I have a bookkeeping service and work in the offices of my clients so am treated more like an employee than an independent contractor. My largest client, the only one I work for every day and on Sundays and a firm for which I was an employee for 13 years and with which I’ve had a 33-year relationship, had its busiest and most successful year ever in 2019. Made more money than ever before.

I am supposed to work 25 to 30 hours a week for them. In 2019, I averaged 41 hours a week, on top of my time working for other clients. What did I get for my efforts? A year-end bonus that was 1/3 of my 2018 bonus. Can’t say anything since they aren’t obligated to pay me anything over my hourly rate. But, what the hell?? And, I was praised for being a team player and putting in whatever hours were necessary to get the work done. Again, what the hell??

I feel you, P. G. Many businesses are booming but the wealth is definitely not trickling down. The employees for the firm typically get several bonuses during prosperous years but received fewer bonuses in 2019 than than the previous 5 years even though the company made a great deal more money. Most of them, like me, were working 6 days a week through most of the year.