EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The day I got my employment letter I was shocked with the salary offer. Not because it was much, but because I realized I devalued myself by giving too much value and settling with something less. Let's say during the interview I was asked what my salary expectation was, I immediately said 250,000 naira (for example). And then they are like, what if we offer you 200,000 and then I was like I don't have any issue with that. The next week I saw my employment letter stating I was offered 300,000 naira. At first it felt good, but being in the company for over 6 months now I realize that I was well played being that the former ICT personnel who was less qualified than I was when I started working received twice the amount they offered me.
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The offer they gave me was to protect their own reputation as a company especially when National and international bodies come to do the periodic financial audits. But then again apart from the fact that I do not like my current salary, there are certain things that are still keeping me in the company to date. One of them is the periodic training that staff have to undergo. These are trainings in the oil and gas industry that cost lots of money and are very rare to come by. Adding the certifications of these trainings to my resume would definitely make me stand out in future if I decide not to continue with this company again. I've worked with a number of corporate firms, and very few offer such training without trying to tie you down as an individual.
Although part of my contract states that I can not sell any product or offer any service the company is currently doing within the first three years after I leave the company (That is if I choose to leave). Which I think is fair enough compared to others. A friend of mine who got a job in a similar oil and gas industry had to turn down the offer at the last minute after seeing the company's policies. One of which states that for the training he's getting he would not be allowed to resign within the first 5 years of working with the company, and if he chooses to resign, would have to pay 100% of the training fee. As if this wasn't bad enough, the fees for each of these training sessions are undisclosed in the contract, meaning there's no way for him to know the worth of the training he would be receiving and thus the company can charge him any amount they deem fit if he chooses to leave.
After seeing more than three oil companies do similar things, I'm happy that I got to work in a place where I am not tied down with anything giving me leverage to leave at will. Although I'm still discussing a new salary structure with the company, I hope for a better offer as it's the only thing that is capable of making me leave the company sooner than expected. Truth is I love my job, although it can be stressful, as a matter of fact, I'm stressed as it is, but I'm happy that I have room to express myself, and bring my creativity to the table with a lot of room to learn new things. The free data I get is also an added bonus, I mean a man needs every data he can get at every point in time.
THIS IS MY RESPONSE TO HIVE LEARNER'S PROMPT FOR WEEK 122 EPISODE 1
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It's so crazy how some employers try to take advantage of people, especially fresh graduates who may not know their true worth. You should have held firm on your original salary expectation instead of settling for less. Now you're stuck making way less than you deserve.
That non-compete clause is ridiculous, tying you down for 3 years is way too long. Your friend was smart to turn down that other job with the even more exploitative 5-year non-compete. However, I know it is business and these things are necessary
Well, starting with the fact that I understand they don't want a staff out marching them in the market... The three years is just to give them leverage so that by the time the staff decides to go into that business, they would have changed some of their marketing techniques. But then again I do not see myself going into NDT... But I will never say never on that
It's important to observe all the terms before agreeing to work in a place, your friend was lucky to have noticed the numerous hidden details and take appropriate decision. who knows what would have happened?
Yeah right, who knows indeed. The would have sold himself for 5years
Seriously o
Although three years after you decide to leave seems far but then it's better compared to other company as you've stated.
I hope they I'll help review your salary and add something reasonable, good luck brother.
I hope so too.
three years is a long tie in - but I suppose it is geographically limited, so you could take your skills elsewhere
Yeah, it is... So if I have the opportunity I could cover other geographical locations
Oil and gas! So na una the chop our money 😁
Some employers are just damn wicked, how can you tie somebody down for 3 years or even five...as for your friend, I am glad he rejected the offer. I will do same too if was in his shoes... infact, I will not only reject it, I would run on a very full speed 😂
I do understand that they do it because a lot of the jobs we do require trained specialists, and they do not want to always have to train workers for the job, but still 5 years is just too long a time
That undervalue thing. It can pain eeh if one finds out.
Recently, I went to pick a work and when I was told to give charge, I called 30k and the woman just argued a little and agreed.
Haaa! I felt somehow bad because the manner at which she accepted means she has been paying bigger for such😅
There's always a next time
Sometimes the next time may not come ooo