Salary Increase Question?!???!!

[ict]

Can anyone tell me when to ask for a salary raise?

Here is my case... I have been working for this company for nearly a year now and I'm earning 15k, kase admin assistant rate ako, so i understand, iba ang rate compared sa nasa sales or nasa field positions. I have been multi-tasking, admin, rep, accounting, name it...kulang na lang magjanitor ako sa company na to. My problem is that - i heard they are willing to offer 20k to new people who'd be doing only half of my job, and i've known one who's getting that salary. So how exactly do I ask for salary raise? They said they appreciate me being everything, but i think i need more than appreciation. Actually meron nmang raise sa April. But i think its still not enough.

Can anyone advise me a good strategy on this? I want to do this asap. Naffrustrate na ko sa company and I'm really hoping to get this one para **** just yung compensation ko

[cvgt2]

set a meeting with your immediate supervisor and air you concerns.. but a year in the job may still be too early to be demanding... or that's just me

[luks7210]

yep, it's too early to ask for a raise unless you really deserve to have one. as what cvqt2 had said, talk to your immediate supervisors about your concern, ask for some advice on what to do as they know how to approach the situation. good luck. :)

[lupuS]

The best justification for a raise is a live offer for your services from a competitor. The problem with reasons such as this one...


i heard they are willing to offer 20k to new people who'd be doing only half of my job, and i've known one who's getting that salary.

...is that they refer to salaries for other people. As much as we would like to consider ourselves equal to or superior to others we know, this kind of argument still requires us to compare ourselves to others. When we do that, we might be found lacking, especially in the hearts and minds of the one deciding on the salary.

A live offer from a competitor is clear and undebatable. Here is a company ready to pay you Pxxx,xxx a month. NOW. If your current employer doesn't want to match that, you can leave.

[Assassin_Mage]

in my opinion, requesting a salary increase and dangling a live offer from a competitor is something that you can do only once and once only. it can work however it can create tension afterwards.

IMHO, the best option would be to talk to your immediate supervisor and air your concern. a good supervisor worth his lick would know what to do.

[greensloth]

i have a question din.

i work alone as a project head and i perform not only marketing functions but also all preparations, logistics, and even the actual development of the project just to make sure that the new brand will be ready within 5 months all from scratch.

it was my tacticto make myself underpaid at first because of a minor drawback i have against possible competition for the position. anyway i got the job now. and though i really love my job i really feel like im underpaid. i mean, the project is even going to utilize my background in programming, layout, and so much more.

so i'm asking, would it be OK if i ask for a raise as early as soon as the project gets launched? if yes, what's the maximum % i could ask? how do i raise the question?

[KuyaDanny]

it can work however it can create tension afterwards.


The very act of asking for a raise has the potential to create tension, whether or not a live offer is used. When an employee needs to ask for a raise, that could imply that the employer is slow/insensitive/uncaring enough not to keep an eye on how fairly he pays his people. Some employers do not like being reminded of their "faults", especially by their subordinates.

On the other hand, employers can do this intentionally. They actually wait for salary increase requests, on the ground that if a person doesn't know how much he should be making, he shouldn't be making anything at all. ;)

[Ninong Boodel]

This might help.

http://jobstar.org/tools/salary/negostrt.php

[ict]

When an employee needs to ask for a raise, that could imply that the employer is slow/insensitive/uncaring enough not to keep an eye on how fairly he pays his people. Some employers do not like being reminded of their "faults", especially by their subordinates.

On the other hand, employers can do this intentionally. They actually wait for salary increase requests, on the ground that if a person doesn't know how much he should be making, he shouldn't be making anything at all. ;)

I wouldn't say that they are insensitive or uncaring, sometimes I think its the budget which is at question. A lot has been going on and a lot has happened already and I really don't mind going extra mile to help company (which is what I have been doing naman). Kaya lang, hiring new people and giving them more than what I will be getting after my raise is just not fair. I mean, if they are consindering their budget, why hire new people and give them that much? Sometimes I think style lang ng company ang mag-offer ng malaki to attract people, which I dont think is good. Tapos they fail to see their current employees and not give them what they owe.

Let's just say I'm not that good at valuing myself. I find it hard to demand what I deserve. My boss is a pinoy & an american and i'm having hard time balancing their personalities. One is the type who'd appreciate an aggresive, upfront-type of employee, while the other is the traditional-'wag mo kong pangunahan'-type. Everything, including salary rate, would have to go through one and move to the other. So I feel like i'm stuck... do I just wait for my annual evaluation? I sort of know how much I would be getting, but is it fair to ask for more? A couple of thousands more? :)

[KuyaDanny]

"Tapos they fail to see their current employees and not give them what they owe."

