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I'm writing to you because I'm young, naive and inexperienced at this job thing.

I work for a family-owned newspaper -- a 12,000-circulation weekly in one of the country's largest cities. I'm a  reporter/editor/Jill-of-all-trades.

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I've been here for a year now. I make $25,000, but there are no benefits, and I usually spend an average of 46 to 50 hours working in a typical week, but I don't get paid overtime. I justified all of the not-so-cool stuff by telling myself it was a great learning opportunity, which it is, and that everyone has to start somewhere.

I like my job, but I am looking for something better, with benefits and better pay, at a bigger paper. I'm ready for the next step.

I had my one-year review yesterday, and my boss told me that I'm doing great, and it's time for a raise. Here's the catch: If I accept the raise, it's for another year-long commitment. Boss said it wasn't enforceable by law, but that it was a handshake deal, and went into the importance of loyalty and keeping your word, so on so forth.

Um...thoughts? I mean, I feel like I'm entitled to a raise, but do I have to sign away another year of my life in a job I've outgrown to earn it? On one hand, I don't have another job yet that I can turn to. But I'm confident I could find one in less than three months. But I don't want to promise another year and leave. That's wrong...right?

Thank you for listening and offering any input.

One Year So Far

Your boss is taking advantage of you and has been right along.

This deal is not enforceable by law, and the law does not look favorably on having people work for nothing.

Joe Grimm

Tell him this: "Boss, I have already earned this raise and deserve it, no strings attached. Raises are given to reward good performance, not to limit people. I have worked hard, I have loyally worked unpaid time and I do good work for you. I have always kept my word. But I won't let you use a raise and a handshake to tie my hands. I'd like to continue working for you, but I can't agree to this condition. I don't think it's fair and I think I should still get the raise -- without this condition."

Now, we will find out how your boss truly feels about loyalty and fairness.

This feels like an aggressive stance, but you have little to lose financially -- unless you think he'll fire you for turning down a raise. Even if your boss plans a big raise -- say, 10 percent, it would amount to only $625 before taxes in the three months you plan to stay.

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Coming Monday: Expecting her first child, she wonders whether and when to tell potential employers that she is pregnant.

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