If you follow sports (even if you don’t) you may have heard that LeBron James, and his son Bronny, will soon make history as the first father-son duo to play in the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) simultaneously and on the same team.
How did this happen? LeBron used his status as arguably the greatest basketball player ever to play the game to influence his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to sign Bronny with the 55th pick in the second round of the NBA draft. How did he do it? Simple. He opted out of his player option for the 2024 – 2025 season and made it decisively clear to the Lakers’ management (and every owner in the league) that he wanted to play on the same basketball team as his son. It was a power move that many people, for various reasons, envy.
Whether you are fan of LeBron or not, there are three things we all can learn from this situation:
1. You are worth more to your employer than you realize.
Employers have monetary and non-monetary incentives to devalue your hard work, contributions, and importance to the company or business. This allows them to keep your pay and benefits modest while encouraging (and sometimes demanding) you to work harder without increasing your salary or wages. It gives them a measure of control over you.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for more from your employer.
The fear of being told “no” should never stop you from asking for more money or things you want or need from your job. Employers want you to be afraid of losing your job. The more afraid you are of being fired or laid off, the more control your employer has over you. They can squeeze more work out of you. Before you know it, you will willingly sacrifice more time away from your family and self-care to appease them. This is a slippery slope because no matter how much you give of yourself, your employer will always want more. It will never be enough.
3. If your employer refuses to honor your wishes, find one who will.
Never be afraid to walk away from an employer who does not value you, your time, your family obligations, or your contributions to the job. This should be a dealbreaker. If you make reasonable demands or requests from your employer, and they outright refuse you or table the discussion for an indefinite future date, that is your sign to look for a new employer. I am not suggesting that you resign on the spot, but you definitely should update your resume and evaluate (or create) your exit plan. Employers are always looking for fresh talent. Believe it or not, some employers actually value their employees. They pay them well, provide great benefits and perks, and make their employees feel appreciated. Ask yourself this question: If a different employer is a better option, why not choose them?
Kirton Madison, Esq. litigates employee discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases on behalf of employees. He also negotiates employee contracts and severance agreements.