I don't know, man. If you are looking for evidence of people in your organization being slow/insensitive/uncaring, as I said before, this is a pretty good sign right here.

You seem to be privy to budget information and other financial matters at the company. Do you think your company can afford to pay you more? Never mind that they are hiring new people - they might be preparing for new business, too.

Boodel's link is informative and mentions many points discussed by other PExers in this thread. I think you are ready to ask for a raise if:

1) You know how much to ask for;
2) You can justify it with good reasons; and
3) You are ready to accept whatever outcome, including rejection.

[newkid]

Not unless your boss is sensitive, most often than not, they are busy pants and they tend to forget the welfare of their employees. One effective way of getting what you want is by making your boss love you. How? Be a dependable assistant and do not allow you boss who are dependent on you to become fully functional and independent. When your boss becomes too dependent on you, you give yourself power to control your boss....you will now use that power to your advantage by requesting a pay increase.

[mac_bolan00]

in my experience, you get regular (hefty) raises for only two reasons: you either bring in business (running to the millions) or you up efficiency (saving the company millions). other than that, the boss will see you as an operating neccessity at best, or a drain at worst. no amount of multi-tasking or conspicuous diligence will change theior mind-set. worse, if you continue that, you're piling up years that didn't really help both you and the company. come age 40, they'll replace you with a sexy twenty-something who's willing to work harder for less pay.

marketing/field people are well-paid for good reason. but they also have short tenures. if you don't produce, you're fired. i'm sure it's like that in your company and you as an office staff are spared of this threat.

so if you want a big slice, you should bring in business. develop your career in that direction. why, i'll bet they won't mind paying you 250,000 a month if you can sell more than 10 million monthly.

[mac_bolan00]

Boodel's link is informative and mentions many points discussed by other PExers in this thread. I think you are ready to ask for a raise if:

1) You know how much to ask for;
2) You can justify it with good reasons; and
3) You are ready to accept whatever outcome, including rejection.
asking for a raise is not an art. it's a science. you don't ask for a raise just because you've been working for 10 years without ever getting one. you don't ask for a raise because inflation's hitting double digits. you don't ask for a raise just because your kid started his schooling at xavier.

you ask for a raise when you've completed a major job ahead of schedule, and at less cost. don't fishtail. don't vacillate. you go to your boss, inform him of what you've done and then say it in his face, "can i have a raise?"

you clinched a big account on top of your target and on top of everyone else. you make a mild show of it and then go to his office and ask for a raise.

you managed to collect millions on an account that's been delinquent for some time now. you go to his office and ask for a raise.

you recommend and implement a change in supplier/contractor/service provider that ups productivity and saves the company 3 million every month. you go to his office and demand a raise.

and do you know why you have to ask for a raise ASAP? because you might commit a firing offense the following day and everything you've done today is all for nothing.

SO GO OUT AND MAKE MONEY!!!

[nada]

I've asked a raise--not only for myself in my previous employer--but for all the employees. I've been known to lobby for increases, benefits, etc.

Here's what I'd do. I'd talk to the then EVP and lay down the reasons for the increase like the skyrocketing prices of goods, across-the-board government salary increases (if the government implements increases, the private sector, should follow suit), frustrated employees all wanting to leave (because of the non-increase) and disillusionment.

He'd say "Okay, I'll talk to my partner (the prez) about it".

My batting average was quite good--we got increases every year.

We all knew that the company was earning big (due to our collective effort)--and we would see the bosses all going abroad and all buying properties and top-of-the-line cars.

I don't think you need to do a monumental achievement like "making money" for the company, or landing a multimillion account or deal.

Sometimes, the non-increase is simply the cause of the employer's plain arrogance (assuming that you're okay in your current pay), carelessness, stupidity errr...lack of knowledge (about who's up for a raise) and total lack of concern for the employees.

Ask them straight up without any BS--and hope for the best.

Good luck.

[mac_bolan00]

supposing your company WASN'T doing vey well and you're NOT a rainmaker in the company. how do you think your batting average will look?

[boinks]

ive done this before, this is what happened:

Me: Hi, its been a year and a half since i accepted this job you offered me. Ive done my best and you know how successful my projects are and everything is now running smoothly. I was wondering if theres a possibility for an increase in my pay, as what youve promised me before i accepted the job.

