I was offered a position making 15k more a year for similar work. Getting laid off was a blessing in disguise.
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3rtd - Sounds like you were treated like a contract employee , I couldn't ever get ahead either , my manager liked me right where I was at , a contract employee. I had the opportunity to move to another department that would have made me a direct blue badge but he wouldn't release me from my assignment in his department, Way to keep someone down and advancing. This would have helped my family and career. Because of his choice last summer I found my self unemployed the last Friday in November as they cut all contract employees. According to him he had no idea they would do all of this , he had no intention of letting me go I guess.
Was a GM employee from 2015-2018. Was always rated as "meets" or "exceeds" but could never manage to achieve average or above pay for my band. I could never get a straight answer about the rating/pay discrepancy and it became clear that resolving it was not a priority. Bailed in October 2018 and relocated to St Louis for a 25% salary bump. True, bennies are not quite as good as GM but overall, the trade-offs are well in my favor.
Underpaid? It depends. If you are a contract worker and basically unpaid for furloughs, holidays, shutdowns, etc., then yea, you are underpaid. If you have worked for GM forever and didn't move to another company, your salary might be lower but benefits, like vac days and pensions have increased. Studies show that in order for your salary to go up significantly is to switch jobs/companies. BUT, on the other side, looking at the salary thread posting, many are getting paid well here in GM, even new college hires, and some companies can't necessarily compete with compensation. You have to admit, GM has really good compensation package, like vacation days, 401k matching, etc.
It depends on many factors. Some older employers have hard time getting even interviews. Employers never ask the age. They ask the educational qualifications and year graduated.
2bms- You are honest. I was contract for a very long time , to long. The amount of money GM paid the contract house they could just hire people direct , it would be a wash unless I am wrong , yeah I get it benefits and the bonuses . I liked the work life balance and time off but us contractors had so many unpaid days and typically had to apply for unemployment two weeks out of the year , or be furloughed Thanksgiving week , GM had alot of good talented contract people and it's a shame.
Some people were severely underpaid at GM. This is true of salary, and especially contractors. Contractors get paid for only 10 month out of the year after shut down, unpaid holidays not shared with GM, and numerous furlough days. Sure their billing rates may be high, but the amount that is taken by the contract house is absurd unless you really work them.
It's always best to live below your means, as it's easier to adjust up when boon strikes, than it is to be paid incrediably well, and have to adjust down. In a case of a contractor that finds a real job that pays out a full year, it's always a lucrative opportunity. For salary, I would think slightly less.
I am glad for all you folks getting paid more, but I am in Michigan and am just not seeing it. I was a grade 8, so I had a good deal going at GM and I can't find a matching opportunity pay wise.
Since being let go I took a contract to hire gig paying me 15% less than GM with no bonus and almost no benefits. I will admit that the company I am going to seems way less political, better to work for and the technology is way cooler, but money wise it is just not there.
Not complaining, I just had to get off the gravy train but I had a good ride. Just saying, its not all good for everyone. (that may be why that one other person chose to curse at you). : )
In Michigan? What field?
What are the Austin companies?
35%-40% more excluding the benefits. Benefits were 😳, so not sure how much $$$ in added value.
worked in IT in Austin, got two offers in mid march... one 20% higher (worse benefits) and another 53% higher (with much better benefits). Both were tech companies with < 500 employees.
Don’t forget to count the benefits- GM bonus and 401k match (8%) easily add 20%+ more in your paycheck.
Change company is only way to get a higher salary for majority of the people. 40% for me.
I found a new job in 3 weeks and got a 28% raise.