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Comment by mattquinn | Hacker News Reader

The only person who knows enough info to make this decision is you; as a university student myself, I understand your dilemma.

I will say that the fact that you're only making $9/hour at a company that's supposedly about to go big is a huge red flag. If you've made as many contributions as you say you have, then there's something very wrong. Either you have failed to negotiate fair compensation for yourself, or the company is banking that you will continue to break your back for the chance to go big.

The last time I made $9/hour was hauling bags of salt at a retail warehouse selling pools. If I were you, I'd go back to school. $9/hour is not only unsustainable, but a serious red flag regarding how the company views their relationship with you.

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You bring up good points, but allow me to clarify:

I originally came aboard as an intern for such mentioned 20-year-old company. The owner of that, my boss, is also an owner of this startup, and so all of our efforts have gone towards the startup. My wage was negotiated months ago long before anyone had an idea this would be where we're at right now, and I'm confident once there is some revenue coming in I will get more pay. One equity-holding position of the startup actually started out as an intern like me a few years ago.

So that other "equity holding position" started out as an intern, has been around for years, and the company is still merely on the verge of going big?

The engineering company wasn't ever really going to get 'big.' This employee went to work for them as an intern just as I did.

The startup is less than a year old, and it has the potential to get big. ALL of our efforts have migrated to this startup because of this, and the employee (former intern) holds some equity in it, not the old company.

The point still stands. Why is a 20-year-old engineering company paying you $9/hour? The coffee shop in town here pays new counter staff $14/hour. Generally speaking, one does not pay someone who is as important to the business as you claim to be so little, intern or not. Realistically, I see two possibilities:

a) You're wildly over-estimating your value to the company.

b) Your boss is exploiting you.

Think carefully about which it is. Be honest with yourself. If (a) go get the coffee like a good intern, then go back to school. If (b) ask for a more reasonable wage and/or equity (if that's your preference), in the form of a signed contract. "We'll take care of you" is worthless, no matter how trustworthy the person saying it. If they actually mean it, there will be no problem with getting a deal signed on paper.

I definitely am not absolutely critical to the success of this company, and I realize this, but losing me would still hurt them. It's really the experience and knowledge I have with them that's valuable to them, and that would be hard to reproduce with someone else quickly, especially at such a critical time like right now.

Am I stepping up my game and responsibilities as much as possible? Absolutely.

Ok, then you need to ask for a raise. $9/hour is a wage you pay someone who is completely replaceable; and even then only if you're a greedy bastard who doesn't care about your employees.

A raise could come in the form of a much higher wage, or a combination of a higher wage and equity, if you really believe in the company. You should be getting a significantly higher wage either way, though.

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