Boss: Sorry, no increase. Dont mention this to..(higher boss) baka ma -terminate ka pa. hehehe

Me: Ok.

and thats my tipping point - and accepted another job offer whose offering a somewhat higher pay.

[ict]

ive done this before, this is what happened:

Me: Hi, its been a year and a half since i accepted this job you offered me. Ive done my best and you know how successful my projects are and everything is now running smoothly. I was wondering if theres a possibility for an increase in my pay, as what youve promised me before i accepted the job.

Boss: Sorry, no increase. Dont mention this to..(higher boss) baka ma -terminate ka pa. hehehe

Me: Ok.

and thats my tipping point - and accepted another job offer whose offering a somewhat higher pay.

...and that's what i'm afraid of. I've seen situations like this. Not that I'm scared to face the reality that they dont see me that important to the company but the fact that since you know nothing's gonna be the same after that 3-minute discussion with your boss, you'll be forced to leave the company. Sayang kase I've loved the company na. Kakalungkot isipin ko pa lang na aalis ako. Sabi ng friends ko masama sobrang concern sa work mo. Masama ba maging attached sa company? Hay anyway, thanks sa lahat ng advice nyo. It's really helpful. I guess it's still worth putting everything on the line huh?! whatever the outcome is...yun na yun...sooner or later

[boinks]

theres danger in being too attached to a company.

Basically, its Economics.

One Old Man was laid off because the company needed to lay off some employees - meaning business is bad. But the Old man says he's been working for almost 15 years to the company, have devoted himself to it and now thats the thanks he will get?

as for the company, its not personal. its just business.

[seifadiaz]

working for almost 15 years to the company, have devoted himself to it and now thats the thanks he will get?

Karamihan merong ganitong pagiisip. What "thanks"? Pinasweldo naman siguro siya for the past 15 years.

[Macky_EX]

Hay naku..... kaya ako hindi ako pumapasok sa isang trabaho na walang ginagawang research (i.e. magkano ba market value ng position na papasukan ko). Pag nakapasok naman ako, I make sure na trabaho lang ang iintindihin ko at hindi trabaho o sweldo ng iba. Siguro dahil pag pumapasok ako sa isang trabaho, siguradong nakuha ko ang gusto ko kaya wala na akong i-intindihin kung hindi gawin ang trabaho ko :)

[froshie1]

ive done this before, this is what happened:

Me: Hi, its been a year and a half since i accepted this job you offered me. Ive done my best and you know how successful my projects are and everything is now running smoothly. I was wondering if theres a possibility for an increase in my pay, as what youve promised me before i accepted the job.

Boss: Sorry, no increase. Dont mention this to..(higher boss) baka ma -terminate ka pa. hehehe

Me: Ok.

and thats my tipping point - and accepted another job offer whose offering a somewhat higher pay.


pre nakakainis yang mga ganyan... ano iyong reason para sabihan ka na don't mention this to... baka materminate ka pa?

[jeune_fille]

@Kuya Danny, Isn't it that there is a section in our Labor Code that an employer is suppose to give his employees a yearly increase no matter what?

I just need a clarification on this :) Thanks!

[KuyaDanny]

There is no such section. Employees who get an annual increase no matter what should be very grateful. :)

[soulontap]

jeune_fille: Personally I don't see anything wrong asking for a salary raise. You want to at least keep up with inflation right?

Five things you got to do when asking:
- Be nice and likable. Nobody willingly approve a salary raise to someone who they don't like.
- You have to be able to recite your accomplishments. It can't be just about say, "Boss! I am doing the work of 3 people, I am overworked, etc.", nope, that won't work. We live in a 3rd world country, EVERYBODY is being overwork.

You have to state real accomplishments. Did you increased sales, improved productivity, lowered expenses? By how much? (e.g. If you are actually doing the work of three people, convert to financial terms and express it as savings to the company.)

- If the boss said no, ask - nicely - what can you do to get a raise? What should you be accomplishing? Really listen and remember what the boss said. Write a 'thank you' email afterwards and say that you'll set out for that increase in the next period with the agreed targets.

- And lastly, this is the most important, when you ask for a raise, make sure it's included in the budget. (If you ask for a raise AFTER the budgeting season, your boss will find it very hard to give you a raise.)

[SILENTMAX]

i once had an employee ( a cashier) who texted me wanting to negotiate a salary increase


it looks like some are really taking sms to whole new levels....

[KuyaDanny]

Did you consider firing him by SMS? :lol: At least he can say he never got your message.

