Overworked and underpaid.

[Geographer]

Hey guys! This might come off as more of a rant, but advice is encouraged.

On my team of eight at my current job, I am the youngest at 27. My other teammates are at least 10-15 years older than I am. And they are paid significantly more than I am (around $20k more).

However, sometimes I feel like I'm the only one doing any work! I get SIGNIFICANTLY more work done than these people. Like 10x more if it had to be quantified. And in return, I get asked to do even more tasks. But it makes sense, because why give tasks to people who are incompetent at getting them done? Sometimes I just want to ask these people why they do nothing while I am stuck doing all the work. And it frustrates the heck out of me knowing how much less I get paid.

I'm trying to remain as stoic as possible about this, because in the long run, it really doesn't matter. And I do like my job. But I guess it's all more encouragement for me to early retire, because I'm naturally a hard worker and don't want to be taken advantage of like this for the rest of my career.

Since mustachians are generally a hard-working group of people, do you guys have any advice on how to deal with this? Hopefully someone else has been in similar situations!

[mm1970]

ask for a raise

If the answer is no.

Look for a new job.

[Sibley]

^ what mm1970 said.

[monstermonster]

Or work less hard since there doesn't seem to be consequences for working less, if you're just building up resentment in yourself. I have never taken this advice when people gave it, but should've many times.

[Indio]

If you like your job, aside from the workload, get another job offer and ask them to counter it.

[nick663]

How long have you been there?   When is your next performance review?

Basically,  welcome to the world of being a high performer.  I'm on my 3rd company and there have been these types at every one of them.  Keep doing what you're doing as it will eventually translate into higher profile projects with more responsibility... which grows both your resume and your value to the company.

Fwiw, I disagree with using job offers as a salary negotiation tool.  If you have to put that much work into showing your value to the company you don't want to work there.

[Finances_With_Purpose]

Well, welcome to the working world.  I, too, have been accused of having "the curse of the competent."  You get handed all the work there is, because you'll do it very well and do it on time. 

I agree with all the others: find a new gig.  Unlikely your company will value you.  You could do the offer/negotiation thing - and it's not a bad play - but long term, my experience is that an employer like that usually won't work out. 

With that said, I have a friend who did as they suggest and used an offer to leverage a better offer at his company, and then his career really took off, actually.  So it's not an absolute. 

But generally, you're better off leaving I think.  And prepare to find the same thing again, too.  Many employers will burn right through the most competent employees, or burn them out, especially if they don't start putting in boundaries, negotiating, and so on. 

Another tip: be sure you know how to say "no."  I struggle with it.  But it's vital: you want to say "no" and protect your schedule, your home time, and so on, especially when everyone else is accomplishing very little.  Be candid - and charitable - about others' work, but if you consistently allow your employer to run over you, many many managers will run over you, again and again.  In fact, I've seen employees burn out really quickly that way: they refuse to say "no" until they pass out from exhaustion, then they either quit on the fly or are fired, which is a real shame. 

And yes, all the more reason to start planning your escape...

[Acastus]

I have had similar comments from coworkers. Some are valid. Some are way off base. If you are all really doing the same job, then ask for a raise. You may not realize that the senior members in your group are actually doing fewer but more complicated tasks. That is what I expect from an experienced worker. Bigger clients or customers are a lot more demanding than the little guys. If you can process 20 things a week, but they only do 5 things a week, maybe the 5 things are tough.