At Work by Lindsey Novak

Q: I was hired 10 years ago as a junior bookkeeper. I have an accounting background but no degree. My workload and responsibilities continued to increase, and I trained myself to do much of the work. I know others who do the same work as I do and get paid more. My reviews have been good, yet I am still classified under the original job title. I wrote a letter to my boss saying I want to be reclassified or I will leave. What else can I do?

A: First, no one likes or responds well to being given an ultimatum, not in one's personal life or at work. Second, never show your hand in cards or in life. Adults cannot behave as children who demand others play the game their way or they will take their ball and go home. What adults have over children is the ability to negotiate, and that ability is critical for anyone's success.

The time to talk to your boss about your salary was the first time you felt taken advantage of at work, or as you call it, misclassified. Once you felt secure in your work product, you could have asked your boss what you need to do to move up from junior bookkeeper, explaining that you want a goal to work towards. Those conversations would have been positive.

When negotiating for a raise, never comment on co-workers' salaries. Your work product, your experience and your educational background are unique and must stand on their own unless you have proof that you are paid less than your male co-workers who do the same work and have the same qualifications as you. Your goal is to be fairly compensated for your work, not have others' salaries lowered, which is why comparing oneself to others is not well-accepted.

To check on salary ranges in various fields across the country, go to www.Salary.com; enter a job title and a city or zip code. You will see various levels of jobs within your field of choice, and you will see that jobs for accountants most often require a bachelor's degree.

Many business graduates with accounting majors take the CPA exam to become certified public accountants, which is a very difficult exam that many fail. Company standards, job requirements and responsibilities vary, but generally a CPA can command an even higher salary than an accountant without a CPA.

COMPANY OWNER DOESN'T PAY RENT

Q: I work for a privately owned company that stays for as long as possible in a location without paying rent. Then when forced, the company moves and stays in the next location for as long as possible until asked to move. The company doesn't fight the moves, but this seems to be standard practice. I like my job, but this practice is wrong. What can I do?

A: Outsiders may not have all the facts, even though they think they do. It's unlikely that a new landlord would not check with a company's past landlord, and more unlikely that any of its employees would know of special deals or arrangements being made between the company owner and the landlord regarding rent.

That doesn't mean the arrangements are legal, but you have created a no-win situation for yourself. If you can't tolerate working for a possible cheat, file an anonymous report of possible tax fraud, and apply for a job at the IRS where you will feel you are on the right side of the law and able to fight the bad guy.

Email all your questions to workplace expert Lindsey Novak at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com. She answers all emails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2013 CREATORS.COM