People often worry about asking for a pay rise. Or they’re not sure whether they deserve one. But everything you do, from looking after your family to whether you can go on vacation this summer, depends on how much money you earn for the work you do. That’s why you shouldn’t be so shy about seeking a pay rise if you feel like you deserve one.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be properly compensated for the work that you do. Here are some of the things that you should know about getting a pay rise. And you will also find some advice on you can make it happen too.
Do You Deserve a Pay Rise?
When Was the Last Time You Had a Rise?
In most jobs, the expectation is that your pay will increase steadily. Ideally, you want your pay to increase faster than the rate of inflation. That means that you feel the benefits of earning more money. If you haven’t had any real pay rise for a long time, you should definitely push for one. It’s only fair to ask for a pay rise that is gradual and consistent. And there is nothing greedy or self-centred about wanting that. If you have watched your pay languish while prices and inflation rise, you will be earning less in real terms; that’s not something you have to put up with.
Have You Been Performing Well?
If you have been performing well, and your managers and bosses have recognised this fact, you should be happy to get out there and ask for the rise that you feel you deserve. Anyone who is doing well in their role deserves to be rewarded and compensated for their progress. It makes your argument much stronger when the time comes to request a pay rise. If you have a portfolio of good recent work that you can point to, it might be impossible for your bosses to ignore or dismiss your request for a pay increase. That has to be a good thing.
Are Other People Getting Rises?
When everyone around you is getting a pay rise but you’re not, it can be very frustrating indeed. It’s something that you should definitely address if you regard it as an injustice. By asking why this is happening, you will, at the very least, get an answer. You might also find that there has been some sort of error that meant you missed out. When workforces are large and everything is automated, it’s easy for people and cases to slip through the net when it comes to implementing raises.
Is the Company Successful?
If the company is doing well, the case for giving you a pay rise becomes even more compelling and convincing. Why shouldn’t you get a share of the pie if profits are going up and up? There is nothing wrong with admitting that your work has contributed to the success of the company. Even if that might sound a little arrogant to say out loud, it’s undoubtedly true. Every company is built and pushed forward by its workforce. Of the company is doing poorly, however, getting a pay rise will be a lot harder for you.
How Should You Go About Getting One
Know Where You Stand
First of all, you need to know where you stand in relation to the other people that work for your company. Gender pay gap reporting is not mandatory, so you should see if you are being paid less than your male colleagues. If that’s the case, you should pressure your bosses to pay women and men equally, which could mean getting a pay rise. You should also see how much you earn compared to the other people in your team. When you know that, you can use it to pressure the powers that be for more money.
You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get
First of all, you need to remember that you don’t get anything if you don’t ask for it. Why would your boss increase your pay if they are not being pressured to do so. That’s how it works, whether we like it or not. So, make that request, and you might be surprised by the response. If it’s clear that you are doing well and contributing a lot, they might be happy to grant you the rise you’re looking for. If not, there are other things you can still do to try to get the rise you feel you need and deserve, so don’t just give up.
Work Collectively if Necessary
There is no need to go it alone, especially if the people that you work with are in the same situation. Many workforces find themselves poorly paid while the company does well and makes lots of money. If you want a fair and proportionate share of what the company makes, you should work collectively. It’s very easy to reject an individual person’s request for a pay rise. But it’s much harder to do that if there are many voices demanding the same thing. So, consider working collectively with the people around you to get what you feel you’re owed.
Look at Your Wider Options
If you are getting nowhere with your current employer regarding getting more money for your work, you will be forced to look at other arrangements. Don’t feel like you have a sense of commitment to the employer and the job you currently have. If you can do the same or a similar job elsewhere and get more fairly compensated for it, you should go for it. There are only so many times you can be knocked back and rejected without taking your skills and talents elsewhere. Of course, moving jobs always feels risky, but it often pays off.
People need to get a rise in the work they do, and the same should be no different for you where you work. If you feel like you’re owed a rise after serving the company for a long time, don’t be afraid to fight for it.
*collaborative post
