AyetoZee Work Series 3: Mango Hide My ID

So far, we’re only two posts in, and already this series is spurring important conversation, especially surrounding salaries. I’m not sure whether I’m starting to believe that this is what’s to be expected from a developing nation or if we’re all criminally underpaid.

Anyway, this week’s contributor didn’t want to specify a field to maintain anonymity, however the responses are extremely candid. Once again, some people do actually dream of labor, however, that doesn't mean that they shouldn’t be compensated fairly for said labor.

AyetoZee: How long have you been working at your current place of employment and/or for yourself?

Mango Hide My ID: Current place of employment, 1 year 9 months.

AyetoZee: If you work for someone else, how did you get the job?  Was it through personal relationships, cold applying, etc? 

Mango Hide My ID: I applied. They took over a year to finally respond, but I can’t say that I knew anybody/used a connection.

AyetoZee: At your job/in your industry, what percentage of people do you think are qualified for their positions?

Mango Hide My ID: It’s illegal not to be, at a base level. 

AyetoZee: What was the starting salary for your job?  Based on the expectations for your work, do you think that salary is fair?

Mango Hide My ID: Starting salary is $25,000. It is unequivocally unfair, and I don’t think any other place in the same field would pay that.

AyetoZee: If you have received additional qualifications during your tenure in your current position, do they qualify you for raises?  Or is there a set schedule for raises at your job?

Mango Hide My ID: I haven’t. But they don’t necessarily move the needle. There is no set schedule for promotion. It’s based on review/assessment. 

AyetoZee: Do you think your manager/supervisor encourages individual promotion or is it a place where you’re expected to stay in your position?

Mango Hide My ID: They encourage taking you for an ass. Ok that’s a little hyperbole. But you’re expected to slave away dutifully while they dangle the carrot of promotion in front of you, sometimes for years. 

AyetoZee: Is training available at your job?  Do they pay for it or is it something you’re solely responsible for

Mango Hide My ID: Training at an entry level is not really available, because you’re expected to come on the job fully trained. As you advance, there are courses and certifications that are available that provide training. You kind of have to haggle to get approval to go on a course on the job’s dime, but it’s not entirely unheard of.

AyetoZee: How long do you see yourself staying at your current place of employment? How long do you seeing yourself staying in your current field of employment?

Mango Hide My ID: I am actively seeking another job. I love the field I am in, and I see myself in it for the long term.

AyetoZee: Do you see your job and/or field as your dream place to be?

Mango Hide My ID: My job? Absolutely not. I never really saw myself doing this specific type of work, so there was the initial challenge of not even liking the work. But I've gotten over that. The job itself is just extremely toxic. The field? Yes it’s my dream.

AyetoZee: Is there Human Resources at your company?  How do you feel about them?  Do you feel comfortable going to them about anything you experience on the job?

Mango Hide My ID: Yes we have HR. I think they are incompetent. It depends on the experience. Yall have my money fucked up? Absolutely I’m going to HR. Petty office politics? I don’t see any positive solution coming out of going to HR.

AyetoZee: What factors do you think most commonly cause people to leave your job and/or field?

Mango Hide My ID: Job: Underpaid. Being severely overworked (this job kills people). Disfunction on a managerial level.

Field: Burnout. Stress. Health/Medical reasons.

AyetoZee: What is the benefits package like at your job?

Mango Hide My ID: My salary and that’s pretty much it. No insurance. No pension (I mean NIB but like that’s a myth). 4 Weeks vacation a year, but the nature of my job heavily restricts when I can actually take vacation.

AyetoZee: What benefits or work related things do you think can make your work environment better?

Mango Hide My ID: HEALTH INSURANCE. I would actually take this over some small increment in salary. MORE MONEY. I would very much like to be paid at an industry standard. Or even close to it. MORE EMPLOYEES. There is literally not enough human capital. More flexibility about not being in office (They have recently ordered all employees back to office everyday 9-5 and I am seriously concerned about my health and covid).

AyetoZee: Is salary information widely available through your job/industry or is secrecy encouraged?

Mango Hide My ID: It’s public information for the job, unless you are contracted. In the industry its not really known, but people just assume you’re making a lot of money. That is not always the case at all.

AyetoZee: Do you feel like senior management abuses their power at work?

Mango Hide My ID: I’m not really sure how to answer that one. They are able to get away with a lil more slackness than the junior persons. But that’s life everywhere.

AyetoZee: In a perfect world, what changes would you implement to your work life?

Mango Hide My ID: MORE MONEY. LESS WORK.

AyetoZee: How long is the maximum do you think that people should stay at a job in 2021?

Mango Hide My ID: I’m not put off by the idea of staying at one place long term (15/20 years+). But hardly any one opportunity can give a person the fulfillment they desire and still allow them to move up the ranks. I think a person should leave a job when they are desirous of growing professionally, and there is no room for growth in their current position.

AyetoZee: What does your dream job look like?

Mango Hide My ID: In the same field, doing slightly different work, but being paid decently.

After reading these responses, I started thinking more about the work place and flex time and people returning to office work despite feeling unsafe. These thoughts eventually made me run a poll about woking from home and your employer providing the tools necessary to work (eg: a work station, internet etc) and let’s just say there’s a pretty big disparity between what employees feel they should receive and what employers feels they should give. But that’s a whole separate post - one that’s probably coming when this series is done.

Like I say with each entry, if you’re willing to participate, please reach out to me.