How do I advocate for fair treatment at work?

Just to preempt this question, I’m not interested in a lawsuit and I don’t believe my problem is legally actionable in NYS (an at-will employment state).

I’m a 26-year-old young professional woman in NYC who works in marketing for a small business of about twenty employees. Only about ten of us work in my office.

I’ve worked here for about eighteen months, and my primary function is marketing, content writing, and client service support. I do not lack in higher-level responsibilities, and my role is highly visible in the company. I had about two years of employment before I started, including international work experience in marketing roles and a consistent roster of freelance clients as a content writer, editor and blogger. I’m poised, professional and articulate. I’m also somewhat feminine (my friend/coworker often refers to me as “Joan”) and soft-spoken which I think is perceived as a weakness.

I wasn’t hired as an administrative assistant, but we don’t have anyone who has that job title. So as the newest person in the company, I’ve become the defacto for every mundane task or errand…answering the phone, ordering lunches, playing go-fer for every little thing anyone wants. It all falls to me! And this is on top of all of my higher level responsibilities, including maintaining the blog, sales site, lead generation, newsletter publication, editorial responsibilities and submitting my own written work to trade magazines under my own byline. My skills are marketable and getting stronger as time passes.

The person who was hired before me only had to play admin for six months before I was hired, and every since I was hired I’ve been treated like an underling and taken for granted. My colleagues interuppt me at meetings and don’t take my suggestions into account. The only person who listens to or respects me professionally is my director, who tells me to “hang in there” and that it will “get better”.

This week, I hit my breaking point. I came in an hour late (as my colleagues often do) and received a terse email from the CEO saying that I need to be there at 9 to answer phones and “support [him] and everybody else.” I just about lost and replied with the following missive:

Hi Mike,

I’m sorry I was late this morning. There was a train delay at 59th St. and Anna wasn’t able to get my text because no cell service on the PATH train. I certainly do not want you worried about phones or office support.

That said, I will make every effort to be here at 9:00 am from now on barring a rare emergency. If something does come up, I will email or call you and Anna immediately and give you a heads-up.

I understand that having all hands on deck will be even more important during your March absence, but I would also appreciate if I was not the only person tasked with office and admin support duties in general—or the only one expected to work a 9:00–6:00pm day when many others in the office are quite fluid with their time.

You may not be aware, but there have been innumerable times when I’ve had to tear myself away from something to dash across the office to answer an ignored phone or worked late into the night to compensate for time lost while doing office errands or other administrative tasks that need to be attended to. (Particularly around busy times of the year, like the annual meeting.)

As you can see, it would be much better if everyone worked together to accomplish these tasks.

Best
Julie

He didn’t reply to the email directly but he did stop me in the hallway telling me he wanted to talk about it. He seemed somewhat humbled, but I don’t think he really “gets it”. The conversation never happened and now he’s out of the office for a month. (How convenient, right?)

I’d also like to add that I’m now the lowest compensated employee in the company (except for one part-timer who works remotely). I know it’s not fair that I’m held to a higher standard for lower pay and it’s making me bitter and resentful. Yesterday, I upgraded my LinkedIn to “Jobseeker Pro” and I’m weighing my options. Do I fight this battle or do I just move on? I was hoping to put in at least two years before I did something else and wanted to continue learning the skills I’m developing to make me more employable elsewhere.