Becoming a PE....will my employer compensate me as such?

[GalileoG]

Hi all,

I've been working for my current employer for more than 2 years and have not received a single salary increase. In addition to that, I recently went through a salary survey released every year by my local jurisdiction and found that recent graduates are making 8K+ over me even though I have a Masters degree and 4+ years of experience. I've basically given up hope with this firm and have begun looking for career opportunities elsewhere. With that said, I am writing my PE exam next month, and given the company's track record, I doubt I'd be getting a significant increase, if any. Am I obligated to stamp drawings while working for this firm even though I'm not being compensated for that level of responsibility? (There are others in the firm that can stamp my work, however, it is customary for the designer to stamp their own work, well at least based on my experience in the structural world.) Any advice is appreciated.

Clansman

If a builder has built a house for a man and has not made his work sound, and the house which he has built has fallen down and so caused the death of the householder, that builder shall be put to death." Code of Hammurabi, c.2040 B.C.

 

[rowingengineer]

I see no reason to stamp if your not getting paid for it, i wouldn't. Normally you would get a good pay increase if you are stamping the drawing, as you have a higher responsibility.

How could you do anything so vicious? It was easy my dear, don't forget I spent two years as a building contractor. - Priscilla Presley & Ricardo Montalban

 

[zdas04]

[Read my signature, engineers are a lousy place to get legal advice, we'll all give it, but you have to decide how valid or useful it is]

After you get the PE, check their insurance. If your name is not explicitly listed under Professional Liability and E&O then don't stamp anything. The risk is that in a lawsuit, the injured party will sue your employer, you personally, and whoever else their fevered minds can identify. In many jurisdictions, your employer would be forbidden by law to provide you with legal counsel for the suit. Enter the Professional Liability insurance (which can cover you if you are a "named insured" but not otherwise).

In my jurisdiction, stamping my employer's drawings (or stamping other engineering work), would create a huge liability for me personally and would put my family at risk of living under a bridge FOR ZERO REIMBURSEMENT. Anyone smart enough to finish grade school (to say nothing of graduate school) should be able to do that risk/reward analysis.

If you are covered, then it is up to you whether you'll take on additional risks and personal responsibilities for the same remuneration. There are times when that would make sense (I'm sure there are, although no examples spring to mind), and times when you should say "sorry boss, you're paying for a 4-year CE with a Masters, if you start paying for a PE I'll do it." or words to that effect. You just need to assess how far you are willing push this (i.e., what do you say if he says "stamp it or leave"?) before you take the test. Of course, you won't know if you passed the test until next year and you may have gotten so tired of feeling underpaid by then that you leave before you get the results.

Good luck on the test. By the way, are they making you take vacation to take it? If not, then they can claim that they DID pay for the PE and want the benefits and you'll be in a pretty weak position to say no.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

http://www.muleshoe-eng.com

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

"It is always a poor idea to ask your Bridge Club for medical advice or a collection of geek engineers for legal advice"

 

[DWHA]

The firm I used to work for gave 3% increase for PE, a friend of mine recieved a little less than that for the PE. I don't know if that is a lot, but it is something.

 

[controlnovice]

I received $250 for getting my PE License from the company I was working with at the time.

Accounting was nice enough to note that the manager didn't say that was before or after taxes, so she made it come out to $250 after taxes.

Whopped-di-do....

A PE might get a bit of a raise with the same company. But I've found with the PE, you are more likely to stay employed during a reduction in force, and more hire-able with a new company.

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This is normally the space where people post something insightful.

 

[zdas04]

When I got mine, I got a lengthy chat with an attorney saying "never ever ever stamp anything for the company, you will be taking too much uncompensated risk". That was it.

The company encouraged taking the test (provided time off, paid for study materials, paid for the trip to the test and the hotel while I was there, even paid for the test), but it wasn't a company in the business of supplying engineering services so they were just keeping score (i.e., slick brochure, "we have 10,000 graduate engineers on staff, 18% are recognized as Professional Engineers"), and it wasn't worth much more than the T&E to get it.

I really don't think there is a rule.

David

 

[rowingengineer]

I got just over a 50% pay increase when I started to sign plans.

How could you do anything so vicious? It was easy my dear, don't forget I spent two years as a building contractor. - Priscilla Presley & Ricardo Montalban

 

[DRWeig]

I got a hearty hand-clasp, a pat on the back, and two or three "Congratulations, Dave!" comments.

No cash, no raise, and yes, I was immediately put on the company's E&O insurance and required to stamp my own work.

Ah, it's nice to be free of corporate fiddle-faddle.

Good on ya,

Goober Dave

 

[lacajun]

My employer paid for all expenses with no strings attached. They provided no raise, when I passed. It did open other doors for me within the company that otherwise were closed.

 

[FSS]

Nowhere did you explain what happened when you asked for a raise, or when you brought up the PE and expected raise. Have to speak up if you want anything.