Negotiate or walk?

[jaznia15]

I currently am the NP for a federally funded program for treatment of inmates. I do like my job but the politics have me ready to pull my hair out. I was approached about helping to start up another federally funded clinic on Saturdays. Compensation was promised from the beginning. As the date draws closer for the clinic to start, there is no longer talk of me being compensated. Well really I should say when I bring it up, the subject changes quickly. Today I found out from a physician that I am not just helping to start up the clinic but that the plan is for me to run the clinic!!! So it seems that my job is skating around negotiating an increase in salary in hopes of trapping me into working two clinics for the price of one. Of course that's a "Hell No" for me. I currently do not work weekends and am definitely not about to give up every other Saturday for the same pay. Needless to say I think every other Saturday will turn into every Saturday due to the high number of inmates that will be treated at this new clinic. So far everything has been verbal, I'm not locked into anything as of yet. I currently run a clinic and am not enthused about running another especially with the requirement of weekend days and my hour long commute to my job those weekends. Would I be wrong to set an ultimatum, 120k or no clinic? Right now I make mid 90s for the one clinic. I just don't even want to do the negotiations and I'm ready to just back out completely due to the shadiness. I feel it's going to be a huge battle if I ask for more money. I can get real ugly if need be but this is essentially my first job and I don't want to leave a bad mark if things get too ugly.

[jaznia15]

I am so sorry that I did not update this post, I always hate when people leave posts unresolved. So to update, I am still at my job. Standing my ground worked for me and I was fully prepared to walk. I received a salary increase of a little over 10k and I am paid the $75/hr when I work the clinic. My advice to anyone during salary negotiations is BE PREPARED FOR A BATTLE. If your salary is inadequate then stand up for yourself. Do not let anyone at a job bully you into working for less than you're worth just to say you have a job. Always have a back up plan for your back up plan. I always maintain a PRN position so that bills can be paid should I ever have to leave a job. Don't be greedy but if you feel you are undervalued, research your current experience, current pay, and current job duties comparing them to similar positions in your area. Unless you are trying to build up your resume, do not start new job duties without proper compensation. I kept my poker face the entire time and I called their bluff, it worked for me!!!!! Thanks to all who offered advice.

[casias12]

Thanks for updating this thread. Like you said, so many people come on here with a problem, then disappear without letting everyone know what the resolution is. But I will add a counter-point to the topic "negotiate or walk".

I went through something similar a couple of years ago. I left a low pay (85k/yr) job that I liked when they cut my weekend call ($1000 for Friday evening to Monday morning). I was taking 1 call per month, plus taking someone else's call every other month. This added $18k/yr to my base, and the call was really easy. I didn't talk to them about it. I just got mad, and quietly resigned.

I took a position paying $110k base, but was miserable. Much like the politics in your job, I was jerked around from day one. In this case, I had no room for negotiation, and put my foot down. My position was eliminated. I was told I could find any other NP job in the system to transfer to, or take unemployment. There were no other jobs.

The Medical Director at the first job had become a personal friend of mine, so after being fired I contacted him. Something he told me that I will never forget. "You know, we really didn't know why you just left. The other job had better pay, so that is what we assumed. If you had asked to discuss the call pay, we would have worked something out with you."

The take-away in my story. I should have had a non-confrontational negotiation with the first employer, and asked for something that would work for both of us.

I'm glad your position worked out for you.