My first raise request was denied Cancel The title field is required!

1. Ryan Leach

   

   6 posts
   
   11/22/2019 11:11 AM

   After 7 years as a superintendent I asked for my first raise.
   I am in the bottom 10th percentile based on the current GCSAA compensation report.
   I am a salaried position and they classify everyone in management with a MX titled position. I am a M1 salary ranged position. When I top out, I will be at the 25th percentile of the current GCSAA compensation report. I requested to be raised to the lowest level M2 salary. I was told last month that my raise request required the municipality that I work for to do something they have never done; bump M levels. They would give me a percentage to get me "closer" to that M2 position but that is a 20% raise. I am currently awaiting the percentage upon evaluation.
   At this point I am lost. I like the security but with a growing family, I need closer ranges to how long I have been in the business. This is the best that this course has looked in a long time and I had sever people tell that it hasn't looked this good ever.
   I would like to try to negotiate moving from salary to hourly. Has anyone done this? 
   Any wisdom on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Still a greenhorn in the industry but I can't imagine myself doing anything else. 
   Thank you in advance.

   
   
   
   
2. Paul Hallock

   

   6 posts
   
   12/3/2019 11:12 AM in reply to Ryan Leach

   Ryan,
   
   I learned long ago, the fastest way to increase your pay is to be willing to change jobs and relocate. I get this plan doesn't work for everyone and as my kids are getting older it may not work for myself either...…………...

   
   
   
   
3. Charles Costello

   

   2 posts
   
   12/3/2019 12:12 PM

   I agree 110% with Paul's advice.
   Get into the private sector.  They will pay for quality.
   Good luck.

   
   
   
   
4. Curt Brisco

   

   3 posts
   
   12/4/2019 7:12 AM

   Ryan,
   There are always many questions when it comes to working for a municipality. If you stay, do you have a pension? Is most of your health insurance paid for? Do you get sick days, paid holidays?  If the answer is yes to all of these you are one of the few people left in this industry that can say so.  My concern is, has the municipality given across the board raises in the last seven years and you were not included ?  I think seven years without a raise is excessive and would keep fighting for one. Before you jump out of the municipal golf world and into the private sector I would figure up what your current benefit package is worth.  Good luck.
   
     Curt Brisco, Superintendent
    Fox Prairie/ Forest Park G.C.
    City of Noblesville, IN
   
   

   
   
   
   
5. Ryan Leach

   

   6 posts
   
   12/4/2019 11:12 AM in reply to Curt Brisco

   Thank you for your response. I do have a state pension. Most of my health insurance is not paid for. HSA. We do get 3 weeks sick time, 3 personal days and 2 weeks vacation. The municipality gives "COLA" raises every year 2%ish. Paid holidays but I have to work them anyway. If I left I would certainly miss the job security and pension. Everything else I'm not so concerned about. With a growing family and stay at home wife, making sure ends meet is my primary concern and being in the lowest 10th percentile isn't cutting it. I'd love to stay but they are making it impossible for me. I will have a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the raise they decided on. I'm automatically getting 2.5% because everyone else is.

   
   
   
   
6. Paul Hallock

   

   6 posts
   
   12/4/2019 3:12 PM in reply to Ryan Leach

   Ryan,
   
   Sounds like to me you already know what you need to do. Benefits and job security is very nice as is automatic raises. If you change jobs and don't have a contract that specifically states pay and raises, good luck at getting automatic raises in the private sector also. I am lucky and have it spelled out when I get a raise and a minimum amount.
   
   The only right answer is the one that works for your situation, good luck...………………...
   
   Paul
   
   

   
   
   
   
7. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   12/5/2019 5:12 AM

   As a Superintendent that just left the private sector for a Muni Position all I can say is you have to add up everything and decide what is more important to you. In my area Superintendent positions are hard to come by. I got lucky and jumped up $18K a year in my move but I have to move my residence now so any headway I made will be lost. The bottom line though is I have to move to make my wife happy in her job. I just trust in the long term benefit in my change. 
   
   And by the way, I love my new position!

   
   
   
   
8. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   12/5/2019 7:12 PM in reply to Ryan Leach

   They provide a COLA but you stated you haven't had a raise in 7 years?  Were you not included?
   

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
9. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   12/7/2019 8:12 PM

   Ryan,
   
   I've worked for a municipality for the last 16 years, we were a little lower on the pay scale, but we did have some good benefits, pension being one of them.  Health insurance isn't bad, mine is paid for 100%, but I have to pay for my family to be on it, 100%.  Our deductibles are low, and our premiums haven't gone up for at least 4 years, but it does cost us about $450 a month, (I think it helps we are self-funded).  Job security is good as well.  I know once we get topped out in our pay scale, we only get COLA increases as well, although we have some other little incentives built in, like longevity, ($1,200 I think is where we max out with that in year 15.)  We were on a lower pay scale compared to the GCSAA Compensation Surveys, but with the help of our department and our HR person, they did do a job study of our job, compared it to other like jobs in our city, along with some information from the GCSAA Compensation survey, we did get bumped up a step.  It helped some.  We do have a large city with the resources to conduct job studies, so that helps.  Sometimes the upper management of government entities don't always understand our multifaceted our positions really is.  I might suggest you find like job descriptions in your city to help in promoting yourself and the work you do.     
   
   Good luck!
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO