u/Revolutionary_Ad7120

For the last year I’ve been working at a small nonprofit (13 employees) directly under a very controlling, aggressive, and sometimes irrational Executive Director. Over the last year, I have gladly taken on additional responsibilities without asking for a raise. I highlighted this in my annual report to my boss and during our 1-year check in, she told me she was revising my job description to add even more responsibilities to my plate (amounting to approx 8-10 more hours of work per week). She also told me that I would get a 2% raise for this— not a cost of living increase— that was her idea of a raise. When I tried to push back, she claimed the decision was “out of her hands” which is obviously a lie as she tightly controls our budget and always has sole final say on every decision big or small. I said I’d have to assess my options. A couple hours later she emailed our director of finance and cc’ed me stating that I was getting a 2% raise, so either she forgot that I hadn’t agreed (she is VERY forgetful) or is trying to keep me from negotiating.

I have hardly been able to sleep. I feel that taking all this extra work on for effectively the same amount I was making a year ago would be doing myself a disservice. I want to send her a thoughtful and respectful email stating that I cannot take on these extra responsibilities for less than a 5% raise from my original salary. In terms of dollars that’s only ~$2400 more than the 2% she wants to give me. I’m terrified because I truly believe she is insane and stubborn enough to fire me before parting with $2,000 and I really want to stay at this job. But I also believe she is irrational and stubborn enough to fire me before letting me win a negotiation. Any advice on what to do would be appreciated.

For the last year I’ve been working at a small nonprofit (13 employees) directly under a very controlling, aggressive, and sometimes irrational Executive Director. Over the last year, I have gladly taken on additional responsibilities without asking for a raise. I highlighted this in my annual report to my boss and during our 1-year check in, she told me she was revising my job description to add even more responsibilities to my plate (amounting to approx 8-10 more hours of work per week). She also told me that I would get a 2% raise for this— not a cost of living increase— that was her idea of a raise. When I tried to push back, she claimed the decision was “out of her hands” which is obviously a lie as she tightly controls our budget and always has sole final say on every decision big or small. I said I’d have to assess my options. A couple hours later she emailed our director of finance and cc’ed me stating that I was getting a 2% raise, so either she forgot that I hadn’t agreed (she is VERY forgetful) or is trying to keep me from negotiating.

I have hardly been able to sleep. I feel that taking all this extra work on for effectively the same amount I was making a year ago would be doing myself a disservice. I want to send her a thoughtful and respectful email stating that I cannot take on these extra responsibilities for less than a 5% raise from my original salary. In terms of dollars that’s only ~$2400 more than the 2% she wants to give me. I’m terrified because I truly believe she is insane and stubborn enough to fire me before parting with $2,000 and I really want to stay at this job. But I also believe she is irrational and stubborn enough to fire me before letting me win a negotiation. Any advice on what to do would be appreciated.

For the last year I’ve been working at a small nonprofit (13 employees) directly under a very controlling, aggressive, and sometimes irrational Executive Director. Over the last year, I have gladly taken on additional responsibilities without asking for a raise. I highlighted this in my annual report to my boss and during our 1-year check in, she told me she was revising my job description to add even more responsibilities to my plate (amounting to approx 8-10 more hours of work per week). She also told me that I would get a 2% raise for this— not a cost of living increase— that was her idea of a raise. When I tried to push back, she claimed the decision was “out of her hands” which is obviously a lie as she tightly controls our budget and always has sole final say on every decision big or small. I said I’d have to assess my options. A couple hours later she emailed our director of finance and cc’ed me stating that I was getting a 2% raise, so either she forgot that I hadn’t agreed (she is VERY forgetful) or is trying to keep me from negotiating.

I have hardly been able to sleep. I feel that taking all this extra work on for effectively the same amount I was making a year ago would be doing myself a disservice. I want to send her a thoughtful and respectful email stating that I cannot take on these extra responsibilities for less than a 5% raise from my original salary. In terms of dollars that’s only ~$2400 more than the 2% she wants to give me. I’m terrified because I truly believe she is insane and stubborn enough to fire me before parting with $2,000 and I really want to stay at this job. But I also believe she is irrational and stubborn enough to fire me before letting me win a negotiation. Any advice on what to do would be appreciated.