Hi Forum!
So, I was talking to my mom yesterday about how he has to work today (day after Christmas) just to stay caught up to everything, even though she's pretty sure she'll be the only one coming into the office today to get anything done. She's a bookkeeper for a nationwide cell tower maintenance company and makes equivalent to about $15-16/hr, if you assume 40 hours per week.
The problem she's finding is that she's working easily 50 hours a week, sometimes more, meaning she's actually making less per hour than.. Well, even me, and I do paper pushing with no formal training/25+ years experience, as she has. After she pays for her health insurance and taxes, she actually takes home less than I do (and has WAY more bills, she isn't mustachian and loves to shop...). She's pretty burnt out on working in general, and would probably be much happier with part time job.
I suggested to her that she ask her employer to move her to an hourly pay schedule, that way things are tracked more closely and more fair. Although she agreed that it would be better for her, she knows her current job is just glorified data entry (mostly entering POs and fixing other's mistakes), and doesn't think she has any bargaining power/feels extremely replaceable. Living paycheck to paycheck doesn't make her feel any more secure, but she can't imagine a world where cutting back is acceptable (status issue, "Not a kid anymore, don't want to restart my life at fifty!"). She's only been with this company a couple of years, but is one of the original people in her department, as the company has grown astronomically in that time.
Is she right, does she completely lack bargaining power without FU money?
How would you ask your employer for a switch from salary to hourly pay?
Other bookkeepers & similar:
Would it be possible for her to find part time work in the $20-25/hr range, with extensive small business management/bookkeeping experience? Examples?
Can you recommend further training, such as short courses or certifications she could complete in the accounting field that might make her more desirable?
Thanks to all for reading, and of course big thanks to anyone that responds! :)