[jeune_fille]

Thanks Kuya Danny and soulontap :)

[jeune_fille]

Thanks Kuya Danny and soulontap :)

[omeng]

Can anyone tell me when to ask for a salary raise?

when you see your boss in good mood.

[Dunedain]

Come to think of it, I never asked for it - not even once. It was always offered. Last year, I was offered 10% increase. Six months later, I went through a performance evaluation. About 10 minutes ago, I got called in and signed for another 10% increase. Life is good. *okay*

Little secret: Keep performance high, and complain less. One of our artists was let go not too long ago, not because of poor performance but of way too much complaints.

[cashwriters]

Speaking from an employer's perspective, the best way to get a salary or (if you're an independent contractor) contract increase is to PROGRESSIVELY INCREASE the value you add to your work. It's all about dollars and cents, if you increase value per unit and I generate more profit either due to increased production, higher quality per unit premium, or even added branding/sales goodwill per unit, you BET I'll give you a raise or increase your contract rate. I'm not saying all other employers are like this but the ones that AREN'T are putting themselves in a serious COMPETITIVE disadvantage if they fail to REWARD those who ADD VALUE. Someone will pay more for quality workers--it's a fact of life (unless there's government regulations that prevent this :( )In most companies, only 20% of the whole work force add REAL VALUE to the supply chain/service flow. I always keep an eye on who the 20% are and incentivize them to a) teach the other 80% their work values and outlook or b) pay them more to keep them (sad to say, this is subsidized by terminating/replacing some members of the 80%). What's a 10% or hell, even 25% increase to a person that adds REAL VALUE and more value than the other 80% of your work force?

Before anyone reading this gets TOO confident, remember you have to PROVE yourself first. Prove to your employer that you are part of the 20% that adds value by:

1) always double checking your work
2) meet and exceed quality guidelines
3) anticipate problems and let your supervisor know your solutions
4) monitor common solutions to a particular problem and let your supervisor know which one works most of the time
5) teach your fellow employees to increase their production
6) VERY IMPORTANT: NEVER BLAME OTHERS FOR YOUR FAILURES. START WITH YOURSELF--BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE.
7) Once you've nailed down quality, set your target on QUANTITY--boost your output.
8) Lead by example. Be the best worker. Communicate your methods. If you're able to do this, your employer would be STUPID not to promote you not to mention not to give you a raise.
9) Always meet deadlines!
10) Always meet or exceed quotas.

I've been in the outsourcing business for quite some time and I tell you... spotting the diamonds from the coal can be a very tiresome work. However, when you identify someone with potential, your heart is open to helping that person share in your opportunities because that person DESERVED IT!

[cashwriters]

Clarification: Jack of all trades usually don't add as much value as SPECIALIZATION since you become "jack of all trades, master of none." Better to focus on core assignments that add value. Maybe instead of a pay raise you should focus on reassignment then differentiate yourself there?

[greensloth]

I Got A Raise! Wohoo!!! 12.5%!!! Yehey!

[butch20]

the server is too busy at the moment for me to reply longer so stay tuned for that...

for the meantime, let me add my humble opinion on this..

the employer who knows the existing culture in the work environment is best to determine when to ask for a raise. better to actually ask/consult someone in the HRD rather than just speculating when or if it will be ok to ask for a raise..

2 things can come out of it, either your request is considered by the boss or you get considered to be terminated..

i've been in the legal department of a corporation and we've actually encountered a case where the owner of the corp, asked us to legitimize the termination of the employee because he was complaining about his salary and/ or deductions for minor infractions,..

to answer another question, kuya danny is correct..there is nothing in the law requiring employers to give a raise to deserving employees. however, if it has been company practice, then that's another matter..

[putoti]

When i turned 1 yr in the company, i emailed my boss regarding my performance evaluation. He replied with "Effective 7/1/05, your salary will be $xx,xxx/yr, thanks." No performance review. He knew that what I'm really asking for was that.

[DaNa8]

We have yearly performance assessments in our company. Our managers would let us fill out a form for this. Then, we'd have a meeting where he'd discuss your strong points and room for improvement and your salary increase (if you have one) as well.

[Labidoods]

I just had a one on one with my boss yesterday.. I listed all the accomplishments i have and indicated the savings it gave the company. within 10 mins my boss gave me thumbs up about the raise she will give me :-)

[bone clinkz]

pag nag-ha-handout ng awards ang company mo, pagkakuha mo ng award is the best time to ask for a raise. heck, ask for a promotion. kung puro palpak mo napupuna nila most probably you won't get a centavo. pero kung may award ka may basis ka, may papel ka na hawak na rason para sa increase/promotion

[KuyaDanny]

A one-time accomplishment, however important it may be, is not necessarily a good reason for a raise.

