Going to disagree with you on this Tony (for the most part). If you make yourself an asset to the company, the company should return the favor to keep you around. The goal is keeping yourself on the asset side once you get there. I'm a contractor, paid what I believe I'm worth (realistically) and I'm still here doing what I do for one of my client (my primary). Others have not (employees) and they are gone. In my industry you have to show your worth, or be gone. The economy hasn't help lately here in OH, the client keeps telling people they should be happy to have a job, but when I asked for a rate increase because of the emergancy MX trip I took, and the new business I just brought in, he did have to agree with me. I will admit he didn't like it, or want to do it, but he knows the value I bring to the table for his business. I am guessing the same is for you, you don't produce and you will be gone (or have you changed jobs and I missed it?).