Asking for a raise is a difficult, stress-inducing task for any employee of any company. However, when you find yourself in a salary dispute over what you think you’re worth vs. what your employer wants to pay you—things can get ugly. It can get so ugly that you may have to get a personal injury lawyer involved if things come to blows.
However, discussing a raise with your current employer or a potential new company is an opportunity for you to seriously examine what you are worth. Take this opportunity to have a candid conversation with your current boss or your hiring manager (if this is a new employment opportunity) to compare your performance with your compensation. To improve your chances of getting the compensation that you think you deserve, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Good employees are hard to retain: Many companies struggle to keep their talent. However, they might still pay them less than they deserve. If you know you could get more elsewhere, speak candidly to your employer about standard pay for you position at similar companies. This way you establish your value to the company, as well as justifying the cost should you leave and the company needs to hire and pay to train someone new.
2. Compare yourself with your competition: If you belong to a professional association, ask others in similar job roles how much you should expect to make. You can also gather information on comparable salaries in your area of expertise from government websites like the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Just be sure to compare yourself to the average salaries in your state or even city or urban area.
3. Weigh your accomplishments: Have you received special awards or honors for you work? Have you landed a big client or streamlined the way your company does business, saving them money? Be sure to make a list of your accomplishments, either on a resume or in a portfolio and take it with you when you are ready to negotiate for leverage.
4. Show them you’ve done your research: When you go in to your meeting with your boss or hiring manager (if it’s a new job) go in armed with the supporting information you’ll need—including statistics on average salary for your role, government statistics, years experience you bring, and stats on the value you’ve added to the company already.
5. Get ready to negotiate: In a perfect world, you’re boss would thank you for your years of service and all you’ve done for the company and then give you everything you wanted and more! However, life hardly works out that way when it comes to salary demands. Your boss may say no, or he may offer you less than what you want, but be prepared to support your request for a raise.
6. Have a plan: If your boss says no or says the company can’t afford to give you a raise, stay calm. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. Instead, come prepared with concrete facts and a plan that shows you are a team player—and without you the company would be less successful. If your boss still denies you a raise, then keep your calm and offer a plan with specific goals. When you reach those, agree to take up salary negotiations once more. If you think you’re being shafted. Hit the pavement and start looking for a job where they are willing to pay you what you’re worth.
7. If you get a raise: Be sure to get the agreement in writing signed by you and your manager and HR. This document will ensure you are paid what you agreed on going forward and avoid further disputes.
8. Regardless of the outcome, thank your boss: This might be difficult if you don’t get the raise you want, but remember, a positive attitude will be remembered in the future. And if it is a matter of the company not being able to afford a raise now, you might be put first in line because of your winning attitude when they can afford it.
Colleen Harding is a freelance writer and guest blogger who specializes on writing about law. Her passion for the legal realm started with a job as a Legal Aid for a personal injury lawyer and continued when she accepted a role as a Human Resources Coordinator for a mid-sized U.S. manufacturing company. Colleen is always looking of more freelance writing work and can be contacted at colleenaharding@gmail.com
Save Your Cash is an
Good advices, I will use them in the near future