She looked confident. Professional. Completely unaware that she was about to become the center of a situation nobody had anticipated.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “What position is she taking?”
Karen hesitated for half a second.
“Yours.”
I actually laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because sometimes your brain laughs before it has figured out how else to react.
“My position?”
“Yes.”
“So I’m training my replacement?”
Karen nodded.
“You’ve been with us long enough to know the systems. You’re the best person to teach her.”
There it was.
The compliment.
The kind of compliment companies sometimes give employees instead of raises.
You’re the best person to do this.
You’re reliable.
We trust you.
You’re invaluable.
But apparently “invaluable” had a salary ceiling of $55,000.
I looked back at my screen.
“Sure,” I said.
Karen seemed relieved.
“Great. I knew you’d be cooperative.”
I smiled.
“Happy to help.”
I meant it differently than she thought.
That weekend, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
For six years, I had worked my way up from an entry-level administrative position to a senior operations coordinator. My responsibilities had grown steadily.
My salary had not.
There had been small increases over the years, but nothing remotely close to the increase in responsibilities.
