In any event, for most of us, asking for a raise is difficult. Sometimes we may feel that we shouldn't have to ask, that the company or our immediate supervisor should know we deserve more and just give it. If only the world worked that way.
Today, in this tight economy, with companies laying people off all around you, you may think asking for a raise is an exercise in futility. Would you be surprised to learn that some compensation experts believe this is probably one of the best times to ask for a raise?
The reasoning is that with so many fellow workers getting pink sheets, you're left with more work to do and one of the major reasons for justifying higher pay is by showing that you are indeed doing more work. It's even better if one of those people being laid off is your boss.
Chances are you'll be saddled with more responsibility. That's reason number two for why you would deserve a bigger pay check.
If you find yourself in either situation, walk into your supervisor's office and politely inform him or her of the situation and that you believe you deserve a raise. Chances are your boss doesn't even know how much you make. Moreover, he or she doesn't want to lose you and then have to train someone new to do your job so rather than take the chance you'll leave they will approve the raise.
How much of a raise will depend on what your position usually makes. So do some research. There are websites that provide salary ranges for different professions. The more popular are Payscale.com, Salary.com or Glassdoor.com. Find out what the salary range is for your profession so when you ask for a raise you can show that it is not unreasonable given what others in your profession and level are earning.
It's also important to know how your company is doing financially. Check the press release for the quarterly earnings. It's somewhere on your company's website.
The most important part is to make a list of all the extra work you're doing and any extra responsibilities since the last round of layoffs. Add to it if you helped cut costs or brought in more money and clients the previous year. Anything you did to add to the bottom line.
If you're still not sure about what to do, go to a website set up just for people who have trouble asking for a raise. In fact, it's called GetRaised.com and it will take you through the process of preparing for asking for a raise. You can even type in your job title, location and other data, and it will give you an evaluation of whether or not you're due for a raise. The site isn't free however. If the answer to your evaluation is yes, you deserve a raise, it will ask you for $20 to help determine how much of a raise to ask for. For that $20 they'll help you develop your raise request and keep harassing you until you actually ask for the raise. They do promise that if you don't get the raise in six months, they'll give you your money back.
Now, if you fail to get the raise don't take it personally. Simply ask your boss why and what he or she recommends you do that you're presently not doing that would warrant a raise. You'll be surprised at their answers. It could be just a matter of timing and to ask again in a few months. That or you might want to consider doing more about either bringing in revenue or trimming expenses, anything to improve the balance sheet.
If money is the issue, try asking for something else, like an extra vacation or day off. One benefit that doesn't cost the company any money and improves morale and productivity are flexible work schedules or working part time from home.
Bottom line in asking for a raise, don't be put off by the economy but be aware of the timing. For example, if your company just announced it was heading into bankruptcy or had just laid off a third of its workers, you may want to wait a while.
The key thing to remember is that it never hurts to ask. In fact, I had a colleague who told me the only time he ever got a raise was when he asked for one but then he only asked for one after making a great score or doing well on a particular project. His theory was go for it when you're being valued the most because those times won't last forever.
