Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-11-11
BEST
HELD
DOWN
A Man Who Makes Himself
indispensable Gets no
Promotion

The man who thinks a firm cannot
get along without him is sure TO be
fired-and the man who really is in
valuable TO o firm is almost as certain
to be one Of the poorest paid, hardest
worked drudgcs in the shop.
I was In one department, and more
than made good there. achieved
some little reputation. and some out
side reputation. So much in fact, that
I received several offers, at increased
salary TO 80 away as a specialist In
that line. 1 regarded myself as val
liable to my firm, and thought my
firm would appreciate my value It
did. / had worked my way almost TO
the top Of my department--the next
vacancy meant that I would be the
head. when suddenly there was a start.
ling weakness in another department.
was called upon to fill this place,
dragged from my first success, and
thrown, at the same salary, into a lower
place in another department TO help
out / mado good.
For two years toiled there. Then
csmo flattoring offer TO accept a po.
sition in a rival company at my spe.
oialty. I did not want 70 "hold up"
my employers by telling them I had
received an offer Of moro pay. ]
thought n thoy really appreciated my
services thoy would have Increased
my pay So without any warning or
Tho huttcr that followed my rcsigna
The flutter that followed my rcsigra.
tioB was flattcring 10 my vanity. The
firm aid not want to lose mo. Tho
head Of tho concern took mo out 20
dinner and-ovcr tho dinnor-ho 70
bukod mo Tor quitting. told him
tuthfully that ! much preferred 20
stay with the firm, but that Il had
shown mo no approoiation-had used
my best services to its own advantages
and without reward 10 mo, had robbed
mo of my chance Of promotion BE-.
cause / would do tho firm moro good
In another capacity and yet had not
Increased my salary.
Thon ho made mo an offer. ile guar
anteed that II / would remain with his
firm FOR thirty days longer would
DO promoted. / told him had already |
done business with tho rival aud was
no longer FREQ 20 accept any offer he
might make,
Ho asked me II / would stay II he
personally, through personal friend |
ship with the head Of tho rival firm
would secure my release from my
told him would. He
represented 10 the rival firm that
was injuFing my own prospects by quit
ting, and tho other firm gave me a 70.
Lease from my promise. Later !
learned that Il did not impress thom
fayonbly, and that, indeed they were
Preiudieed against me because Of this
act.
Within a few weeks i was promoted |
to tho head Of another department.. |
The salary was not changed. protest.
ed but il did no good. I was required
10 work seven days a week-nine hours
a day-eleven on sunday-foF the
same pay 1 received in the other two
jobs.
Then realized had made a mis-
take in not going TO tho other firm,
but il was too late, / got angry and
threatened 10 quit. Ny employer was
sorry. Retrenehbnaht was necessary. |
He could not increase salaries theP,
but maybe later.
Anyhow, / worked fourteen months,
seven days a week-without a day off
and without vacation. Then asked
for more pay.
They switched me 70 another de-
partment-with two men above meat
the same pay. Then / quit.
The moment quit the firm was al,
Ter me hot foot. was abused as do
seFter who had thrown them down.
accepted another job-at a slightly
increased salary-aud after a short
time my old boss bid me back.
Then / got my revenge. 1 demand
"a exactly double what he had paid me
before, stipulating eight hours and six
days a week. got the job and still
hold it,
Incidentally, it ala not pay the
firm, either. They beat me out Of pos
sibly $l2 week for eight years.
am now getting SIS a week more than
would have dared TO ask. II / hold
the job six years IN be ahead Of the
game. Also, / shall demand an increase
shortly. In addition, my respect for
the firm has been ruined / know my
services are invaluable, and out Of re-