If by your efforts you were able to close a multi-million peso sale which your predecessaors had been working on for years, or to complete a project on time and under budget, congratulations to you. But keep in mind that in this country. a pay raise is almost irrevocable once it is given out. This means that your employer is going to be paying you for that accomplishment for the rest of your stay with them. That's an expensive proposition.

A BONUS might be more appropriate and easily justified. The logic is almost unassailable. Dear boss, before this deal you had nothing. Because I closed it, the company is P20 million richer. How about giving me P1 million? Company still ends up with P19 million, which is stll a lot better than where it was before I got the job done.

[cashwriters]

Very good points, Kuya. Bonuses = more cash for those who are go-getters and are a better proposition to the company since it incentivizes other employees.

A one-time accomplishment, however important it may be, is not necessarily a good reason for a raise.

If by your efforts you were able to close a multi-million peso sale which your predecessaors had been working on for years, or to complete a project on time and under budget, congratulations to you. But keep in mind that in this country. a pay raise is almost irrevocable once it is given out. This means that your employer is going to be paying you for that accomplishment for the rest of your stay with them. That's an expensive proposition.

A BONUS might be more appropriate and easily justified. The logic is almost unassailable. Dear boss, before this deal you had nothing. Because I closed it, the company is P20 million richer. How about giving me P1 million? Company still ends up with P19 million, which is stll a lot better than where it was before I got the job done.

[circa]

Can anyone tell me when to ask for a salary raise?

Here is my case... I have been working for this company for nearly a year now and I'm earning 15k, kase admin assistant rate ako, so i understand, iba ang rate compared sa nasa sales or nasa field positions. I have been multi-tasking, admin, rep, accounting, name it...kulang na lang magjanitor ako sa company na to. My problem is that - i heard they are willing to offer 20k to new people who'd be doing only half of my job, and i've known one who's getting that salary. So how exactly do I ask for salary raise? They said they appreciate me being everything, but i think i need more than appreciation. Actually meron nmang raise sa April. But i think its still not enough.

Can anyone advise me a good strategy on this? I want to do this asap. Naffrustrate na ko sa company and I'm really hoping to get this one para **** just yung compensation ko

sorry to say the only way to get an increase in a bad economy is to be close to the deciding person gm for finance or whoever decides. find a way to be close but not have the image of sipsip. when you travel send pasalubong, give gift on his/her birthday etc. IT'S MORE OF WHO YOU KNOW RATHER THAN WHAT YOU CAN DO. SINCE YOU ARE DOING GOOD DEVELOP A FRIENDSHIP.

[KuyaDanny]

Not necessarily. In a bad economy one can still deserve a raise by being a more valuable employee than the person the company originally hired. For example, if there are two of you who do identical jobs and the other guy quits, you can take on his job in addition to yours and ask for a raise equivalent to half of what the other guy was making. Company saves, you get more, and the work still gets done. :)

[greensloth]

I intend to ask for a raise as soon as I make a first sale of a product that I have developed from start to finish (R&D, packaging, distribution, promotions, galore). The thing is, I just had a raise around a week ago and is effective May 01, 2006. My product will be out in the market by Mid June 2006. Would that be okay? I intend to do this because I am fully aware that my salary is lower than the 3 people working together for another product while I am a one-man team. They are "experienced" na kasi while this is my first mission.

[KuyaDanny]

It might be a little too soon, man. Baka hindi pa nakafile yung personnel action mo sa 201 file. Pwede yang mag-backfire; sabihin pa nila ang swapang mo. I would wait a while longer, maybe six months.

[omeng]

maybe the word "swapang" will be under statement.. "dupang", siguro. :D

[greensloth]

Well the thing is kasi all of us in the office are less than 6 months old. The other person (who I think deserves it btw) got regularized on her 4th/5th month and also had a raise though she had a raise last month din. Hehehe.

[KuyaDanny]

I would advise you to sit tight and get a better feel for how the compenmsation policies are being managed over there. From what you have narrated, I get the impression that the decision makers are quite quick and agile when it comes to adjusting salaries (either that, or they are totally clueless ;) ). Asking for a raise too soon might be rocking the boat. You could end up spoiling the fun for everyone.