A while back I ran out of money so I decided I needed a job. A friend of mine was leaving to go back to California so I asked him if his boss had found some one to replace him. He said no and got me a job as a cleaner at a hostel. I started living there for a week before I began so I got to know my boss really well before I even started working. We get along like a house on fire, he doesn't act like my boss but more like a friend (partly why this is hard for me). Well, he pays me $13 per hour (minimum wage) and I need to work 16 hours a week to pay for my accommodation, anything after that is in my pocket. He gives me unlimited eggs, cereals, bread and spreads, free internet and free laundry. No complaints in that department.

After a week he realized I can handle stuff by my self so he started leaving the place for me to look after and teaching me what to do. He lives in the hostel as well but has a woman 1 1/2 hours away. It started with him leaving for the night and letting me close up, but now he's leaving for a few nights at a time and having me do pretty much everything by my self.

Thing is, I enjoy it. But I work from x till y doing cleaning duties and the time when I'm 'off' people still pester me for shit that is unpaid. So I will be off work, but still have to stay in the hostel because I need to close up, clean up, check people in, help guests who have no idea about shit, etc.

What would be a tactful way about asking for a raise? Should I ask to be paid a certain lump sum when he wants to go out of town? Or should I ask for an hourly raise? What would you suggest?


I just feel I'm working my hours, then getting nothing in return for all the work after that. It's making me feel tired since there used to be me and this Japanese snowboarder sharing the duties but he went back home. So now I'm the first person awake to make sure things are good for guests, and I'm the last person asleep to make sure everything is sorted for when I get up. If I'm going to feel this fucking tired/spent, I feel I should atleast be getting paid more in return for it. Thanks in advance.

If you are 21 or over the minimum wage is $14.31 Remind him of that and that it is the minimum, not what should be paid to retain an employee.

Unfortunately I'm not in Australia at the moment, I'm working in New Zealand for the snow season.

In Australia I made $670p/w cash in hand working like 36 hours. So jumping to about $10 NZ per hour ($8.50 per hour) fucking HURTS.

But thanks, that's a good point.

$12 is minimum wage in NZ btw.

Put it in writing. It really shouldn't be a problem because as you said, there used to be two of you. So now there's just you he's paying, he should have some money to pay you more.

Anyway: Work out how much you want, put it in writing. And make it sound sincere.

Good luck

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Warning ^^^ may be talking out his arse

You have a relationship with the guy. Talk to him about it, in private, and be honest; keep it casual with a beer or something.

If I were you, I'd ask for a Per diem. It's a daily non-taxed thing that you can either save as cash or blow each day. Think an extra 40 dollars a day.

New Zealand eh?

Do you know Dave?

4million is still a lot of people.

Yeah man, me and Dave go way back. Scotland.

So have you done anything about getting a raise or just been talking to dave all week?