I've been with my company since 2012, I've been a developer here for a year. I have to live with my mom, and I frequently run out of money by the time the next pay period rolls around. (I couldn't pay my car payment this month until I got paid, I had to take an overdraft fee) We hired a guy here as a temp to try him out. He has roughly the same amount of experience I do, yet somehow he's making enough money to: move to a nice and expensive side of town near our building, support his husband who doesn't work and doesn't collect unemployment or disability, buy them both new laptops, travel out of town most weekends, take a week-long vacation to New York, and buy his husband a bunch of clothes all the time (which then get posted being worn to Facebook).
I'm afraid to ask for a salary (I'm hourly), and especially afraid to ask for much more than I already make. I have no sense of self-worth and when met with confrontation from my boss, I break down and give up instantly. I work extremely hard and take my job seriously no matter what it is; this behavior gives this company so many opportunities to take advantage of me time after time- sometimes burning me out to the point where all I want to do is sit at home and cry in the mornings instead of beginning my 31 mile drive to work.
The insanely affordable and comprehensive health benefits, 2 bonuses a year (which are measly but at least they give bonuses at all), and complete and total acceptance of me and my transition keep me from ever considering leaving... not that I could find another job anyway, I only got this one because my step brother who works here managed to convince the warehouse manager to let me take out the trash.
