Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
(OP)
I'm a newly minted PE. I've done a lot of reading about raises associated with receiving one's PE license and I know there is a large variation in raises/bonuses depending on your industry, public/private, responsibility etc. I received our company's standard bonus but what I would consider a measly COL adjustment during our recent salary adjustments.
In my opinion, I've been underpaid for the last two years. This is based off of one coworker's salary, online salary websites, and a posting for an entry level public sector job that is nearly 10% higher than my salary as a PE. Last year I talked to my manager after a glowing performance review and he agreed that I was underpaid. I received a mid-year raise and was expecting to make up the gap when I received my PE. It didn't happen. I didn't bring up my concerns at my recent review because we discussed it last year and I couldn't make a strong argument that my responsibilities had changed.
Recently, it's come to light that I will likely be part of a project that requires me to review and seal a bunch of simple designs for a client. Now I feel even more taken advantage of. I would like to say "No stamping without a raise" but that has quite a few downsides. Realistically, the job will just go to someone else and I will be marginalized. It will look like blackmail. The other option is to give the project my all, then ask for a raise by pointing to the additional responsibility I took on.
I don't want to hold my stamp hostage, but the reality is, I am assuming a lot of legal responsibility for my employer by stamping designs. I don't want to do that while simultaneously being treated poorly in regards to salary.
In my opinion, I've been underpaid for the last two years. This is based off of one coworker's salary, online salary websites, and a posting for an entry level public sector job that is nearly 10% higher than my salary as a PE. Last year I talked to my manager after a glowing performance review and he agreed that I was underpaid. I received a mid-year raise and was expecting to make up the gap when I received my PE. It didn't happen. I didn't bring up my concerns at my recent review because we discussed it last year and I couldn't make a strong argument that my responsibilities had changed.
Recently, it's come to light that I will likely be part of a project that requires me to review and seal a bunch of simple designs for a client. Now I feel even more taken advantage of. I would like to say "No stamping without a raise" but that has quite a few downsides. Realistically, the job will just go to someone else and I will be marginalized. It will look like blackmail. The other option is to give the project my all, then ask for a raise by pointing to the additional responsibility I took on.
I don't want to hold my stamp hostage, but the reality is, I am assuming a lot of legal responsibility for my employer by stamping designs. I don't want to do that while simultaneously being treated poorly in regards to salary.





RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Do they plan on making you a partner so you can do this?
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
absolutely not true
either find a new job that will pay what you want or do the job you have. if that means stamping plans, them stamp them
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Your responsibilities just changed (stamping).
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Chris, CSWA
SolidWorks 14
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Maine Professional and Structural Engineer.
(Just passed the 16-hour SE exam, woohoo!)
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Maine Professional and Structural Engineer. www.fepc.us
(Just passed the 16-hour SE exam, woohoo!)
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
1. Our company is pretty big and most of the people stamping work are not principals. I can see how that is more common in smaller companies, though.
2. I didn't go digging for salaries. Certain careless project managers send out fee and cost estimates with billing rates for everyone who is working on that project. I would never use that info in negotiations, but our salaries aren't really secret.
3. Good point on the errors and omissions insurance. I will look into that.
As far as the stamping or no stamping goes, it sounds like members are kind of split on which way I should go. I look forward to any other opinions!
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
knowledge is power
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Good luck,
Latexman
Technically, the glass is always full - 1/2 air and 1/2 water.
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Have you walked into your boss's office at a convenient time (NOT on a Friday afternoon after quitting time!!!) and asked him, "I am starting to seal drawings as a PE for this project, what do I need to do to get my next pay raise?"
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Good luck,
Latexman
Technically, the glass is always full - 1/2 air and 1/2 water.
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
Good luck,
Latexman
Technically, the glass is always full - 1/2 air and 1/2 water.
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
I would be very cautious of bringing up any one else's salaries when negotiating your own. I say this because I took a close look at my previous company's confidentiality policy. I was surprised to see that discussing your salary with coworkers was against the company confidentiality agreement. I wouldn't be surprised to see that clause in other company confidentiality agreements either.
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
It's definitely in the company's best interest to not have salary information discussed, but it's definitely not in the employee's best interest. There's also the matter of whether that's an enforceable clause or not (I don't know). They can put whatever they want, but afaik at least a lot of non-compete clauses aren't worth any more than the paper their printed on in many states.
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
As a chem eng/metallurgist the first part of any answer I give starts with "It Depends"
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
The clause about discussing salary is probably illegal and not enforceable. It was a major labour rights issue that was established in most countries quite a long time ago. I suspect you're in the US, where the National Labour Relations Act gives everyone the right to discuss their wage. The Labor Relations Board has defended that right.
I don't care enough to look up proper references at the moment, but see here:
http://www.npr.org/2014/04/13/301989789/pay-secrec...
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?
I may seem to be turning the argument a bit and getting off track, but it may be an important distinction that you can use in your plan to present an argument to your boss. You also need to make sure you only seal items that you consider to be in your area of expertise. Since you say the designs are simple, maybe you are covered on those issues.
RE: Believe I'm underpaid - do I have to seal drawings?