Asking for a raise at work

[bodybagz]

How to do it? I like working here but it has been 2 years and i have not even heard a word about a raise. I can't afford to work here anymore. I am scared to ask for a raise and they replace me immediately. This is my first time ever asking for a raise, any tips?

[Kodonn]

A bit hard to answer without more info on type of work, the personnel structure, and how long do you plan to work there. (as in, is it a career or "just a job" ?)

Usually a good time to bring up the subject is at or just before your annual performance review. Do you have those ?

If not, you should approach your supervisor and ask if he/she could set aside some time to discuss your performance and what expectations they have of you. This is a chance for both of you to discuss how you have performed and what may lie in your future.

Be open minded. Expect that they will have at least a few things they want you to improve on.(if they came right out and told you that you were the perfect employee, they would lose their super-secret managers club pin :wink:)

Critique yourself ahead of time. Know what your weaknesses are and have some positive responses prepared. Try not to just have excuses. For instance, if you are always a bit late to work. Don't say it's because you always have to wait for your sister to drop you off and then complain about how she is always slow. Instead, offer up that you have been putting aside a bit of your paycheck every month towards buying your own car so you can be more punctual.

Also, don't be shy about pointing out your accomplishments either.
Even little things. For instance if you worked out a way to shave 4 or 5 hours off of the monthly inventory. That's a time saver and time = money. It might not be a big thing, but it shows you are thinking of the company rather than just yourself. Save these for after the "critique" because then you will have the "bad" stuff out of the way and can move on to your positive aspects. Those should be the freshest facts in your supervisors mind.

Once you finish that, it should lead right into discussing your future. Ask what kind of raise you might be able to expect and what other job duties you could take on to help you advance in the company. Show them yuo're willing to do more to earn more, but at the same time, you've made your point that you think you deserve something for what you have put in already.

Rarely will anyone fire you just for asking about a raise (unless someone is a terrible employee and constantly demands more money even though they seem to do less and less). Most employers are reasonable if you discuss it in a businesslike manner.

Hope that helps some. (Knowing how the system should work and actually getting it to work are 2 different things though)
I bet a lot of people here could give some good advice.
Let us know how it turns out.

:thumbsup:

[Tanitha]

Kodonn gave you some very good advice already. It's not uncommon to come across small / medium sized business employers who have no idea about life as an employee and they don't know when reviews are due, etc.

Once you finish that, it should lead right into discussing your future. Ask what kind of raise you might be able to expect and what other job duties you could take on to help you advance in the company. Show them yuo're willing to do more to earn more, but at the same time, you've made your point that you think you deserve something for what you have put in already.

That bit for me is the key. If you feel that way inclined, of course.

[kcma]

start by having a talk with your boss and ask him to schedule a review with you.

i also always have a habbit of working/interviewing somewhere else on my days off, know my field well and know my worth. i would never be fired from the kitchen, but if i am there's always a job waiting for me. and it also makes asking for a raise very easy.

i've actually asked for any raise in any kitchen, but i get a huge raise everytime i skip to next job. when i started in the kitchen i took a HUGE pay cut to go back to 8.50/hr, when i left Water Grill for providence that went up to 10/hr, and after leaving providence my pay goes from around 20k/hr to 30k+.

[bearbehind]

when i left Water Grill for providence that went up to 10/hr, and after leaving providence my pay goes from around 20k/hr to 30k+.

20k an hour?! man that is good pay! :rolleyes:

[kcma]

20k an hour?! man that is good pay! :rolleyes:

it's a residual effect of typing xp/hr too much, it's obviously not /hr :)

[bodybagz]

Well i used all your tips...and great tips by the way...and i did not get the raise. They gave me the bullcrap answer, "we dont have budget room to give a raise." Thats the bad news. Well, the good news i have another job lined up already and getting more pay :). I don't get to sit on the forums at work anymore though lol.

[kcma]

told ya ;) i'm a big proponent of always have a few jobs lined up :) it's great to be loyal to your boss or whatever, but ultimately you're in for yourself.

[Sibkik]

I know you already did not receive the raise but even though you did not it's good that you had another job already lined up. On that note, if you like the place where you are at and would like to stay with the company heres a suggestion. When you give your boss your two weeks notice, if you plan to, tell him you would like to remain loyal to him and the job offer just sort of fell into your lap but it's hard for you to pass up the money but you wanted to give him a chance to match their pay and he would be able to keep you working for him.
It's worked for me before. Maybe give it some thought and see if it might help you out.

[kcma]

you always do that anyway, sometiems they counter offer you more. in a way you find a job that pays better so you can tell them youre leaving so you can get that raise :p give you an idea exactly how much to ask too.

[bearbehind]

I'm starting a new job next week.

They refused me a raise where i am a couple of months back. Now i'm leaving and all of a sudden there some extra ££ flying around the dept budget. Said no anyway, new place has real scope for advancement. :smiley:

[irogue]

I'm starting a new job next week.

They refused me a raise where i am a couple of months back. Now i'm leaving and all of a sudden there some extra ££ flying around the dept budget. Said no anyway, new place has real scope for advancement. :smiley:

Congrats!

To the topic, I never asked for a raise and I would just apply for another job. Then, my employer would usually match the new offer when I told them "well, this is what I am worth. What do you think?"

If my employer could not match it, I would say bye-bye and move on to the new company.

:grin:

[Tikki]

Ooooooh!! Offer them chocolate .... my boss loves me after I offered him multiple peices of chocolate :)