...I'm finding another job. (just don't tell them until you've secured other employment.)

I have seen a lot of bogus employment lawsuits, but, honestly, if OPs facts are legit, this sounds like an actual real issue that one may want to talk to a lawyer about.

MotionMan