almostintears
New Member
- 12
I am located in KS and just found out that the Captive Agent I work for has lost her agency in KS because the agency was not producing (I think for some time) and will be moving to MO and producing for someone there so it leaves me SOL.
I was hired as an Agent Support staff member (it's just me and the Agent) and have only been on board three months. I paid for my classes, licensing fees, etc and obtained my PC/Personal Lines License and now I am going to be unemployed.
This whole experience has been so stressful and I am disappointed in what I thought would be a great new experience and learning opportunity. I left a government job after 26 years (my husband was a contract worker for the Federal Government and the company he worked for lost the contract at renewal) and after a year of no real prospects, I had to make the decision to retire early so I could draw some of my retirement out because our savings had dwindled down to nothing and our youngest child is in her senior year at University and getting ready to graduate and could not leave her hanging because we couldn't pay tuition, etc.
Long story short, this has been the worst job I think I have ever had. I was so excited (and very scared) to start out all over in a brand new career doing something I absolutely knew nothing about other than being a consumer myself but the idea of doing something so foreign has been about the most exciting thing that has happened to me during the past difficult year.
I make $10 an hr, no benefits, no days off and no hopes for commissions and a vague response on if this is going to change any time in the near future. But took the job (titled Agent Support) because $10 an hr is better than nothing an hr.....right? Not so sure now.
My first day, the Agent should up 45 minutes late to let me in (did not have a key) and it's been downhill ever since. She has not in the 10 weeks that I have worked there worked a full work week ....not one 8 hr day. She will work 6 hrs (or less) on the days she shows up and I am left to run the whole place myself. Which includes marketing, mailers, phone calls, walk-ins, selling, quoting, etc. to include the clerical work that I am suppose to do and I am also the janitor.
This cannot be the standard, right? I am required to have the same licenses as the Agent (was scheduled to take my Life/Health but not going to now that I am out of a job) and be the clerical, janitor, etc. for $10 an hr PERIOD. Literally nothing else....no paid time off, etc. I don't know if I should just throw the license away in the trash and take a job at Wal-Mart or local gas station for the same $10 an hr (minimum wage suppose to increase to $10 this July). There is absolutely no incentive for anyone in their right mind to run someone else's business so they can sit at home and watch t.v. or whatever for this meager of a wage. I have called around and am getting the same vague responses as to what you can earn or they say that is the industry standard....this isn't true is it?
Why are these companies/Agent owners not willing to pay for what they get? There's so much beating around the bush and avoiding giving a direct truthful answer that I have been totally amazed. Like I said I have actually called around and reached out to numerous Agent Support Staff and they tell me basically the same thing obviously some do get treated a little better.
Most people will work their tails off if there is something in it for them too but minimum wage doesn't cut. Am I wrong to feel this way?
I was hired as an Agent Support staff member (it's just me and the Agent) and have only been on board three months. I paid for my classes, licensing fees, etc and obtained my PC/Personal Lines License and now I am going to be unemployed.
This whole experience has been so stressful and I am disappointed in what I thought would be a great new experience and learning opportunity. I left a government job after 26 years (my husband was a contract worker for the Federal Government and the company he worked for lost the contract at renewal) and after a year of no real prospects, I had to make the decision to retire early so I could draw some of my retirement out because our savings had dwindled down to nothing and our youngest child is in her senior year at University and getting ready to graduate and could not leave her hanging because we couldn't pay tuition, etc.
Long story short, this has been the worst job I think I have ever had. I was so excited (and very scared) to start out all over in a brand new career doing something I absolutely knew nothing about other than being a consumer myself but the idea of doing something so foreign has been about the most exciting thing that has happened to me during the past difficult year.
I make $10 an hr, no benefits, no days off and no hopes for commissions and a vague response on if this is going to change any time in the near future. But took the job (titled Agent Support) because $10 an hr is better than nothing an hr.....right? Not so sure now.
My first day, the Agent should up 45 minutes late to let me in (did not have a key) and it's been downhill ever since. She has not in the 10 weeks that I have worked there worked a full work week ....not one 8 hr day. She will work 6 hrs (or less) on the days she shows up and I am left to run the whole place myself. Which includes marketing, mailers, phone calls, walk-ins, selling, quoting, etc. to include the clerical work that I am suppose to do and I am also the janitor.
This cannot be the standard, right? I am required to have the same licenses as the Agent (was scheduled to take my Life/Health but not going to now that I am out of a job) and be the clerical, janitor, etc. for $10 an hr PERIOD. Literally nothing else....no paid time off, etc. I don't know if I should just throw the license away in the trash and take a job at Wal-Mart or local gas station for the same $10 an hr (minimum wage suppose to increase to $10 this July). There is absolutely no incentive for anyone in their right mind to run someone else's business so they can sit at home and watch t.v. or whatever for this meager of a wage. I have called around and am getting the same vague responses as to what you can earn or they say that is the industry standard....this isn't true is it?
Why are these companies/Agent owners not willing to pay for what they get? There's so much beating around the bush and avoiding giving a direct truthful answer that I have been totally amazed. Like I said I have actually called around and reached out to numerous Agent Support Staff and they tell me basically the same thing obviously some do get treated a little better.
Most people will work their tails off if there is something in it for them too but minimum wage doesn't cut. Am I wrong to feel this way?
I did want to say that this really is such a complicated job and the individuals that sell insurance whether their captive, indy, support staff, etc. do not get near the credit they should. You have to be somewhat of an attorney, consultant, "sales person", clerical, financial advisor, etc. etc. etc. with so many things that are constantly changing and the economy in shambles .... it's a wonder how some of the "old timers" still have the get up and go to get the sales. Money is a driving force for a lot of things in sales but I truly believe the people aspect certainly also plays just as much of a role otherwise I am sure this type of career could add ten-twenty years to your life. Hats off!
