I strongly relate to equity theory. Equity theory examines the role of perceived inequities in the reward-to-work ratio (p. 292). At the last company I worked for my title was administrative assistant. It should have been executive assistant because I supported an executive manager. I worked there for eight years with high performance reviews annually. However, I was not alone with my title not matching my job description. A lot of the other admins had been there just as long and supported executives, but we still had the titles of administrative assistants. It was discouraging. We’d talk to HR and they said we could call ourselves whatever we wanted to the public, but they couldn’t give us the title of executive assistant. The most frustrating part was that there was never a clear answer as to why. We felt as if we were undervalued for the dedicated years of outstanding service we provided the company. It made the other admins and me extremely frustrated and it led two of them to leave the company in search of new jobs.
Finally, after years of struggle the company decided we could have the title of executive assistant, but only if we received outstanding performance evaluations for the next two years straight. We weren’t any happier with the news that we had to wait two years to receive the titles we deserved, so needless to say we still felt underrewarded for our efforts.
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I definitely agree with the equity theory as well. I think a lot of people can relate to this experience. I have worked in jobs where I worked harder than my managers and was still perceived as, and payed as, a sales associate. It is so discouraging when you work really hard in a position and your work goes unnoticed or unacknowledged. I think it is really important to make sure that everyone feels appreciated and rewarded equally for the work they do.
ReplyDeleteOhmigosh, your BLOG hit the spot with me, because I am going through the exact same thing with my company. It's really frustrating doing a job when it's not:
ReplyDeletea) recognized
b)appreciated
c) undervalued
I work as an sdministrative assistant... and my boss (director of administration/office manager) whom I report to agrees and completely backs me on this... However I was hired as a 'receptionist' according to the CFO, that's what I am. Although I have great perks and incentives at this company, and I LOVE the people I work with (we are a small Venture Capital firm), they know I have outgrown this position and are waiting for something to be available to move me up... I'm being patient, but it is frustrating to know that you could be paid more with the mere difference in your 'title.' I have also found that in an administrative position, it is a thankless job that is taken for granted by others because they don't realize all the things you do to make things operate smoothly-- sometimes they only way they realize, is when you're gone, or when something goes 'wrong.' So I hear ya on this one.
Working for a company as an Administrative Assistant or Receptionist or any of the jobs that have you assisting the company is very important and should get more respect than they usually receive. I worked for Electronic Arts back in 2006 as a receptionist and I felt underappreciated sometimes for my work I done. The title should go a longer way than it actually does because we represent the company when the clients arrive sending them either positive or negative signals about the companies sense of professionalism.
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