Salary Survey

[sincere]

I am pleased that my company actually listened to me!  I knew that coming back to Danville that I wouldn't get paid as much as when I lived in Atlanta.  But when I was offered this position I hesitated because the salary was extremely LOW for such a position.  I accepted because another offer in Indiana I was waiting on didn't come thru.  

After being here for 6 months and getting acclaimated to the position it was now time to do a little research.  I surveyed other colleges in the area and found that the same title at a similar size university started making $15,000 more then this position.  I found sites on the internet that also backed my claim.

Now I have prompted an organizational wide salary survey, which I'm sure will close the gap.  I am glad that I spoke up because I want to live in Danville, but I will not accept being paid less then what I am worth.  
Makes me think that with a bachelor's degree it doesn't mean much here...  Hopefully that is about to change!

I also found out that our CEO wants to get rid of our educational reimbursement and change it to just an educational assistance of $2000 a year.  A YEAR!  This is not much, especially since the college wants to prepare for a Master's program and they need PhD Nurses.  This perk was one of the reasons I agreed to the low pay since I was looking at starting a Master's program this Fall.  Several faculty and staff members are upset at this decision, but it seems since Lakeview has a contract with DACC now they have gone to a more "because I said so" attitude.  And why not since Lakeview is paying DACC $60k+ annually for administrative services.  For the service of 3 people... makes you wonder!

[SpiritMan]

One of the things that really scares me about the direction of our culture is how many people seem to accept the unacceptable. I am heartened by stories of people who still fight for what they deserve!

[pesoto74]

I just heard on the news that the Governor to decrease the shortage of RNs in Illinois, wants to make it easier for foreign nurses to work here.  It seems like instead he could work to encourage more people here to be trained as nurses.  This would likely involve some state money, however it would be a investment in the citizens of Illinois.

[Bingo]

I certainly agree with you Pesoto, our youngest daughter, U of I 2002, wants to return to nursing school. She has been working two and a half years as a Mental Health clinician and making peanuts. The less expensive programs are very rigid, must follow their entire program, hardly any chance to earn a decent full time living while going to school. Classes beginning between 8AM and 6PM, required to stay together with in class work -- so she has core subjects covered in her B.S. from U of I? Still has to take them with her class and do labs nights and weekends included.  Work and study and sleep?  
At Jewish College of Nursing (Part of Barnes/Jewish/Washington Univ) they are much more flexible but tuiition is unbelievable!  Not state school kind of money.  She is frustrated. We are willing to help to an extent but when interest rates were so low she bought a house and has 3 dogs and two cats -- her mortgage payments are about the same or less than rent -- but she also bought a car so she could get to work and back --- with adult responsibilities she has to work while she goes to school. If Gov. B. would help out his state resources, he would be repaid for sure.  She loves working with the mentally ill and developmentally disabled. She would still do so but as an RN instead of as a low paid clinician. She works as many hours and does so much good with her clients -- and makes about 1/4 of what her oldest sister, an attorney, earns.  Does not seem fair.

And I don't want to get started on Gov B.  Front page this morning: 11 million in his war chest for reelection that is touted to blow away any contenders and/or use for national office.  I really do not like this Gov. and learning he picked up some of that money in CALIFORNIA -- makes me wonder ...

[SpiritMan]

I think once again we are talking here about a culture that is unwilling to invest in its own future or anything that isn't directly related to making profit. There are many more ways to make a culture rich besides just making profit. One of the reasons it is so easy to import a foreign workforce is that many of those educated in other countries are able to obtain that education easier than our own students. What's an easy way to get an education paid for in America? Put your life on the line in a war, and if you're lucky enough to survive maybe the government will help to train you for another job when you return.

Fact is, the trickle down effect of Bush's policies leave state governments bankrupt and the first things cut are services, healthcare and education.

[Guardian Angel]

Bingo,  there are hospitals across the US that will foot the bill for school if you sign a pledge to work for so many years (4 I think) after graduation.  If I am not mistaken that is the only stipulation for a scholarship.  Your daughter should check this out in her area.  

There is such a shortage of nurses now they are taking warm bodies just for the license and that is dangerous.  I know my husband and I get offers all the time for employment.  He could not physically do the work and with medicines changing so fast I would need a brush up course just to catch up.....so we have opted not to go back into the field.

[hsemgr1]

I just heard on the news that the Governor to decrease the shortage of RNs in Illinois, wants to make it easier for foreign nurses to work here.  It seems like instead he could work to encourage more people here to be trained as nurses.  This would likely involve some state money, however it would be a investment in the citizens of Illinois.

He should be making it easier for Illinios residents to go back to school.  I know alot of people wanting to go, me included, but are stuck in the pay the bills......or quit the job decision in order to do it.  Unfortunantly I have to pay the bills and cant afford to quit work.

[Bingo]

That is the way it is for a lot of people, young and old. She is taking part of the coursework at a community college, there are several biology classes and labs she can take that will be accepted by the curriculum people at Wash U (Barnes/Jewish College of Nursing)

[sincere]

Of course I left the job because I accepted an offer out of Danville paying me what I was worth and back in my field. 

However, I don't think that Lakeview is going to complete a salary survey.  They just changed the title of the position to justify their low pay... It's not all in the title, but the job responsibilities.  Now I get paid more for doing much less... and lovin it! 

[Guardian Angel]

Prices are continuing to rise because of the increase in gas prices.  Trucks use gas to deliver goods and thus the prices of those goods will increase accordingly.  The only increase I don't see is an increase in wages, forcing people to take second jobs in order to keep abreast of the rising prices.

Those on fixed incomes suffer the most.  They were having a tough time making ends meet before the price of gas increased.  I shudder to think what they will do now.

[pesoto74]

I wonder how things will be for people this winter with natural gas prices so high?  For a lot of people heating costs are at least going to be double.  If we have a really cold winter it could even be worse.  If the days of cheap energy are over then people are going to need more pay to keep up.  Still I think the most likely outcome is that people are going to have to pay for increased prices on the same income.  I also think that a lot of people who have been living on credit are going to be forced into bankruptcy.  And I don't think they will be happy when they find out about the new bankruptcy laws.  It should be an interesting winter this year.

[music_man]

It really would be nice if the Illinois legislature would help train some nurses in the state I agree!---With what? Raise our taxes more ?
 Folks thanks to Reganomics and Busch's trickle down we are broke--BROKE!!! Village, City, County, and State government have inherited a nightmare .
 At least, someone is at last, trying to fix the problems, locally, and state wide. They won't win and popularity contests,  but they might get these problems turned around for us.
  Then maybe the wages will catch up some too.

[Bingo]

I think the promise of, and misdirection of, a lot of Homeland Security $$$ helped our cities, counties and states go broke.

I wish our governments had to live like the rest of us do. We went to a wedding reception Sat night. We talked to a retired Secret Service agent friend there. His pension is a lot of $$$. He had a tough job. He is now working for Homeland Security, makes a gigantic salary and is earning retirement from them too. He won't retire for another 3-4 years.

Before my husband became a teacher, he worked in business. After 15 years of teaching he will get a small retirement. However, because of that small retirement he will not be eligible for his SSN accruals -- jobs he held for nearly 30 years -- because the state says that would be a WINDFALL.  No one has explained that to me yet where it makes any sense at all.

He will get a small percentage but not what he would get if he had never become a teacher.

[pesoto74]

Just think of what could be done with the trillions dollars that I read recently that we will end up spending in Iraq. 

[Guardian Angel]

If the government works for the people, how come the people have no say in what their retirement will be?  Don't they vote on their own salaries and retirement?  Something is wrong there.......